Tag Archives: housing
Views sought on UK Government’s Starter Home regulation
The UK government is seeking views on regulations surrounding its flagship Starter Home programme in England and has issued a consultation document. Under the regulations, which will form part of the Housing and Planning Bill, the government plans to allow build to rent developers to build Starter Homes off-site. ‘We propose that private rented sector developments could contribute to starter home provision and the requirement should be met through an offsite contribution for delivery of starter homes,’ the consultation document says. Overall it proposes a new statutory framework for Starter Homes that will include a general duty on local planning authorities to promote the supply of Starter Homes when carrying out their planning functions. The Bill would include a clause that sets a Starter Home requirement which means that local planning authorities may only grant planning permission for residential developments if the Starter Homes requirement is met. There would be reporting arrangements to ensure local communities, and especially first time buyers, are aware of what action local planning authorities are taking to support the delivery of starter home; and powers for the Secretary of State to intervene if local planning authorities fail to carry out their functions related to Starter Homes. ‘We are taking forward ambitious measures to increase the supply of housing and improve prospects of home ownership for many. We aim to deliver one million new homes to boost housing supply significantly. We want to ensure young people are not denied that which their parents took for granted, the opportunity to buy their own home, settle down and enjoy the security that home ownership brings,’ said Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis. ‘That is why we have committed to building 200,000 high quality Starter Homes exclusively for young first time buyers under 40, to be sold at a minimum of 20% below the open market value. We want to see Starter Homes built on housing sites across the country,’ he explained. ‘The Housing and Planning Bill sets out the statutory framework for the delivery of Starter Homes, and will be supported by changes to national planning policy,’ he pointed out. The Government has already announced a £2.3 billion funding package to support the delivery of up to 60,000 Starter Homes. Of this funding £1.2 billion will, in the first instance, be made available to remediate or assemble brownfield land to deliver at least 30,000 Starter Homes through the Starter Homes Land Fund. The technical consultation document seeks views on the details for the regulations to be made under powers contained in the Housing and Planning Bill, including options for the Starter Homes requirement on reasonably sized sites. ‘We want to hear views so the resulting regulations are feasible, proportionate and effective. I am confident that these reforms will help a generation of young people into home ownership,’ Lewis added. The British Property Federation has been calling for build to rent developments to be exempt from providing an on-site Starter Home provision throughout the… Continue reading
UK property market sees best February for remortgaging since 2009
The value of remortgage lending in the UK reached £4.4 billion, the largest amount recorded in the month of February for seven years, despite decreasing from January, new data shows. The figures from outsourced property services provider LMS also shows that the number of remortgage loans rose 23% year on year in February but fell by 16% from January and the value of gross remortgage lending is 26% higher than February 2015’s figure of £3.5 billion. Per customer, the average amount of equity withdrawn from remortgaging rose by 11% from £25,955 in January to £28,685 in February. This is the largest amount recorded in the month of February as borrowers continue to take advantage of rising house prices and competitive rates. The average amount of equity withdrawn is also 7% higher than February of last year when it was £26,682. The total amount of equity withdrawn fell by 7% month on month from £859.1 million in January to £798.6 million in February. Total equity withdrawn is however some 31% higher than the £609.8 million recorded in February 2015. ‘Despite a drop in activity from January, a trend we’ve experienced each year since 2010, remortgage lending in February remains buoyant. The value of loans were the largest amount recorded in the month of February for seven years, demonstrating maintained momentum for remortgaging as we return to a healthy, post-recession market,’ said Andy Knee, chief executive of LMS. ‘New rock-bottom rates should encourage even the most hesitant of home owners to consider the benefit of remortgaging, since huge savings can be made. However, there’s a push and pull occurring in the remortgage market at the moment. On one hand we have enticing, rock-bottom rates, and on the other, a looming uncertainty compounded by the possibility of a Brexit and the shaky global economy,’ he pointed out. ‘On the whole, the industry is in agreement that the housing market is unlikely to be unduly affected in the lead up to the EU referendum, although there might be a slight slowdown in house price growth. This means we expect remortgaging growth to continue but we shouldn’t expect a drastic change in activity until after June 2016,’ he added. Continue reading
Over half of UK letting agents think buy let surcharge will push up rents
Over half of UK letting agents believe the new buy to let stamp duty surcharge from April will push up rent costs, new research has found. It could also trigger a decline in the supply of available properties coming onto the rental market, according to the report from the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). The report also points out that in February demand for rental properties grew to an average 37 per letting agent branch, the highest since February 2015, as supply increased marginally. Some 52% of letting agents reported an uplift in interest from buyers looking to invest in by to let properties before the stamp duty reforms come into effect, up from 47% in January. However, after the 01 April deadline some 63% predict that supply will fall as landlords are pushed out of the market. Some 57% of ARLA members agree rents will be pushed up once the stamp duty reforms have come in to effect, as increased costs for landlords are passed through to tenants. This is especially high in London, where 73% of letting agents expect to see this happening. ‘The stamp duty changes are now imminent, and as well as hitting small landlord’s, they will also impact institutional investors,’ said David Cox, ARLA managing director. ‘Although members are reporting a rush from landlords trying to snap up their buy to let investments now, it’s likely that we’ll see the buy to let market drop like a stone come April and probably not pick up again until next year. This will most certainly cause rents to increase, with supply dropping, as competition for the limited availability of properties intensifies,’ he explained. The report also shows that demand rose by 19% in February, with an average 37 prospective tenants registered per member branch. This is the highest level seen since February last year, when an average 40 tenants were registered per branch. Alongside growing demand, the supply of rental properties on letting agents’ books increased to 176 in February, a rise from 172 in January. ‘The demand for housing continues to intensify as supply remains an issue across most of the country. We are concerned that the government rhetoric of wanting to help people onto the housing ladder does not tally with their action of continuing to target the rental market with additional costs,’ said Cox. ‘Some landlords will simply withdraw from the market whereas others who can take the hit of the extra stamp duty will simply raise rents to cover the extra costs. The dream of home ownership will remain out of reach for many as we move closer towards becoming a nation of forever renters,’ he added. Continue reading
