I love watching a BBC version of “House Hunters”, "Escape to the Country"—especially when the buyers use slang.  One guy, told a very favorable price, smiled and said, “That certainly put the cat among the pigeons.” Asked why she wanted to move out of London, an expecting  wife said, “I don’t want to be a mum in a flat.” (mother in an apartment)  Another couple wanted a home in the country to run “a holiday let or glamping.” (vacation rental/B&B and glamour camping like Americans do when they own an RV.) When a bedroom is big it is a “double” or small, a “single” and if there is no closet it needs a “bespoke wardrobe” (bespoke=’manufactured’. Means an armoire) 

But why the heck are there no new houses? The answer is what we will enjoy if Democrats take over and tax houses federally.  Building new means a big federal tax. So it is better to convert the barn or chicken house built in 1584. Plus the crown or state often owns the land thus you can’t fully own.  You pay Ground Rent to the queen or an earl or whomever owns the land.  The proclivities of Brits are humorous.  Houses come with ducks--doors only 4 ½ feet tall that even a small woman has to duck for. Many houses have 7 foot ceilings and only 5 or so windows—there was once a tax on number of windows.  All this adds up to a property market when country homes go for a national average of 300,000 pounds ($400,000) for a typical stucco-sided, thatched roof, 'front door opens on the sidewalk or street' abode.  Old houses had a boiler tank that was also hot water tank in the attic (no basements), often open air so rats could die in the water.  Thus faucets come in pairs.  Hot water is not potable, but cold is.  The only amenity is that the garden (yard) is green with their glorious climate.  Brits have little 13” TVs like we used to have and spend a lot of time growing flowers, reading books and driving under 5000 miles a year because they are poor. This and national healthcare that leaves everyone with bad teeth and a waiting list for a gall bladder operations is as the Dems aspire to.