BREAKING NEWS: 18/01/2021
DEBATE IN GOVERNMENT ON EXTENDING STAMP DUTY HOLIDAY
Having exceeded 100,000 signatures, on the petition asking for a debate on SDLT and extending the holiday date, there will be 48 hours before a date is given for when the debate will be heard.
When the matter is debated and IF the extension is allowed on the strict terms of the petition, then the stamp duty holiday will end on the last day of September 2021. As the petitioner couched his plea in specific terms to,
‘Extend the Stamp Duty Holiday for an additional 6 months after 31st March 2021. Extending the Stamp Duty Holiday for an additional 6 months will assist many buyers who are looking to move to a property that they will not be able to afford otherwise. This will help to stabilise the housing market
I am looking to move into a new build which is currently due to complete at the start of March 2021. If this build is delayed past 31st March 2021 then i will not be able to afford the stamp duty so will not be able to afford the house.’
As with all debates no certainty about the outcome or if there is an extension for who, and how long.
ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED SURVEYORS IN CLOUDS GATHERING
The top echelon of RICs has spent the last few days dealing with the fallout from some ex Non-Executive Directors who left RICS some time ago, clarity surrounding this matter is likely later in the week.
In a joint prepared message the four directors were quoted as saying,
‘It is not our place to speculate on the actions and motivations of others, but we find it impossible to reconcile the institution’s published values with some of the behaviours we have observed and to which we have been subjected. Now the matter has found its way into the public domain, the potential reputational impact is surely a matter of legitimate concern to all RICS members.’
Whichever way this plays out – RICS will find it hard to shake off this situation.
BOOM TIME FOR SOME NATIONAL HOME BUILDERS
Figures show that some of the national housebuilders – Barratt, Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey brands have almost doubled their total cash position in only a year – standing at over £3BN, up from £1.8BN. The cash cow that is now new homes has been fed by Help to buy, and the pandemic, where reservations and off plan sales were a better certainty and easier to do than buy second hand stock, inaccessible during Lockdown periods.
WILL ROB JENRICK BE IN POST IF THERE IS A CABINET RESHUFFLE?
Despite many soundbites backing housing it looks like Mr Jenrick might be ‘moved’ if Boris Johnson has a little post DC clear out of his present cabinet. Always upbeat the present Housing secretary is always keen to bask in his own reflected glory, ‘We extended planning permission deadlines and flexible working hours on sites so that builders, architects, and developers have been able to continue working, while following public health advice … this has protected millions of jobs, from builders, through to estate agents and carpenters.’
Let us hope he finds a new home that suits him, should he fall from grace in the near future, maybe he will become an estate agent?
EDWARD HUGHES STEPS IN AS A NEW HOUSING MINISTER
One of the architects of the Lettings bill that proposes the ending of the Section 21 legislation that is in place at present has suddenly due to ‘devastating’ family news stepped down as minister for Housing and Rough sleeping, she will be replaced by Edward Hughes, who has a background in construction and property. The Bill will still move forward.
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