While Mr J Sayers has some valid points on private rents regarding supply and demand, he fails to tell us what he has gained from capital appreciation on the property (Letters, September 17).

We have other headlines telling us house prices have gone up and what good news this is; other reports will say we need shorter working hours so that not as many are out of work. At the same time more people are becoming homeless.

Now, this is my personal view and not of any political persuasion.

I am sure I am not the only person who believes house prices going up is bad news – it creates a mythical impression that one has more wealth. That extra money does not exist.

The problems in America, Spain and Ireland have mainly come from speculators building houses as if it’s the only thing that matters.

There is no need to build any more housing for open market. Anyone needing an open-market house can buy one anywhere in the area – there are loads for sale.

Market housing is causing debt and despair, especially for young people.

How long will it take before people realise a house can only be worth what it cost to put together? If food costs had risen like house prices there would be riots in the streets.

Paying more for our food and less on rents or mortgages, we would all be beneficiaries. Let’s have homes for £85,000 or rents for £380 a month.

We have the technology to have pilotless aeroplanes. We are getting a railway system that will operate all the signals in South-East England, removing the operating staff, with ticket staff the next to go.

Supermarkets now use self-checkout tills; libraries are about to do the same.

Job-sharing would be the answer, especially for the older age group, but one can’t job-share with an economy that sets the higher rate as the going rate, especially regarding rents and mortgages.

I would like to see a stop on all open-market developments and transfer all developmental land to community land trusts or a co-operative. Land should not go from £5,000 to £500,000 an acre with planning gain.

Pay landowners £1,000 per acre annually, or a compulsory purchase order would come into play at agriculture value in the event of owners not taking up the offer.

There is a need for a new system for housing and a fresh vision for the layout and design of new housing.

Councillor Laurence Keeley, Ukip for Hailsham and Herstmonceux, East Sussex County Council