A rental price of $32,500 a month is being asked for a Warwick home ? at a time when people are searching for affordable housing.

The five bedroom, five bathroom home has 8,200 feet of living space and is situated on a secluded peninsula at the southern end of Riddell?s Bay Golf Course. The home, being offered by J.W. Bermuda Realty, has caught the eye of people not for its amenities, but for its price. A spokesperson for the company yesterday declined to comment on the property or its rental value.But last night Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent said high rental prices were unfortunate but had become a part of Bermuda life.

And he accused greedy landlords of pricing average Bermudians out of the housing market which, he claimed, would only lead to social problems.

?Those landlords who can afford too should realise that by pricing an average family out of a house means there will be a price to pay from the social aspect and it?s unfortunate,? Mr. DeVent said.

?Collectively we will all feel the social problems that come with denying the everyday, hard-working people reasonable rents.

He added that ?we live in a capitalist society where making money has become increasingly more important?.

?It saddens me to see that the dollar is the bottom line,? Mr. DeVent said.

The Warwick home has all the attributes to supply a private paradise, including views of the surrounding Great Sound. A swimming pool, manicured grounds and a rose garden at the entrance of the main house along with vegetable and herb gardens at the back of the property round out the rest of the home.

Recently renovated, the property comes fully furnished. But the question remains ? who can afford more than $30,000 monthly rent?

One realtor said the bill for a high rent is generally footed by companies that bring in employers who don?t intend to stay on the Island for a long period of time.

?The people who rent places with such high prices are usually people who aren?t planning on staying here for very long and don?t see the sense in buying a home. Companies will bring them down and they will pay the rent,? the industry insider said.

?People who can afford the rent themselves are multi-millionaires who have made their money.?