Probably because there's more players than rooms and they need a gil sink (since things like housing which was the biggest gil sink now gives money back when it didn't before. When reclamation is turned on again anyway...)
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In XI, we were soldiers in government housing. In XIV, we are independent and attached to the guild (our union) and the Grand Companies, which they really should do seperate story arcs depending on the grand company we joined, and then have a final arc after completing each grand company quest line. It could even tie in to the beast tribe quests and local problems like the Couerl Claws and Red Bellies in Gridania.
I'm sad that Ishgard won't be getting apartments anytime soon :( Welp, I guess I have to wait a little longer then.