House builders shares drop

April 28, 2015

Some of the biggest names in UK housebuilding took a hit Monday on the stockmarket as Labour’s plans to impose tighter rules on landlords emerged.

This drop in housebuilding stocks comes as no surprise, we already have the Labour party threatening a Mansion Tax and the abolishion of Non Dom Staus, now rent caps and what it appears a witch hunt on private landlords. The signals being sent out by Ed Miliband are that of someone who would appear to be in a total state of panic, we are getting policy after policy being promised  but there does not appear to be any rhyme or reason to them.

The private rental sector is ever growing as people increasingly are forced out from owning their own home due to affordability, home ownership has fallen to its lowest level for 30 years, more controls on the private rental market will only add to reducing the availability of rented accomodation.

Conservative housing minister Brandon Lewis was quoted as saying: “Rent controls never work – they force up rents and destroy investment in housing leading to fewer homes to rent and poorer quality accommodation.”

 

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

Renters’ Rights Act: A review of the first six months

Ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) coming into force on May 1st, there were many concerns across the industry. Landlords were probably most worried about the removal of section 21 and fixed-term tenancies, fearing it would be harder and take longer to remove troublesome tenants and regain possession of their properties. Widespread predictions were…
Read More →
Breaking News

Private rent and house prices, UK: October 2026

Average UK monthly private rent increased by 3.8%, to £1,406, in the 12 months to September 2026 (provisional estimate); this annual growth rate is unchanged from the 12 months to August 2026. Average rents increased to £1,466 (4.0%) in England, £848 (4.1%) in Wales, and £1,011 (0.7%) in Scotland, in the 12 months to September…
Read More →
Breaking News

First-time buyer affordability improves across the South West

The latest research by Lyons Bowe has found that first-time buyer affordability, measured against the national average price paid by first-time buyers, has improved across the South West over the past decade, despite rising property prices. More than half (53.8%) of the region’s local authority areas now have average first-time buyer property prices below the England…
Read More →
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 20/10/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Rightmove’s £1.45bn forty minute lawsuit Thought leadership by Olivier Jauniaux Founder of NestLink ‘It takes about forty minutes to find a house on Rightmove according to the portal’s own disclosure. You set the filters, you scroll, you save three, you send one to your partner with the…
Read More →
Breaking News

The six shocking ways first-time buyers are being caught out

Unexpected costs hit 70% of first-time buyers, causing rising anxiety for almost a third of people Over 60% of buyers also face mortgage rejection when finding their dream home Solicitor delays and “waiting around” among the highest drivers of anxiety and stress The First Time Buyer Anxiety Index 2026 delves into the main pain points…
Read More →
Breaking News

FTBs reveal real cost of homeownership

Six in 10 first-time buyers say getting onto the property ladder came at the expense of their quality of life From holidays and hobbies to careers and starting a family, first-time buyers reveal the true cost of homeownership New research by Yopa has revealed that 61% of first-time buyers say saving for their first home had…
Read More →