Expectations for the housing market 2016

As far back as I can remember us Brits have been overley obsessed with house prices, probably started when Margaret Thather came to power back in the late 70’s.

As we get close to the end of 2015 nothing has changed, property prices are again hitting what many see as unsustainable highs, this time the reason is being put down to supply not meeting demand, that is no surprise to me as we see ever inceasing numbers of people coming to the UK for one reason or another, be it Europeans coming here for work or lyfestyle to immigrants legal or non legal and refugees.

House building is underway and houses are being built, but it does  not appear to having any effect on  the housing supply side yet, is that because the influx of people coming to Britain is not stopping or subsiding? if that is the case then there seems little hope of getting the balance right and shortage of housing stock will continue as will the rise in house prices.

During 2015  average house prices across the UK have risen by 4.2% according to Land Registry figures, with some showing even bigger growth, that being  London where asking prices rose by 9.5%.

According to a recent report Estate Agent Knight Frank said, it expects prices to rise by 4.1% over the course of 2016, and by the end of 2020, prices will be 20.3% higher than they are now, but, as always, there are big regional differences.

Knight Frank’s head of residential research Liam Bailey reportedly said: “Values are growing more strongly in the South of England (particularly London and the South East) compared to slower growth in the North of England, Scotland and Wales.

“These regional differences are unlikely to unwind significantly in 2016, although the improving economic and employment picture, especially in the regions, will underpin pricing.”

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

Bailey applies the brakes but ‘two more 2026 cuts priced in’

Vote to hold rates ‘closer than expected’ as Bank of England eyes April for 2% inflation target Focus turns to US and Japan in impact they play on shape of global investment flows says Rathbones’ Head of Market Analysis Kirsten Pettigrew, Senior Financial Planner, warns of making financial decisions based on speculation around rate trajectories…
Read More
bank of england interest rate
Breaking News

Bank of England to hold interest rates at 3.75%

Following the Bank of England’s decision to hold interest rates at 3.75%, here are some thoughts from the Industry. Matt Smith, Rightmove’s mortgages expert says: “Today’s Bank Rate hold was widely expected given underlying inflation and wage growth data, and it’s currently likely we’ll see the next Bank Rate cut in June. Average mortgage rates…
Read More
Breaking News

Building Safety Approval Process Urgently Needs Fixing

Bradley Lay, a Leading Construction M&A Expert Calls on Government to Urgently Fix Building Safety Approval Process as Insolvencies Surge A leading UK construction expert has called on the Government to urgently reassess the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) approval process, warning that delays in the current system are “slowly killing the economy”, triggering thousands of…
Read More
Breaking News

Kickstarting Private Housebuilding is Key to Sector-Wide Recovery

Starts on-site decline by 9% during the three months to January 2026, remaining 16% below 2025 levels Residential construction starts fell by 24% on the preceding three months and 32% against 2025 figures Non-residential project-starts increased by 6% against the preceding three months, finishing 7% up on a year ago Civils work starting on-site remained…
Read More
Social Housing 2019
Estate Agent Talk

Building the Wrong Homes Won’t Fix Homeownership

For many years, the national discussion about affordable housing has focused on one appealing idea that simply building more houses will make it easier for first-time buyers to own a home, and the issue will fix itself. However, Propertymark’s member agents, working daily in local housing markets across the UK, see a far more complex…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Compliance uncertainty leaves lift fire safety exposed in property sector

As the FM industry continues to adjust to an evolving regulatory landscape, new research indicates that widespread uncertainty and fragmented record-keeping could be undermining lift fire safety compliance, weakening building fire strategies. Last month, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) became a standalone public body, separating from the Health and Safety Executive to provide a more…
Read More