Study: Homeowners Are Hoarding Bedrooms They Don't Need

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

In a paper published by the London School of Economics' Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE), researchers argue that the U.K.'s housing shortage is a mirage created by bad accounting and excess tolerance of people's luxurious housing "wants."

Posted by sitzkrieg at 09:32 PM | 55 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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Is it hoarding if kids have moved out and you don't want to sell and relocate?

#1 | Posted by mattm at 2024-05-29 10:52 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 3

Communists.

#2 | Posted by YAV at 2024-05-29 10:55 AM | Reply | Funny: 2

... The real problem, they say, isn't that the country isn't building enough housing. Rather, it's that too many bedrooms are being hoarded by homeowners who don't really need them. ...

Were those bedrooms never used, or are they just not current used, e.g., as #1 states, by children who have left the nest?

#3 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-05-29 12:06 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Is it hoarding if kids have moved out and you don't want to sell and relocate?
#1 | POSTED BY MATTM

Yes, take in a newcomer.

#4 | Posted by oneironaut at 2024-05-29 09:38 PM | Reply

Were those bedrooms never used, or are they just not current used, e.g., as #1 states, by children who have left the nest?
#3 | POSTED BY LAMPLIGHTER

Mattm is pretty clear, seems your alias might need to reread it.

#5 | Posted by oneironaut at 2024-05-29 09:39 PM | Reply

@#5 ... Mattm is pretty clear, ...

Yup.

And that is why I gave that comment a NW flag.

Do try to stir up trouble elsewhere.

#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-05-29 09:47 PM | Reply

@#5

Style - Telephone (1985)
www.youtube.com

#7 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-05-29 09:52 PM | Reply

How many people have you taken in, oneironqweef?

There are a few homeless in south San Jose? How many do you have bivouacked?

And what the hell is a "newcomer"?

#8 | Posted by ChiefTutMoses at 2024-05-29 10:31 PM | Reply

I have a strict "No ------" policy

#9 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2024-05-29 10:38 PM | Reply

More people working home means people seek homes with more bedrooms to use as an office. That might be enough to change the data.

Having dedicated office space is becoming a necessity for remote workers. Taking meetings from your kitchen can be chaotic with a family or roommates. One of my neices was nearly suicidal after a year of living and working almost entirely in her bedroom in a shared apartment. Now she rotates working from friends homes to break the isolation and have a change of scenery.

#10 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-05-29 10:46 PM | Reply

@#10 ... More people working home means people seek homes with more bedrooms to use as an office. ...

A good observation.

So, one bedroom may have been repurposed.

With that in mind, maybe the statistics need to be more detailed?

From the cited article...

... Researchers establish a "bedroom standard" whereby a household's housing needs are sufficiently met when they have one bedroom per single adult, couple, or child over nine years old. Households are also allotted a single "spare bedroom" as a matter of basic creature comfort.

In England, necessary bedrooms plus an additional acceptable spare bedroom account for about 80 percent of all bedrooms. Another 17.4 percent of English bedrooms are luxurious second "spare" bedrooms that serve a housing want, but not an actual housing "need." ...

fwiw, the article seems to be slanted towards England.

#11 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-05-29 10:53 PM | Reply

@#11 ... fwiw, the article seems to be slanted towards England. ...

England worst place in developed world to find housing, says report (October 2023)

... England is now "the most difficult place to find a home in the developed world", housebuilders have claimed in a snapshot of the housing crisis that also found a greater proportion of people in England live in substandard properties than the European Union average.

The Home Builders Federation (HBF), an industry group representing companies that build for private sale, found that England has the lowest percentage of vacant homes per capita in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a group of 38 nations, including most of the EU the US, Japan and Australia.

It drew the comparisons before next week's Labour party conference, as housebuilders again called for planning restrictions to be eased to accelerate construction.

About a quarter of private renters in the UK are also "overburdened" by housing costs " spending more than 40% of income, compared with just 9% in France and 5% in Germany, according to OECD data. ...

OK, this topic is making more sense now.

As an aside, thx to Miranda7 for prompting me to explore more info.

