Ben's Blog

3/25

We don’t need more houses. Australian cities take up more space than any other cities in the world. Our towns take up more space, our houses take up more space, our people take up more space!

Why is this? Because our houses are too big, and they are getting bigger all the time.

New houses mean bigger houses. A family moves from a smaller house to a bigger  house, their old house is, in turn taken up by someone who was living in a share house, or with their parents. it just gives a few people a bit more personal space, but it doesn’t make homes more affordable for renters. It has minimal; effect on the housing crisis.

The previous governor of the reserve bank, Tim Lowe, was spot on when he said something like, “there are plenty of houses to go around, there are just not enough people in them.” Oh boy, did he get a roasting for that throw away line.  They gave him ‘the bum’s rush.’ “Thanks Timmy, your services are no longer required. Your job was to control inflation, not point out inconvenient truths, next!”

It is common knowledge that since the 1950s the size of houses has more than doubled, while the number of occupants has halved, meaning everyone has 4 times as much personal space. We don’t need more and more houses, we just need to temper our insatiable desire for more and more space inside the houses.

The solution to the housing crisis is simple. Australian houses are on average at least twice the size of European houses. (admittedly, Australians tend to be twice the girth of Europeans) So all we have to do is divide the big houses in half. Pop in a second kitchen. They all have at least two bathrooms already, and three toilets. (we eat a lot, we shit a lot, OK!) Voilà, suddenly we have doubled our housing stock, without increasing our footprint. Well done team!

For more sage advice go to HOUSING