At a recent family wedding, my 24-year-old son and I became part of a small group chatting amiably over drinks and mini bruschetta. A distant relation (I’ll call him Bill) turned to my son Jake and asked him what he was doing. Jake told him about his MSc.

“And where are you living?” Bill asked.

“At home, for the moment.”

Bill, who must be in his early 60s, smiled, “Lucky you. Your generation are so spoilt.”

I could see the steam issuing from the top of Jake’s head, and the glitter in his narrowing eyes. I tried to give Bill a warning wave. “Save yourself!” I wanted to yell. “Run for the hills!” But Bill didn’t look like a sprinter, and it was too late anyway.

Jake put his head on one side. “How are we spoilt, exactly?”

“Well,” Bill laughed. “You live at home. I expect you get your washing done for you, don’t you? Get your meals cooked. I was independent at your age.”

I could see the steam issuing from the top of Jake’s head, and the glitter in his narrowing eyes

“I do my own washing. We share the cooking.” Jake paused. “Are you aware that house prices have risen over 100% in the last 15 years? Wages haven’t.” There was an uncomfortable silence. “That happened on your watch.” Jake continued. “So I have a question for you – how did you let that happen?”

Bill took a step back, his expression frozen.

“If anything,” Jake went on, getting into his stride, “we’re not spoilt, it’s you that’s spoiled it for us. Your generation. Everyone should be campaigning for fairer rents, not just students. Homelessness is a real issue, and yet a lot of people are very smug right now because they’ve got rich off the system.”

Bill disappeared into the crowd, saying he needed another drink. I didn’t blame him.

Jake turned to me, eyebrows raised. “OK. Before you say it, I know I was rude,” he said. “I’m sorry. But I couldn’t help myself.”

I always knew my eldest son had strong opinions about the state of the housing crisis, but it wasn’t until that moment I realised how furious he is, how very betrayed he feels. That anger drives him out to every march for equal rights, and saw him campaigning on behalf of the Labour party before the election; he normally votes Green, but feels Corbyn is offering real policy change on new social housing. He is not alone in caring passionately about this, as it affects nearly all young people. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation calls it “housing-cost-induced poverty”. While the government has set out to implement “affordable private rents” this year, realistically this won’t help anyone on a low income, as it’s based on charging up to 80% of the market rate.

“Rents need to be linked to income. The first concern for all my friends is the cost of housing,” Jake says. “Many are leaving London for Glasgow, Brighton, or Berlin – or are considering it. Nobody can afford to live in the capital.”

One of his friends is living in a tiny room in a house in Camden, north London with no communal space, only a cramped shared kitchen and bathroom. To make the rent affordable, she’s sharing the room with a friend, splitting the £790 a month between them.

When my daughter, Megan, was planning to set up her own food business, she looked for work on market stalls and in cafes, thinking she’d earn and learn at the same time. She was offered £3.50 an hour at one stall, at another place they expected her to work long shifts with no breaks for the minimum £7 an hour and no tips. Living at home is her only choice at the moment. “My friends who are renting are terrified they’ll be evicted,” she says. “Literally all their wages go on housing costs. I know someone who’s managed to get into a guardian property [where tenants safeguard a vacant property], but it’s not long-term.”

House prices have soared to unreachable heights for any first-time buyer without a personal fortune. Rents are extortionate too. Jake worked hard to get a first in his BA, and he’s working hard at the MSc he’ll finish this autumn. He wants a career in public policy and he’s looking for internships, but these are low paid or even unpaid. And there’s still his huge student debt to pay. No wonder he’s angry.

Some names have been changed