#12 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-05-29 10:57 PM | Reply

People that voted for Biden should be forced to fill spare bedrooms with the 10M illegals that invaded the country due to your support of an open border. Unfortunately, liberals refuse to even share the same city with illegals (see Martha Vineyard or NYC buying them plan tickets to leave) much less their own houses. Do as they say, not as they do as always with Liberals.

#13 | Posted by Claudio at 2024-05-30 12:42 AM | Reply

"open border"

So is Trump going to close the border,
no more imports or exports,
no more leaving America?

#14 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-30 12:53 AM | Reply

@#13 ... People that voted for Biden should be forced to fill spare bedrooms with the 10M illegals that invaded the country due to your support of an open border. ...

Your current alias is gonna have to do a whole lot better than just saying "open border."

How is the border open?

And, as a follow-up question, why are the Republicans in Congress so opposed to solving the border problem?

Yer up ...

#15 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-05-30 12:58 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"How is the border open?
#15 | POSTED BY LAMPLIGHTER"

10M illegals crossing under Biden. You are the typical tone deaf liberal -------.

#16 | Posted by Claudio at 2024-05-30 01:04 AM | Reply

If the bored was open no one would be "illegal".

The fact is, you don't know what you're talking about.

#17 | Posted by ClownShack at 2024-05-30 01:17 AM | Reply

"If the bored was open no one would be "illegal".
#17 | POSTED BY CLOWNSHACK"

Which is what the Democrats believe which is why they don't use the word 'illegal' and instead use 'undocumented' and seek to give them full citizenship rights. Thank you for proving my point. Democrats control the border policy and it is open.

#18 | Posted by Claudio at 2024-05-30 01:20 AM | Reply

@#16 ... 10M illegals crossing under Biden. You are the typical tone deaf liberal -------. ...

New estimate says U.S. now has 13.7 million illegal immigrants, up 37% under Biden
www.washingtontimes.com

... The U.S. now has 13.7 million illegal immigrants and 51.4 million immigrants overall -- an increase of 6.4 million in three years since Mr. Biden took office, the Center for Immigration Studies reported. ...

So, got a link to substantiate your assertion of 10M illegals?

And, for the record, I do agree that there is a problem on our southern border.

So, why did the Republicans sabotage a solution to that problem that they seem to have wanted?

In other words, before your current alias starts touting illegal immigrants, maybe, just maybe, it should explain why the GOP does not seem to want to resolve the problem.

Jus' saying'.

#19 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-05-30 01:20 AM | Reply

"New estimate says U.S. now has 13.7 million illegal immigrants, up 37% under Biden
#19 | POSTED BY LAMPLIGHTER"

Anyone quoting that number is retarded or lying. We had more than 20M back in 2018 already. You know, we would have an accurate count now if the Dems did not block that being included on the census as they knew that would cost them huge in house members in NY, Illinois, and CA.

Here is something closer to reality:

"A new study, using mathematical modeling on a range of demographic and immigration operations data, suggests that the actual undocumented immigrant population may be more than 22 million."

insights.som.yale.edu

#20 | Posted by Claudio at 2024-05-30 01:27 AM | Reply

"So, why did the Republicans sabotage a solution to that problem that they seem to have wanted?
#19 | POSTED BY LAMPLIGHTER"

Because the Democrat solution was to 'limit' illegals to 1.5M a year - and then they would take steps to slow the inflow. If Democrats were serious about the border, they just need Biden to reverse the executive decisions he made to reverse Trump's policies that actually controlled the inflow of illegals. They need NO GOP support to take that action - but they won't because they want an open border. So, your words of concern about the border are as fake as Biden's teeth.

#21 | Posted by Claudio at 2024-05-30 01:31 AM | Reply

@#21 ... Because the Democrat solution ...

Do try harder.

The bi-partisan solution gave the Republicans most, if not all, of what they wanted.

The bi-partisan solution was not a "limit" but more funding for border patrol and asylum judges, and a significant change in asylum requirements.

Do try to keep up.

#22 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-05-30 01:43 AM | Reply

@#20 ... We had more than 20M back in 2018 already. ...

And, how does that number, if it is correct, relate to or substantiate your #16 comment, "10M illegals crossing under Biden. "

I'll wait.

Yer up.

