Surely it's wrong for public sector housing to exist in a separate, but parallel, market from private sector rented housing? Even with the presence of housing associations this still seems to be the case.

The correct course would be to set rents according to open market valuation, based on location, size of accommodation, amount and quality of amenities, etc. With a base figure to work from for individual properties, housing officers could calculate discounts according to a prospective tenant's circumstances.

If it was found that a discount could not be justified, the applicant would by definition not need social housing and would be referred to the private sector.

-P. Mockridge, The Green, Southwick