Cities: IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In many large cities, house prices and rents have risen so sharply that young people are effectively priced out. This situation stems mainly from rising demand, limited supply and the use of homes as investments, but well-targeted government policies could make city housing more affordable.

The main cause is that more people want to live in cities than there are homes available. Large cities attract people from smaller towns and abroad with the best jobs and universities, so demand for accommodation grows each year. At the same time, building new homes is slow; land in central areas is scarce, and planning procedures can delay projects for years, resulting in a housing shortage. The problem worsens when homes are treated as investments rather than places to live. Some wealthy buyers purchase flats and leave them empty as their value rises, and in popular tourist cities many apartments are converted into short-term rentals, which earn owners more than renting to local residents. As a result, prices climb far beyond what young people on starting salaries can pay.

Governments could respond in several ways. Most importantly, they should increase the supply of affordable housing, both by building social housing to be rented at reduced rates and by requiring private developers to include low-cost flats in new projects. In addition, authorities could tax homes left empty for long periods and limit the number of days a property can be let to tourists, which would return many homes to the long-term rental market. Finally, investment in fast and reliable transport links would allow young workers to live in cheaper areas further from the centre without an exhausting commute.

In conclusion, city housing has become unaffordable because demand exceeds supply and many homes are treated as investments. New building, sensible regulation and better transport together would help young people find homes they can afford.