#23 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-05-30 01:47 AM | Reply

"And, how does that number, if it is correct, relate to or substantiate your #16 comment, "10M illegals crossing under Biden. "
#23 | POSTED BY LAMPLIGHTER"

Encounters + gotaways, through Feb 2024.

www.foxnews.com

"Taken together, nearly 10 million migrants have crossed into the U.S. illegally during the Biden administration, a record Biden's critics assert could only be achieved by intentionally refusing to enforce the law."

#24 | Posted by Claudio at 2024-05-30 02:01 AM | Reply

The claim that nearly 10 million migrants have crossed into the U.S. illegally during the Biden administration is inaccurate and misleading. Here are the key points:

The figure of 9.3 million cited in the sources refers to the total number of migrant encounters at the southwest border during Biden's first three years, not the number who successfully crossed illegally. Many of these encounters involved the same individuals being apprehended multiple times after making repeated illegal entry attempts.

A significant portion, over 1 million, were admitted legally through parole programs for humanitarian reasons or to reduce illegal crossings by providing lawful pathways. Parolees undergo vetting and background checks before being temporarily admitted.

While illegal border crossings have surged to record levels under Biden, the administration has taken steps to deter unlawful entries, such as expanding Title 42 expulsions initially, establishing new legal pathways, increasing interior enforcement, and collaborating with Mexico.

Biden has faced criticism from both sides - Republicans accuse him of having an "open border" policy, while some Democrats argue his policies are too restrictive.
So while border encounters have reached unprecedented levels during Biden's tenure, characterizing it as the administration intentionally allowing nearly 10 million illegal crossings is an exaggeration not supported by the evidence provided. The reality is more nuanced, with a mix of policies aimed at deterring unlawful entries while also creating legal channels for some migrants.

www.voanews.com
www.nytimes.com
www.cbsnews.com
www.migrationpolicy.org

It's just so fnkcin' easy.

Swallow it.

#25 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2024-05-30 02:19 AM | Reply

And, as a follow-up question, why are the Republicans in Congress so opposed to solving the border problem?

Yer up ...

#15 | Posted by LampLighter

Republicans have needed a boogieman since Nixon. Reagan's "welfare queens/commies," GHW Bush's "Willie Horton," Trump's "rapists/illegal immigrants," and other various social wedge issues.

The fact the House GOP capitulated to Trump and failed to pass the Senate's bipartisan immigration bill - the most extensive in decades - says all you need to know. They hope to gain votes by failing to do anything about the problem they whine Democrats are doing nothing about.

It's a pattern: Republicans only serve up wedge issues but never want to actually solve anything.

Giving more tax breaks to individuals and corporations who don't need them is their only "accomplishment."

#26 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2024-05-30 02:22 AM | Reply

@#24 ... nearly 10 million ...

So now, it seems to be "nearly" 10 million, as pposed to your current alias' prior comment ...

#16

... 10M illegals crossing under Biden. ...

My first question: Why does your current alias seem to proudly not know the extent of the problem we face?

#27 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-05-30 02:33 AM | Reply

" The claim that nearly 10 million migrants have crossed into the U.S. illegally during the Biden administration is inaccurate and misleading. Here are the key points:"

Your back must be on the verge of breaking carrying that much water for your beloved Dems.

All of those caveats' apply to Trump and Obama's numbers as well yet Biden is setting massive new records during his first term. His gotaways' numbers exceed those of Trump and Obama combined.

#28 | Posted by BellRinger at 2024-05-30 02:52 AM | Reply

@#28 ... Your back must be on the verge of breaking carrying that much water for your beloved Dems. ...

Got numbers (and a link) to substantiate your assertion?

Or should I view it as just another of your current alias' self-serving lies?

#29 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-05-30 02:56 AM | Reply

"The claim that nearly 10 million migrants have crossed into the U.S. illegally during the Biden administration is inaccurate and misleading. Here are the key points:
#25 | POSTED BY RSTYBEACH11"

Your article is standard ------- double-talk.

First, his does not include those coming from the northern border and by boat (like just happened again in CA) or VISA overstays - which was previously blamed for the largest number of illegals. This goes within the 300k or so on 'Air Biden' which flew the illegals directly into the country. As such, 10M illegals entering the country under Biden is an understatement.

