A 'bribe' that lifted millions out of state dependency, allowed them to be the first in their families ever to own property and by extension capital. Plus, of course, relieving the taxpayer of a huge financial burden in the process.
Yes, how despicable.
Oh, and I don't suppose you think that the mass immigration of 3.6 million people (and that's just the legal ones) between 1997 and 2010 - vast numbers of whom of course had to be housed by the state - may have had a negative impact on the availability of housing stock at all? No? Course not.