[nigelcleland]

What isn't mentioned in this article is any commentary regarding the falling rates of home ownership in various countries compounded with rapid price increases (driven by low rates and zoning policies). This is particularly acute as it appears to be driven predominately by a generational gap as opposed to a socio-economic gap. Pitting the young against the old is never a good thing.

What is also missed completely is the rise of the professional share house. How many professional people on high incomes are now forced into multi-person rental accommodation due to affordability concerns.

[majewsky]

That's assuming that people rent because they cannot afford a house. I rent because I don't want a house. Owning a house is a ton of additional responsibility for what would be very little to no gain for me. I don't have space requirements (no children and don't plan to have any, no spacious hobby that would require a workshop, no car that would need to be parked in a garage). I'm not saying that everyone is like me, but I'm pretty confident there are more people like me than there used to be.

[nigelcleland]

I am in complete agreement with you, I rent for very similar reasons.

What I was attempting to flag was that for many this was no longer about it being a choice. The dramatic rise in house prices has meant that saving a deposit is now a lengthy endeavour in many areas, one that is driving a much larger renter culture. It is to be expected that lifestyle norms will change around this as well.