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

Estate Agent Talk

The Compliance Curve: Meeting Landlord Safety Standards Through Smart Heating Upgrades

In today’s rental market, compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes — it’s about protecting investments, safeguarding tenants, and staying ahead of fast-evolving regulations. For landlords across the UK, particularly those managing older housing stock, staying compliant has become a strategic exercise in property value preservation. Among the many areas demanding attention, heating systems stand out…
Read More →
Breaking News

Government confirms ban on no fault evictions to begin in May

The Government has set out a timeline for implementing the Renters’ Rights Act. The first tranche of reforms, including a ban on no fault evictions will come into force from 1 May 2026. David Smith, property litigation partner at London law firm Spector Constant & Williams said: “This will put agents under an immense amount…
Read More →
Breaking News

Landlords must ‘act quickly’ after Renters Rights Act launch date is announced

A leading estate and lettings agent says that landlords must “act quickly” after the Government announced that the controversial Renters Rights Act will be implemented from May 1st next year. The changes, which include the end of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, represent the biggest upheaval in the landlord and tenant sector in a generation. The…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Landlord EICRs Compliance in 2026: EICR Rules, Costs & Risks — Interview with Ethem from Efficient Home Energy

With thousands of landlords approaching their next round of electrical safety renewals, 2026 is shaping up to be a crucial year for safety compliance. In this exclusive interview, Ethem, an electrical safety expert from Efficient Home Energy, breaks down the risks, the regulations and the practical steps landlords and letting agents must take to stay compliant and protect…
Read More →
Breaking News

Mortgage arrears and possessions Q3 2025

UK Finance today releases its latest mortgage arrears and possessions data for Q3 2025, while highlighting continuing lender support for any customers facing financial difficulty. Key Information  The number of homeowner mortgages in arrears fell by four per cent in Q3 2025 compared to the previous quarter. The number of buy-to-let (BTL) mortgages in arrears…
Read More →
Love or Hate Rightmove
Breaking News

Glasgow agents coughing up the most commission to Rightmove

The latest research from The Property DriveBuy reveals that Britain’s estate agents are paying an average of 7.2% of their sales commission to Rightmove, with agents in Glasgow and Newcastle taking the biggest hit from the property portal market leader. The Property DriveBuy has compared the estimated average sales commission of an estate agent in Great…
Read More →