Easter is traditionally the time prospective house buyers emerge from their winter slumbers. This year the market is distinctly soggy but seasonal interest is being spiced up by some interesting proposals from politicians.

Whatever governments do, property in the UK is always going to be expensive as limited space on which to build collides with a large population. Other countries with limited space, such as Hong Kong and Singapore, also have high property prices. In the UK, pressure has been intensified over recent years by substantial increases in the population, fuelled by rapid immigration, unmatched by increases in housebuilding.

As usual, politicians and other commentators are keen to find scapegoats, with “wicked” property developers and greedy landlords being prime targets. The implication seems to be that if only governments could get on top of these nasty capitalists then all would be well.

This Government has already made moves to diminish the investment attractions of buy to let by altering its tax treatment. It is important to note, though, that even if this approach is successful in increasing the rate of owner occupation as opposed to renting, it does nothing to increase the amount of property available for occupation. Accordingly, it contributes nothing to alleviating the country’s under-provision of housing.