Tiny homes will be part of Theresa May’s legacy, says NFB

July 1, 2019

The prime minister must take responsibility for the “tiny homes” that she facilitated by ignoring industry and campaigner advice for better housing standards and more appropriate policy.

Changes to policy are welcomed but, unfortunately, it is too little too late as with many of her decisions.

Time after time, the PM and her housing ministers were told that their policy decisions were actively encouraging the construction of smaller homes, but they ignored every warning.

  • Office to residential development under permitted development rules was a major contributing factor.
  • The decision to stop publishing the number of one, two, three and four bedroom homes also gave councils fewer tools to match housing need with supply.
  • Investment in and backing of the brilliant, albeit transitional, housing provider Pocket Living highlighted a lack of market understanding.

Local authorities who did not mandate space standards within local planning must take their share of the blame, but the Government knew this was happening and did not take the right steps to solve it.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “The issue of tiny homes has been raised over and over again. The Government kicked it into the long grass and it is disingenuous of the prime minister to make it a priority, now that she is stepping down.”

Rico Wojtulewicz, head of housing and planning policy at the House Builders Association, said: “I’ve lost track of the number of times I raised this issue with the Government and councils. We can ensure larger homes are built through tools such as space standards, but councils must also know the types and size of homes that are being built. That requires the Government to begin publishing those statistics once again.”

National Federation of Builders

The National Federation of Builders is a United Kingdom trade association representing the interests of small and medium-sized building contractors in England and Wales.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

77% of buyers refuse to buy a flood risk property

Despite 4.7 million English homes facing flood risk New research from Lyons Bowe has revealed that 77% of homebuyers would not consider purchasing a property in a flood risk area, despite more than 4.7 million homes across England currently being deemed at risk of flooding. The findings come as the Government launches a new flood taskforce amid…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

Poor Communication becomes Expensive at Scale

The hidden cost of fragmented property management By Adam Hills, Client Services Director, LRG Living Markets A landlord asks for an update on a repair. The property manager asks the contractor, who is waiting for access from the tenant. Meanwhile, the accounts team has received an invoice but cannot tell whether the work is complete.…
Read More →
Estate Agents should not all look the same
Estate Agent Talk

When Estate Agents Decide to Go Solo

Leaving an established estate agency to work independently gives experienced agents more control over fees, client service and working hours. It also brings responsibility for compliance, cash flow and every part of the customer experience. Before handing in your notice, test the idea against realistic sales volumes, local competition and the amount of time you…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

What Should Buyers Ask Before Reserving a New Build?

Research from Skipton Building Society has found that 44% of aspiring first time buyers would rather buy a new build than an older property, with just 30% favouring an older build. Modern fittings and appliances were the biggest draw, cited by over half of those who preferred a new build, alongside the promise of lower…
Read More →
Breaking News

The UK cities with the largest property price increases revealed

A new study has unveiled the most challenging UK cities for first-time buyers. Newry leads Northern Ireland’s ranking, with a property price increase of 12.8%, while Hull leads Great Britain’s ranking, recording an increase of 6.6%. The research examined data from HM Land Registry to reveal the cities that have faced the highest property price…
Read More →
Breaking News

The UK’s Most Expensive Property Hotspots Revealed

More than one in three homes sold in Camden last year fetched at least £1 million, making it the UK’s leading million-pound property hotspot in a new study of England and Wales. But despite London’s dominance at the top of the rankings, the research reveals a surprising trend: median sale prices in several expensive London…
Read More →