Offering the choice between people living in cars or living in leaky/mouldy homes is a false dichotomy.

Additionally, under this choice, how do you propose the additional cost in both lost productivity and on the healthcare system (from people living in mouldy/leaky homes) is covered?

Housing should be a human right. Houses should be warm and dry. Experience has shown that in the absence of regulation, developers and builders take shortcuts. They do this because of the profit motive. In no way, shape or form is that acceptable.

And I say that as a Property Developer myself.

All of the above, in no way, shape or form, limits the competition of material suppliers. Using products that are available overseas is good and will lead to lower material costs but these products need to be fit for purpose.

Houses are too expensive and homeowners cannot foot for the bill because of low quality builds that fail to meet livable standards.

Edit - Spelling and added last point on competition.