The question
Write about the following topic:
In many large cities, housing has become so expensive that young people and key workers can no longer afford to live there.
What problems does this cause? What measures could be taken to solve them?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Key ideas for a high-band answer
- Economic problem: key workers (teachers, nurses, drivers) face long commutes or leave, causing labour shortages.
- Social problem: young adults cannot save, delay marriage and children, and inequality between owners and renters grows.
- Solution: build more homes by relaxing zoning rules on height and density.
- Solution: public investment in social housing at below-market rents (e.g. Vienna).
- Solution: discourage speculation with taxes on empty and second homes; housing schemes for key workers.
Band 9 model answer
311 words · written by Abroadway to show band 9 features (not an official IELTS sample)
In cities such as London, Sydney and Dhaka, property prices and rents have risen far faster than wages. As a result, many young people and essential workers can no longer afford to live in the places where they work. This situation creates serious problems, but there are several measures that governments could take to address it.
The first problem is economic. When teachers, nurses, bus drivers and other key workers cannot find homes near their jobs, they must either commute long distances or leave the city altogether. This can cause labour shortages in essential services, and businesses may struggle to recruit staff. The second problem is social. Young adults who spend half their income on rent cannot save, so they delay marriage and having children or continue living with their parents well into their thirties. Over time, high housing costs also increase inequality, because property owners grow richer while renters fall further behind.
To tackle these issues, the most important step is to build more homes. Many cities have strict zoning rules that limit the height or density of new buildings, and relaxing these rules would allow more apartments to be built on existing land. Governments should also invest directly in social housing that is rented at below-market prices, as Vienna has done successfully for decades; a large proportion of its residents now live in subsidised flats.
In addition, measures can be taken to discourage speculation. Higher taxes on empty properties and second homes would encourage owners to sell or rent them out. Employers and local councils could also provide housing specifically for key workers, ensuring that essential services remain fully staffed.
In conclusion, unaffordable housing harms both the economy and people's quality of life. In my view, a combination of more construction, publicly funded affordable housing and policies that discourage speculation offers the best chance of making cities affordable again.
Useful vocabulary for this topic
- affordable housing
- rent
- key workers
- commute
- social housing
- speculation
- zoning
- inequality
- labour shortages
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