Second, "over 1 million, were admitted legally through parole programs for humanitarian reasons or to reduce illegal crossings by providing lawful pathways" - even someone as dumb as yourself should be able to see through this nonsense. This is basically the same as CA saying shoplifting is down because the shoplifting arrests are down after basically decriminalizing it. It is nonsense - but standard ------- fare.

Further, even though you are wrong and already got debunked by my previous link - let's say the number was 9M....does it change the argument on why Biden has not reversed his prior retarded executive orders that caused the mess in the first place and requires zero GOP support to implement?

#30 | Posted by Claudio at 2024-05-30 02:58 AM | Reply

@#30 ... Your article is standard ------- double-talk. ...

Got links?

Or do we have to believe all that your current alias asserts? (imo, there's a poor track record in that regard)

That aside.

What does your deflection have to do with the topic of this article??

#31 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-05-30 03:05 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"Got links?
#31 | POSTED BY LAMPLIGHTER"

I already gave a link and the article is self-bunking as I already pointed out above. I sympathize with you, it is shocking to finally realize that you were the useful idiot all along. But now that you know, change your behavior rather than doubling down on stupid.

#32 | Posted by Claudio at 2024-05-30 03:08 AM | Reply

"A new study, using mathematical modeling on a range of demographic and immigration operations data, suggests that the actual undocumented immigrant population may be more than 22 million."

Any studies on what happens to a country when it sends 22 million people to camps?

Does the country get better or worse?

#33 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-30 08:10 AM | Reply

"300k or so on 'Air Biden' which flew the illegals directly into the country."

The central assertions made by CIS, repeated by the Daily Mail or others, were that:

A Biden administration program was responsible for flying 320,000 migrants directly into the United States between January and December 2023. (True)
The program was a secret whose details were discovered by an outside group. (False)
The program allowed unvetted aliens to enter the United States. (False)
The U.S. government admitted that the program was a national-security risk. (False)
Such a program could affect U.S. politics by altering voter demographics. (False)
www.snopes.com

#34 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-30 08:16 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

This really took a stupid turn from a simple discussion about degrowth ideology in a study.

#35 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2024-05-30 08:18 AM | Reply

""300k or so on 'Air Biden' which flew the illegals directly into the country."
The central assertions made by CIS, repeated by the Daily Mail or others, were that:
#34 | POSTED BY SNOOFY"

I don't give 2 ----- about what others assert - I care that Biden flew in 300k illegals.

#36 | Posted by Claudio at 2024-05-30 08:55 AM | Reply

"I care that Biden flew in 300k illegals."

They aren't illegal.

#37 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-30 08:58 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"They aren't illegal.
#37 | POSTED BY SNOOFY"

Yes, they are. Just because ------- Biden ignores the law does not change that reality.

#38 | Posted by Claudio at 2024-05-30 09:20 AM | Reply

No, they are not illegal.
It's because of the law that they are not illegal.

#39 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-30 09:44 AM | Reply

Getting processed as a refugee is not illegal.

Imagine how far fetched that idea is, what would happen to the Cubans?

#40 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2024-05-30 10:05 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

People that voted for Biden should be forced to fill spare bedrooms with the 10M illegals that invaded the country due to your support of an open border.
#13 | POSTED BY CLAUDIO

Your bio says you are a Libertarian. Would you mind sharing what their position is on the border?

#41 | Posted by JOE at 2024-05-30 10:45 AM | Reply

You know what, i'll just do it for you.

Libertarian Party Platform:

3.4 Free Trade and Migration
We support the removal of governmental impediments to free trade. Political freedom and escape from tyranny demand that individuals not be unreasonably constrained by government in the crossing of political boundaries. Economic freedom demands the unrestricted movement of human as well as financial capital across national borders.
www.lp.org

#42 | Posted by JOE at 2024-05-30 10:52 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Valid questions that won't get valid answers.

#43 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-30 10:53 AM | Reply

I love when people who support a party that LITERALLY wants an open border, criticize Joe Biden for whatever phantom actions he has taken that they're rounding up to being an open border.

#44 | Posted by JOE at 2024-05-30 10:53 AM | Reply

Claudio is more of a Bibitarian... the bib is needed for all the slobber he produces.

