Shelter’s response to the Help to Buy announcement and Sajid Javid’s speech
October 3, 2017
Shelter’s response to the Help to Buy announcement and Sajid Javid’s speech.
Polly Neate, CEO of Shelter said: “Extending Help to Buy is the wrong priority at a time when over a million renters are struggling with crippling housing costs. Help to Buy has barely helped the first-time buyers it is targeted at and has done nothing to help those worst affected by our broken housing market and those at risk of homelessness. Moreover it has increased house prices and propped up a speculative development model in need of reform.
While we welcome the fact that Sajid Javid has recognised the problem of instability for families who rent privately, we’re sorely disappointed that he is talking about encouraging 12 month tenancies when half of all tenancies are already a year or more. For the millions of families moved from pillar to post at the whim of a landlord, 5 year contracts are the only way to ensure a stable future for those who need it most.”
You May Also Enjoy
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 
Supply of family-suitable homes falls across the nation
England is facing a growing shortage of large family homes, according to new analysis from UK Property Development (UKPD), creating increasing challenges for buyers leaving London in search of more space, better quality of life, and access to one of the capital’s most desirable commuter regions. UKPD analysed live property listings data* and found that,…
Read More 
84% of agents fear Autumn Budget anti-climax
Agents welcome first-time buyer support but 84% fear Autumn Budget housing anti-climax The latest industry insight from GetAgent.co.uk has revealed that estate agents believe first-time buyers are most in need of government support and, while the recent announcement of a new first-time buyer scheme will likely be welcomed by the industry, 84% are sceptical as…
Read More 
The Budget – Residential Property
Thoughts from Lisa Wilson, Partner at law firm Spencer West LLP: “Chancellor John Healey, as many Chancellors before him, has the unenviable task of achieving balance in UK taxation and spending. Whilst there have been a few property rumours in the press, they are notably quieter than in years gone by. Over the Summer months…
Read More 
Prime London property stock falls 3.4% in Q3
The latest Prime Central London Stock Index by Benham and Reeves has revealed that the number of properties listed for sale at £2m or above fell by -3.4% during the third quarter of 2026, leaving 3,778 prime homes on the market. While Kensington, Notting Hill and Chelsea recorded modest increases in available stock, several established prime…
Read More 
When a chain breaks: how bridging can keep a sale moving
Every agent knows the call. A buyer further down the chain has pulled out or their mortgage has stalled, and a sale you have worked on for months is about to fall apart. Often the person caught in the middle could still buy if they did not have to wait for their own sale. That…
Read More