Elections and referendum causing uncertainty

Only just last week we had the Hometrack cities House Price Index for March 2016 telling us that City level house prices at highest quarterly growth for 12 years, in the report this was put down to seasonal upturn being boosted by investors rushing to beat the stamp duty deadline.

The outlook from here on however is not so certain, experts are claiming that there is evidence that  up and coming elections, Brexit and changes to landlord tax are starting to affect the buy to let and could lead to falling house prices in the UK.

Surveyors and estate agents reportedly claim that  uncertainty around Brexit is shrouding the market and many expect the number of house sales to drop.

According to a spokesman for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) “Uncertainty are part and parcel of elections and we have several coming in London – including the vote for a new mayor and local council polls as well as the referendum.

“Our members have seen house prices rise every month for three years running, but say they are starting to fall in some parts of the capital.

“The referendum and tax changes are a damper on the buy to let market in particular.”

 

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Rights Act: Key changes renters need to know — new rules start on 1 May 2026

The Renters’ Rights Act is a major overhaul of the rules that govern renting in England, the biggest in decades. Propertymark, the UK’s leading body for property professionals, wants renters to understand what’s coming and how it will affect them. The next wave of changes under the Act will take effect on 1 May 2026.…
Read More
Breaking News

What Would Make Me Stay: How Tenants Are Redefining What Home Really Means

68% of tenants say the single biggest factor that would make them stay in their rental home long term is the relationship with their landlord or agent, above rent levels, location, or the quality of the property itself. That is the headline finding from LRG’s Winter 2025/26 Lettings Report, and it points to something the…
Read More
Breaking News

Competition for rented homes falls to lowest level in six years

More homes for rent and a drop in demand eases the pressure on renters Competition for rental homes falls to six year low with 4.8 enquiries per property Increased supply sees the number of homes available for rent up 11% on last year Meanwhile demand for rental properties falls 14% year-on-year on lower migration and…
Read More
Breaking News

Mortgage lending now supports 30% of housing stock

Mortgage lending now underpins 30% of England’s housing stock, rising to as high as 42% in the country’s most mortgage-reliant locations. At the same time, many areas of the market have seen a notable increase in the number of homes owned with a mortgage over the last three years, highlighting the continued strength and resilience…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Is it worth buying a fixer-upper property?

The latest research from eXp UK reveals that fixer-upper homes can be picked up for an average saving of more than £44,000, but when the cost of renovating the property is accounted for do homebuyers actually stand to make a saving? And what chance do buyers have of finding one on today’s market? Fixer-uppers are…
Read More
Breaking News

Nottingham letting agents are the busiest in Britain

The latest research from Propoly reveals that across Britain’s major cities, there are an average of 13.5 rental listings for each single letting agency branch, with the nation’s busiest agents found in Nottingham where this figure climbs to 35 properties per professional. Propoly has analysed the estimated number of current rental listings in 21 of…
Read More