"Between 1997 and 2007 the housing stock grew by 10%, but the population only grew by 5%".

I find this hard to believe, the town I live in has not grown by 10% in a decade.

"The Bank of England says inflation is 0.3%. Really? With house prices up by 10% last year?"

I think that inflation rate specifically excludes housing costs and always has done.

IMO it is supply and demand, the millions of new East Europeans moving to the UK and caused a spike in the population and they have to live some where, thus pushing prices up, this combined with buy-to-let means there are fewer places up for sale as money can be made on renting especially with interest rates low and mortgages available.

rent prices are set to screw the maximum out of tenants, and have nothing to do with the landlord's costs, this means that tenants find it harder to save deposits.

I'm glad I bought in 2008.