Queen’s speech bitterly disappointing for a property point of view – industry reaction

While today’s Queen’s speech covered 26 bills from the environment to Brexit, aviation to immigration, there was a complete lack of focus on housing.

Please find below some industry reactions to today’s speech.

Tom Gatzen, the co-founder of leading roomshare platform, ideal flatmate, commented:

“Disappointing to see that the state of the UK property market failed to make the cut for today’s speech.

We’ve seen the high cost of property prices and a distinct lack of house-building result in many of us remaining resigned to the UK rental sector, while more and more us are forced to rely on shared accommodation to put a roof over our heads.

Not only is this putting a huge strain on the rental space, but a lack of affordable and social rental options is also causing an increase in the number of people ending up on the streets. This is a major issue in today’s society and one that should come before education, infrastructure and many of the other areas of focus announced today.”

Marc von Grundherr, director of lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, commented:

“It really is quite astonishing that despite the consistent doom and gloom that has surrounded the UK property market for some time now, yet another blind eye has been turned to the issues plaguing our property market.

The Government’s monumental failure to build enough homes has resulted in a national housing crisis and this isn’t something we can shy away from and hope it goes away.

While previous initiatives have stoked the fires of buyer demand and caused an even greater thirst for property, the actual delivery of housing stock to meet this demand has been woeful and perhaps this latest neglect of the issue is the Government admitting defeat?”

Founder and CEO of Springbok Properties, Shepherd Ncube, commented:

“No one is denying that the existence of our planet from an environmental standpoint, the education of future generations and a safe and infrastructurally sound place for them to live isn’t important. However, a warm, dry place for them to live is as essential and the fact that this vital pillar for a strong future has once again gone unmentioned is disappointing, to say the least.

While we campaign for a greener way of living, Brexit and other current burning issues, the problems surrounding housing grow deeper by the day and before we know it, we will have an irreversible crisis on our hands.”