Renting isn't third-class

I trust that there will be a swift and damning response from the housing world to comments made by RICS chief executive Louis Armstrong last week in a press release linked to the institution's submission to the government's review of housing supply.

Armstrong says the inability of an increasing number of people who would traditionally become homeowners to be able to afford a property in today's market means that a burgeoning "housing underclass" is being created. The inference, of course, is that renting is a third-class housing option.

Our fellow professionals at the RICS do us no favours by denigrating renting in this way or by insulting those who, through choice or low incomes, rent their homes.

At MHS Homes we are seeking to give our tenants homes to be proud of and we would welcome the RICS president visiting us to see for himself that renting from a quality landlord can be a tenure of choice.