TSI
New home sales pick up in Australia, but peak of growth has passed
Sales of new homes in Australia increased in August following a weak July but an overall downward trend in total seasonally adjusted new home sales is still apparent, the latest data shows. There was an increase of 3.3% in August driven primarily by a strong increase in the usually volatile multi-unit sector, the new home sales report from the Housing Industry Association shows. However the report, which covers Australia’s largest volume builders, says that despite the August bounce, the HIA still believes that new home sales reached their peak for the cycle back in April this year.” ‘The result for August was driven primarily by a strong lift the multi units sector where sales increased by 19.8%, taking this component of sales to its second highest level this cycle,’ said HIA economist Diwa Hopkins. She pointed out that new detached house sales didn’t fare quite so well, up by only 0.5% although this slight rise stopped a decline which stretched to three consecutive months. ‘As leading indicators of new home construction activity, both HIA New Home Sales and ABS Building Approvals are displaying a moderate downward trend. Current levels remain elevated by a historical standard, which is consistent with still healthy levels of new home building throughout 2014/2015,’ she explained. ‘It is important for the new home building sector and the broader domestic economy that we continue to see evidence of historically high levels of building approvals and new home sales throughout 2014 and into next year, even if the peak for these indicators has passed,’ she added. A breakdown of the figures show that detached house sales increased by 11.1% in New South Wales and by 2% in Western Australia but fell by 6.8% in South Australia, by 6% in Victoria and by 0.7% in Queensland. Over the three months to August 2014 detached house sales decreased in each of the surveyed states, albeit to varying degrees, with the exception of New South Wales where sales increased by 0.4%. Sales fell by 9.8% in Victoria, by 4.6% in Western Australia, by 4.4% in South Australia, and by 3.2% in Queensland. Continue reading
NLA reminds UK landlords about upcoming immigration checks
The National Landlords Association is reminding UK landlords about the importance of conducting tenant checks shortly before new legislation will require them to check the immigration status of every new tenant. As of the 01 December 2014 landlords in the West Midlands where a pilot scheme is being introduced, will be responsible for carrying out ‘right to rent’ checks in order to identify if a potential tenant has the right to reside in the UK, before they grant a tenancy. If the checks are not carried out landlords could face a fine of up to £3,000. The new rules, set out in the Immigration Act, will be rolled out around the rest of the UK in 2015. The NLA recommends that landlords always check potential tenants thoroughly in order to reduce the risk of letting to unreliable tenants and minimise the risk of rent arrears. Services such as the NLA Tenant Check give landlords the ability to vet their tenants and be confident it has been done to a professional standard. ‘In some areas as early as this December, the Immigration Act will place a legal responsibility on landlords to help prevent illegal immigrants from accessing private rented accommodation,’ said NLA chairman Carolyn Uphill. ‘It has always been best practice to conduct a thorough check on prospective tenants, but if landlords don’t do their due diligence on tenants they could be in line for a hefty penalty,’ she explained. ‘The NLA exists to support all landlords to make a success of their lettings business and to ensure they comply with the law,’ she pointed out and added that to see how the NLA can help with this forthcoming requirement landlords can go online to the NLA Tenant Check website. Meanwhile, Harrison Murray Lettings (HM Lettings), the lettings arm of the Nottingham Building Society, said it aims to lead the way in ensuring all potential tenants are eligible to live in the UK. ‘We want to safeguard and support the rights of both landlord and tenant whilst ensuring we are operating in line with the latest legislation,’ said Group Lettings controller Paul Offley. The Home Office has not yet issued specific instructions but it is likely that British passport holders will only need to show their current passport and those without passports will have to produce alternative documents including birth or adoption certificate in combination with a National Insurance number, driving licence, naturalisation certificate or a right of abode certificate. Citizens of the 27 member countries of the European Union plus Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, are expected to show as evidence a passport and national identity card or evidence of receipt of UK benefits. People from other countries should have a Biometric Residence Permit which clearly states the time limit on their stay but foreign visitors staying for less than six months cannot obtain a Biometric Residence Permit and would need to show a passport containing a UK immigration stamp with a time limit that is still valid. Continue reading
New five year forecast predicts 30% rise in average house prices in England and Wales
Average house prices in England and Wales are set to increase by 30% in the next five years, with the national forecast reinforcing the north/south divide, new research suggests. While prices in London are set to rise by almost 33%, the real beneficiary of the recent London boom will be the South East, forecast to increase by 37% by 2019, says the latest report from Rightmove. The North West will be the slowest riser but will still go up by 24%, adds the new forecast comes from a collaboration between the property website Rightmove and economic forecaster Oxford Economics. It is described as the most comprehensive house price forecast of its kind ever created, based on property and economic data rather than opinion and short term market factors. It takes into account both asking and sold prices, surveyor valuations and analytics from the Oxford Economics’ Global, Industry and Regional forecasting models. The majority of fastest performing areas are all within easy commuting distance of London and include towns such as Southampton which is forecast to see price increases of 43%, Luton at 41% and Brighton also at 41%. The analysis also says that the Home Counties and outer boroughs are set to benefit from the ripple effect of a year of strongly rising prices in London, alongside the brighter economic picture. Prices in the capital itself are forecast to rise at a slower rate than the South East and East Anglia with prime central London having a period of much slower growth after the frenetic increases of 2014. West London is predicted to be caught in the prime London slowdown with a modest rise of 14%, bringing its potential for future growth in line with the slower northern cities of Carlisle with growth of 17% and Manchester with a price growth forecast of 19%. The forecast compares and contrasts the fortunes of neighbouring areas, and takes into account the effect of strong house price growth in one location spilling over into adjoining areas. Economic factors that are more significant in some markets than others are also considered, for example the exchange rate has a big effect on house prices in prime central London, but is of rather less direct importance in the wider suburban markets of the South East and further afield, where employment and population growth are key. ‘Alongside the publication of the Rightmove monthly House Price Index which is based on new seller asking prices, we have unique access to other sources of property data from surveyors and property transaction prices at a very local level. This has enabled us to work with Oxford Economics to create a unique forecast that can be used as a guide by a number of businesses,’ said Miles Shipside, Rightmove director and housing market analyst. ‘Understanding the path of future house price growth is a key element of UK economic strategy and decision making, and our data driven forecasts contain insight not previously available from other commentators or the Government’s own… Continue reading
