Former prime minister Liz Truss was joined by property commentator and former estate agency owner Russell Quirk in the latest episode of her show to examine the drivers of the UK housing crisis and the impact of government policy across both major parties.

Quirk, a Reform UK councillor, argues that recent and proposed policy changes – including tax measures, regulatory requirements and the Renters’ Reform agenda – are contributing to landlord exits from the private rented sector. He says this is reducing available supply and placing upward pressure on rents.

The discussion covers a range of policy and market factors affecting the housing system, including:

• The Renters Reform Bill and EPC requirements
• The impact of government intervention on pricing and demand
• The effect of Help to Buy on demand-side stimulation versus supply constraints
• The Bank of England’s monetary policy and asset price inflation
• Barriers to home ownership for younger buyers
• The role of Homes England and the Climate Change Committee in shaping housing policy
• The relationship between immigration, demand and housing supply
• Perceived shortcomings in housing delivery by successive governments

The episode also touches on wider political and institutional themes, including sentiment towards landlords, the influence of local planning decisions, and whether housing policy is being shaped more by short-term political considerations than long-term supply solutions. It also references upcoming local elections in Essex and beyond as a potential indicator of voter attitudes.

The conversation centres on why affordability pressures in the UK housing market continue to persist, and where responsibility lies across policy, regulation and monetary conditions.