Reader's letter of the day

From the FT:

Featherbedding the owner-occupier

Sir, Mr and Mrs Bellemaison gambled on the property market ("Brown throws homeowners a mortgage lifeline", December 4). Mr Bellemaison loses his job and has to accept a lower-paid one. The state steps in and subsidises their interest payments.

Next door, Mr and Mrs Prudence are tenants. Mr Prudence also loses his job and has to accept a lower paid one. The state does not step in to subsidise their rent*. The Prudences are forced to move to a lower-rent property.

Why the difference in treatment?

Yugo Kovah, Twichenham, Middlesex.

Lex on the back page summarises the madness of this in more depth.

* Unless Mr Prudence fails to find a new job, of course, in which case they can claim Housing & Council Tax Benefit.