National Federation of Builders View on Chancellor’s Speech

At the Autumn Budget 2024, Chancellor Reeves scaled back her interference in the planning process. However, in her speech today, she returned to the position that a well-functioning planning system is crucial to not only enabling growth but, more importantly, sustaining it. Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), commented: “The…

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Booming UK property market demand from Trump’s US

Commenting on how the UK property market is now experiencing a boom in demand from Trump’s US as well as the East, Daniel Austin, CEO and co-founder at ASK Partners, said: “The UK property market is experiencing a surge in demand from US buyers, driven by Donald Trump’s return to the White House, a stronger dollar,…

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Nationwide Housing Affordability Report

Affordability stretched, but gradually improving Modest improvement over past year, but affordability remains stretched by historic standards Considerable variation in affordability across occupational groups Affordability most stretched in London and South of England, with North of England & Scotland the most affordable Commenting on the figures, Andrew Harvey, Senior Economist, said: “There has been a…

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Government planning reforms to protect nature

News that the Government has warned that the planning system must protect nature, as it unveils reforms Partner Alison Ogley, Freeths commented: “This is a potential game changer addressing the current inertia in the system, providing a solution that is more effective than individual developers trying to address environmental improvements on a project by project…

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ONS House Price Index January 2025

Private rent and house prices, UK: January 2025 The Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR) measures private rent inflation for new and existing tenancies. The UK House Price Index measures house price inflation. Main points Average UK private rents increased by 9.0% in the 12 months to December 2024 (provisional estimate); this is down from…

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Foxtons Lettings Market Index – December 2024

Lettings supply strengthened across 2024, Foxtons data shows In 2024, new market listings rose by 8%, totalling over 385,000 listings. In the first half of 2024, applicant demand was 6% below 2023 but strength returned in the second half of the year as demand was 1% higher. Average rent in 2024 closely mirrored 2023, with…

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Rental Reforms Will Make Access to Housing Harder

Speaking ahead of the final stages of the Renters’ Rights Bill in the House of Commons today, a coalition of organisations representing landlords, letting agents and build to rent providers said: “We accept that Section 21 repossessions are ending, and support measures to ensure every rental property is of a decent quality. However, the Government’s…

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Barclays: 1 in 6 Homeowners eye up a move in 2025

1 in 6 Homeowners eye up a move in 2025, as growth in mortgage and rental spending slows   Rent and mortgage spending grew 1.8 per cent year-on-year in December, down from 8.2 per cent in November, as more homeowners benefitted from base rate reductions Six in 10 renters say that it would be impossible…

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Access to Rented Housing Will Be Harder for Tenants Most In Need

Responding to amendments tabled to the Renters’ Rights Bill by the Government to restrict the amount of rent that can be sought in advance, Chris Norris, Policy Director for the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “Restricting rent in advance, combined with freezing housing benefit rates and not enough rental housing to meet demand is creating…

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Halifax House Price Index December 2024

House prices in December 2024 were 3.3% higher than the same month a year earlier.   House prices decreased by -0.2% in December Annually, property prices are up +3.3% (vs +4.7% last month) Typical property now costs £297,166 Northern Ireland maintains the strongest UK annual house price growth   Amanda Bryden, Head of Mortgages, Halifax,…

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Housing Insight Report: November 2024

The next few months are likely to prove busy for the sales market, with stock coming to the market and consumers showing they are keen to stay ahead of Stamp Duty threshold changes due in England and Northern Ireland in April 2025. The lettings market remains extremely challenging, with long-running issues regarding an intense lack…

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