THE prospect that we could become a nation of renters seems to strike a sense of doom in the hearts of many commentators ("Young people's desire to own home is waning", The Herald, April 18).
But why? The sooner we get out of the mindset that renting is second best the more we will see the opportunities. Renting does not tie young people to one place, but gives them the freedom of mobility in their life choices. It also means they can choose to live in a home better - and often more suited to their lifestyles - than anything they could afford to buy.
Instead of fearing for the housing market, look at the possibilities for build-to-rent properties and let's create the right, robust legislative framework around the private rental sector that improves housing stock and protects tenants and landlords.
Malcolm Cannon,
CEO, Braemore, 1 North Charlotte Street, Edinburgh.
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