Housing plots need rent. Sound horrible? Consider these facts:

[Elim]

I understand that upkeep will alienate part of the playerbase.

You mean the majority of the playerbase.

I dunno. To me your idea seems counterintuitive. You wouldn't be opening housing to more of the playerbase, but even less than before.

I personally could pay hefty rent and it wouldn't make me bat an eyelash, but, aside from not liking rent in any shape or form, I'd be completely against paying rent simply so the, more or less, "rich" could be the only ones in the housing areas. lol

Edit: but I'm totally for a system that takes away houses from people who've been unsubbed for long periods of time. Maybe three months of being unsubbed is fair?