Helen, Norwich. Where they were living before, with relatives, in B&B, in accommodation that's too small and crowded, on the street.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

If a house costs 50k to build theyll just have to reduce their prices. These threats to halt building are just attempts to get government intervention in a hope to bring back the golden days.

If they could run a profitable buniess when houses cost 50% why not today?

A Nelson, Prague, Czech

but don't worry footsie is up!!!!!!! and thats all we need as long as the stock index drives higher.
we are effectively in recession but stock indexes are up and up and up which means everything is fine.
i wonder if they truly reflect the state of the economy or are they just gimmicks ?

ebbi britt, valencia,

While the banks now have to act more responsible in whom they lend too, the other inhibitor is the lack of churn in the ready built market. The 2 markets work hand in hand. The inhibitor for the ready built market is not just the lenders; it’s also the pointless expenditure by the vendor on the HIP’s certificate. Only a total inept ‘nutter’ would believe a report bought and paid for by a vendor.
Maybe the government should stand in as guarantors for any losses that maybe incurred by the purchaser.

Ian Bryan, Reading,

More evidence that there is going to be a very deep recession. Mervin King was hiding the truth yesterday to avoid panic. But not to worry. There will be some winners. I am looking to buy a £600,000 house. I'll move in with an offer when the price reaches £200,000. You think no way? Just watch it.

Bob, Guildford,

Whilst the supply of housebuilders' raw material (land) is controlled by public policy, the value of their product is controlled by market conditions. Government needs to do more to facilitate the provision of new homes in the UK by increasing land supply and working with financial institutions.

Sarah , Manchester,

The supply of housebuilders raw material (land) is controlled by public policy whilst the value of their end product is controlled by market conditions. Government needs to facilitate housing provision by releasing more developable land and working with financial instituions

Sarah , Manchester,

Housebuilders have sold poorly built flats/houses at inflated prices for the last 10 years, and they continue to do so. The prices (and profit margins) get bigger while the flats get smaller. The people who advise on the purchases are uneducated cheap labour force. Let them suffer.

steve, ealing,

The 25% drop in housing starts will be more than 50% by the summer as no large sites have started since April. This equates to less than 100,000 homes being built this year or half of last years. This is a £20 Billion loss to the economy and about 150,000 jobs, not so funny now?

Steve Nicholls, Huntingdon, England

with the current prices, £200 million won't buy too many homes.

roger, london,

Housebuilders should react to the changing market conditions just like everyone else. New homes by major housebuilders are overpriced in the current market and tiny compared to older houses. Persimmon's profits increased by 117% between 2002-06, Barratts by 78%. No need to feel sorry for them...

Anna, Glos,

Alice, Poole is for retired millionaires- it is little wonder you are struggling. Sometimes people have to move to find a happier life.

barry wiseman, bromley, kent

UK: Housing shortage hype was only contrived by the estate agents and developers to bump up the prices; so they could get more commision - it wouldn't have taken an Einstein to work that one out!

pat, FL USA ex-pat,

Helen, in Poole, Dorset we are living in tents and caravans. 13 year wait for a council house and that is with a child of 14. Wish this governement would wake up and smell the coffee. Rents are sky here too, and cheap flats are like gold-dust.

alice, poole, uk

25% less starts and slow work on all the other sites means 50% less builders. This means they can take twice as long over everything and do the jobs properly at last!

And they might at least turn-up when they commit !
I'm with Eddie Shah on the subject of Builders.

Pedro, Stratford,

Yet another genius use of our money from Gordon Brown.

Don't worry about your pension, your helathcare, the price of food of fuel, all you have to do is be a big businss and fail, and Gordy will come to your rescue.

Bailing out developers encourages mismanagement not fixes it.

Barrat Rock, Northern,

There is no housing shortage. Apparently there are 700,000 empty homes in England alone. Any talk of shortages was presumeably only there to pump up the market. The shortage is affordable housing but this looks to be going to change with the housing crash.

chris, brighton,

So much for the shortage of housing myth. I agree there has been a shortage of affordable housing but not a physical one, or we would have countless families on the street.

1 in 20 houses stand empty.

The same mysterious 'housing shortages' in the late eighties disappeared after the crash.

Lenny, Coventry,

With half a million Polish returning back to their country. Doesn't that mean there is significantly lower demand for property? The credit crunch and property prices falling is also scaring away potential first time property buyers.
Someone is obviously getting their figures wrong!

Adam, Bradford, UK

We are always told that the population surge is creating a 'desperate' housing shortage. If the figures quoted in this report are true, where is the population living?

helen, Norwich,