Land to the people

Cuba has a compulsory hitch hiking system. Workers in full yellow attire stand at the corners of the main roads stopping all vehicles and 'requesting' the drivers take some hitch hikers. Having been obliged to take local towards Havana, we got talking about life. A young man told me about his little bit of land that he had where he had built a one room home and now in the process of extending it. They built what would might be described as a shed first and over the years gradually improved upon it. It got me thinking. In this poor nation, they have at least a small stake in their land.

In the UK, we have millions paying off massive mortgages. We have lots consuming a huge portion of their income on rents. Too many do not have a stake in the country. How many hours do we work to simply pay for a place to live. The price of houses is not a simple reflection of the cost of constructing them.

In the chapter "Small Islands" there is a reference to the idea of giving each person a plot of land on which they can build a house. This is not about endless handouts, instead it is about making provision for people to get a foothold in life. It is no free ride. People will still work to pay for the building of their home. Hopefully it would begin to address some of the iniquities between the wealthier older people and the young.

Eligibility

It would be open to those on their 18th birthday, who were born in the country, to parents that were both also born here too. We look after our own. We look after our family, we spend money educating them and nobody looks down on those that support people close to them. If the scheme is too broad, people become niggled by the excessive generosity shown towards those that have not been a longstanding part of the nation.

Cost

1 acre of Land is available for around £10 000 - enough for 8 plots, thereabouts.

1 plot would cost less than £2000 - about the same as 3-4 months of housing benefit.

It is a one-off gift. Just land - with outline planning permission to build a property.

Practicalities

I can image that we would be able to conjure up countless obstacles to dismiss the idea. The most obvious issue would be in relation the lack of space in big cities. Nevertheless, most problems would be overcome if there is enough will to do it. Some building may have to be vertical, namely flats on the outskirts rather than spaced out plots in the countryside.

I doubt the uptake will be 100% nor will all the people given the land be jumping for joy, but a good few will take advantage and lead the way. The upward pressure on high property prices will be lessened. Some might suggest we give people a house, fully built, but this would be detrimental rather than fairer. These new adults will have a task to do. They would have to get their house erected. We are not spoon feeding the next generation. It will have no impact on the overall house issues that this country faces for hundreds of thousands are turning up on our shores each year increasing the population far faster than we can provide for them.