By Michelle Niziol

Let’s be honest: Britain’s housing market is not where we need it to be.

Rents are climbing at the fastest pace we’ve seen in years, with many spending 40-60% of their income on rent. Wages aren’t keeping up - pushing affordability to breaking point.

Landlords are selling up and exiting the market. More supply is needed. And yet, as we head into this Budget, the Government looks ready to talk about everything except the crisis that underpins the entire economy.

With talk of a potential ‘mansion tax’ dominating headlines today, it’s hard to ignore how far the political debate has drifted from the real crisis facing millions of renters right now.

If ministers want stability, they simply can't ignore the chaos unfolding in the rental market.

The Bank of England may have held the base rate at 4%, but renters aren’t seeing stability today or in the future. They’re seeing pressure. And if the Budget doesn’t confront that head-on, we’re only storing up more pain for later.

1: Do the Budget’s housing measures actually help private renters, or are they just easy political wins?

At present, the measures expected in the Budget appear unlikely to shift the dial for private renters in any meaningful way. Much of the discussion........

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