• @[email protected]
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    911 months ago

    What does it mean that they ‘paid unaffordable rates’? Are they paying with borrowed money?

    • @[email protected]
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      11 months ago

      It means they had rents that were more than 30% of their income, by this study’s definition.

      • @[email protected]
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        -811 months ago

        I’m not saying that rent isn’t high but I don’t like this definition. 30% is not crazy high. I would say 20% is low, 30% is medium, 50% would be high.

        • @[email protected]
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          11 months ago

          It’s a fairly typical “rule” in personal finance not to spend more than 30% of your income on housing or rent, which is probably why that’s what the study is using. You’re right it is a little conservative, and especially in cities most people have been going over that for quite a while. Some landlords will not even consider your application though if your income isn’t 3x the rent. It’s still a good idea to spend 30% or less on housing or rent, if you have the option. Not everyone does.

    • Flying Squid
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      711 months ago

      People are maxing out their credit cards, so probably.

    • @[email protected]
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      211 months ago

      Wtf? The answer is literally in the first couple of paragraphs. All you had to do was open the article and read for less than 5 seconds.