If anyone was free to buy a house whenever they liked, renting wouldn't be such a problem. The problem is, renting nowadays is the only solution and therefore those who own properties are free to charge what they like and people either put up with that or be homeless.

Renting should be a temporary measure, however nowadays people can't afford to actually buy homes because renting means they don't have money for deposits.

Renting isn't a choice for most people, it's a means to keep them off the streets. The landlords have the monopoly.