Pretty sure the situation is the same in much of Europe. Used to be different in the UK but these days the housing market is now all but in the hands of buy-to-let rent seekers. I read recently a startling figure from one of the large estate agents in the UK - 60% of house purchases are cash purchases, no mortgage involved!

Oh and yes - UK politicians too really do have their hands in the property market. Over a third of them report rental income on the register of member's interests.