Posts by Allen Walkey
New housing starts reach record levels since 2009
Recent announcement on GOV.UK from Department for Communities and Local Government and Alok Sharma MP headlines ‘Housebuilding soars to highest levels in almost a decade.’ The number of new build homes that have started to be built has surged to the highest level since 2008, as shown by figures released 24 August 2017. The latest…
Read MoreHouse price growth moderates to 2.1% in August according to Nationwide
Nationwide House price Index August 2017 released today headlines ‘House price growth slows in August.’ Annual house price growth slows to 2.1%, from 2.9% in July, a modest 0.1% fall month-on-month. Stamp duty land tax (SDLT) revenues have reached all time highs in cash terms in recent quarters, reaching £12.8 billion in the twelve months…
Read MoreThere remains a clear divide between the prospects for house price growth in regional cities says Hometrack
The latest Hometrack UK Cities House Price Index report July 2017 reveals that UK city house price inflation is at 5.3%, down from 7.4% in July 2016. The sharp slowdown in London house price growth over the last year has reversed with an increase in the annual rate over the last month rising from 2.3%…
Read MoreGovernment plans causing Housing Associations to slash plans to build new homes according to NHF
Housing associations providing vital supported, sheltered and extra care housing have had to slash plans to build new homes, down from 8,800 to 1,350 units, according to a new survey by the National Housing Federation. David Orr, Chief Executive at the National Housing Federation, says: “These findings really bring it home: changes to supported housing…
Read MoreNowhere near touching distance of the 250,000 homes a year we desperately need says Shelter
Shelter’s response to DCLG housebuilding figures, which show: In the last 12 months 153,330 houses were built – an increase of 11% on the previous year 41,180 houses (seasonally adjusted) were started in England in the second quarter of 2017, a decrease of 3% previous quarter. 40,310 houses (seasonally adjusted) were built in England in…
Read MoreAn increase in numbers of rental properties in London being used for short-term holiday lets (Airbnb)
An increasing number of rental properties in London are being used for short-term holiday lets using websites such as Airbnb and are no longer available for long-term renting. New research by the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) across the capital has found that there has been a 75% increase in the number of multi-listings on Airbnb…
Read MoreLondon is seeing more demand from large deposit buyers says Robert Sexton
Comment from Richard Sexton, director at e.surv, on the UK Finance Regional Mortgage Trends. “Some parts of the country prove to be more fruitful for small deposit buyers, particularly Northern Ireland. Our own Mortgage Monitor data echoes this, with latest numbers showing they count for over a quarter of lending in the nation as well…
Read MoreGov.Wales open consultation on draft document ‘Information for tenants of social landlords’
Welsh Government in an open consultation launched 19th July 2017 want your views on a draft document, which social landlords will issue to tenants if the Abolition of the Right to Buy and Associated Rights (Wales) Bill becomes law, the consultation ends 13th September 2017. They are consulting on a sample document to see if…
Read MoreRecent data from Your Move has revealed that the average tenancy length in the UK is now 20 months
The rise of Generation Rent: Average length of rental tenancies across the UK now almost two years, latest data from Your Move reveals In London, the home of Generation Rent, the average tenancy length is 20 months, whilst the commuter belt sees the longest tenancy length in the whole of the UK, at 44 months…
Read MorePersimmon announces excellent trading results for first half 2017
Persimmon plc today announces half year results for the six months ended 30 June 2017. Profit before tax increased 30% to £457.4m (2016: £352.3m) Jeff Fairburn, Group Chief Executive, said: “The successful execution of the Group’s long term strategy continues to support excellent trading results as seen again in the first half of 2017. Our…
Read MoreDrop in homemovers numbers in first half 2017 compared to same period last year according to Lloyds
Press release Lloyds Bank 21st August headlines ‘Stagnant homemovers market impacts first time buyers.’ According to the latest Lloyds Bank Homemover Review, the number of homemovers – current homeowners moving house – fell by 2% in the first six months of 2017 compared with the same period in 2016. There were 171,300 homemovers in the first…
Read MoreVirgin Money partners with Countrywide
News release from Countrywide 18th August 2017 headlined ‘Virgin Money partners with Countrywide to support bottowers fro New Build, Custom Build and Shared Ownership properties.’ Countrywide Surveying Services has been appointed by Virgin Money as its valuation services partner to support borrowers for New Build, Custom Build and Shared Ownership properties. Commenting on the new…
Read MoreFirst-time buyers contribute to increase in activity in Scotland says Your Move
Latest Your Move House Price Index Scotland June 2017 published in August 2017 headlines ‘Scotland house price growth outpaces England & Wales.’ Edinburgh, Glasgow and surrounding areas drive the market in Scotland, average house prices up 0.5% in the month to £175,941 and 4.6% annually, transactions up 8% in June. First time buyer demand and…
Read MoreRLA calls on the Government to include rent payment history as a standard feature when calculating credit scores.
The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) is calling for rent payments to be included when calculating credit scores to support tenants wanting to buy a home of their own. In a recent survey the RLA found that over 60% of landlords out of almost 3000 asked would support such action. The RLA is writing to the…
Read MoreComment from Shelter on the Grenfell inquiry terms of reference announced yesterday
Shelter’s comment on the Grenfell inquiry terms of reference announced yesterday 15th August 2017. Shelter’s chief executive Polly Neate, said: “The Grenfell fire was the most horrifying reminder in generations of the stark injustice of our housing crisis. Not only must nothing like this happen again, but also it must be allowed to act as…
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