The Communities and Local Government department has launched a new consultation, to review the barriers to institutional investment in private rented housing, led by Sir Adrian Montague. It is due to report in June.

There is no longer any room for doubt that consumers attitudes toward home ownership have undergone a seismic shift in the five years since the collapse of Wall Street banking giant, Lehman Brothers.

For previous generations, getting on the ever-escalating home ownership ladder was considered glaringly obvious wisdom. The relentless rise in the value of an asset, which accrued value by the day and which you could also dwell in, made homeownership the prime ambition of anyone of over 18 years of age who was of sound mind and limb.

For the faint hearted, Northern Rock offered 125% mortgages, which meant you could even throw a new BMW into the bargain. Who wouldnt join the money for old rope party?