UK Landlord Forum / Life

I expect we've all seen news about the government's initiative to help first time buyers, e.g. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15810966

I'd be interested to know what you feel about this.
- Why are we nationally obsessed with house ownership as the only way to occupy a home?
- Are you renting because you must or because you want to?
- Is your house in as good an order as you'd keep it if it were owned by you?
- If you had a choice between buying a new house with 5% deposit which was not really what you wanted or buying a great house from a private seller which needed 25% deposit, which do you think you might go for?  Or would you be forced into the 5% Hobson's choice?

Thanks,