#45 | Posted by Corky at 2024-05-30 10:54 AM | Reply

Once again, liberals are completely missing the underlying issue. In 1995, Clinton's SOTU address clearly stated that we have to be responsible with immigration...and we aren't. In fact, liberals have done a complete 180 from his intent.

Apropos, the bigger issue is the hypocrisy. During the years of 2017-2021, Trump's term, liberals went NUTS on immigration. They demonized Reps for the number of migrants crossing. They demonized Reps for the conditions at the border. They demonized Reps for not doing something to stop families from being separated.

We are only 3 years removed from then and Dems have, again, done a 180. Even though the numbers are VASTLY higher, all of a sudden it's not a problem. There have been multiple news articles (from both sides of the aisle) about conditions being bad still but Dems have toned down that rhetoric significantly. Families are still being separated, although the last instance of anything about this was 2022 admittedly so that may not be as much of a problem or Dems are just hiding it, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

The point is, liberal hypocrisy is what is causing the entire problem. Reps haven't changed their tune. W wanted tighter restrictions. Trump wanted much tighter restrictions. Their rhetoric didn't change based on who is in the POTUS seat. This is ALL easily verified if you do just a little research. And, to discuss the immigration bill and how some say Reps are against a bi-partisan plan...well, Dems were completely against Trump's plans because of TWO issues, very similar to the situation today but reversed. Dems didn't like the wall and didn't like the treatment they say migrants getting, so they shut down EVERYTHING Trump was trying to do even though they agreed with most of it.

Again, liberal hypocrisy is no longer ruining the country, it has full on ruined it.

I know both sides are going to have their opinions of how things need to be solved. But liberals, beyond any doubt and fully on record, change their position on immigration depending on if they are in control and if they aren't. I fully admit both sides do this on different topics but, on this topic, it is the Dems who are preventing true solutions because they won't do what is best for the country, they are only interested in doing what the Dem leaders want done based on how they feel at any given POTUS term.

#46 | Posted by humtake at 2024-05-30 11:43 AM | Reply

Not reading all that

#47 | Posted by JOE at 2024-05-30 11:58 AM | Reply

Not reading all that

It's just Hummer blaming Biden for the housing problems in the UK.

#48 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-05-30 12:02 PM | Reply

Americans are fooling themselves by trying to stop Americans from migrating north as they have done for centuries. Only mutual destruction will stop it. You really should be looking for a way of working things out.

#49 | Posted by RightisTrite at 2024-05-30 02:49 PM | Reply

Migrating north is a matter of more than poverty and tyrannical government these days.

It's about climate change, with temperatures effecting crops, water, livestock, humans and other factors.... all over the world, not just here.

And it's only going to get worse, so either accommodation must be made or plan on murdering the men women and children who are headed north.

Which seems to be the GOP solution.

#50 | Posted by Corky at 2024-05-30 03:06 PM | Reply

I've actually thought for quite some time that the housing shortage could be significantly alleviated if retired empty nesters would downsize, and free up family homes for families. But this would require a massive change in housing development to start building way more smaller homes, geared towards those older folks.

Right here in my own subdivision, roughly half the 3 bed/2 bath homes are are occupied by elderly singles and couples who don't want to leave the homes they've lived in for years. Including me. I'd happily downsize, but I don't know how to pry my wife out of this pretty large house. If it's ever just me, I'll be in a much smaller house pretty quickly. All I need most of the time is a bed, a bathroom and a kitchen. ..And a yard for my dogs.

#51 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2024-05-30 04:42 PM | Reply

The commies and left hate this abstract concept of freedom and private ownership of property. Instead they want "The Party" to make such decisions.

#52 | Posted by Robson at 2024-05-30 09:21 PM | Reply

{yawn}

#53 | Posted by YAV at 2024-05-31 11:27 AM | Reply

Instead they want "The Party" to make such decisions.

#52 | POSTED BY ROBSON

So says the guy who supports the deranged manifesto called Project 2025 which contains a plan to replace professional civil servants with party loyalists who are trained how to be loyal to the "The Party".

#54 | Posted by donnerboy at 2024-05-31 12:14 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms. These include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.

Just sayin'.

#55 | Posted by Derek_Wildstar at 2024-05-31 12:26 PM | Reply