The green belt cannot remain sacred if we are to solve London’s housing crisis December 13, 2019 With the General Election over and the nation reflecting on the result, the focus on politics in the capital is far from over, as 2020 sees Londoners turn their attention to the race to be the next mayor. Among many key issues for discussion ahead of May’s election will be housing shortages, particularly the thorny [...]
Housing market ‘in limbo’ as London house prices drop 1.4 per cent October 16, 2019 London house prices booked a steep 1.4 per cent annual drop in August as UK house prices grew at a lower level than last year, according to the latest data. While UK house prices posted annual growth of 1.3 per cent to beat that of 0.8 per cent in July, growth dipped below last year’s [...]
UK house prices grow nearly three times quicker than salaries since 2008 October 1, 2019 UK house prices’ growth over the last decade has vastly outsripped that of people’s salaries, with property value increasing in value nearly three times faster than the wages of their occupants, according to research. The average UK home has risen around 43 per cent in value between 2008 and 2018, from £160,954 to £229,861. But [...]
Housebuilder Berkeley Group defies Brexit jitters with ‘robust’ London performance September 6, 2019 Housebuilder Berkeley Group has enjoyed a period of “robust” market conditions in London and the south east of England, despite a weak sector backdrop driven by Brexit uncertainty. The London-listed firm said forward sales remained above £1.8bn and set a pre-tax profit target of £3.3bn for the next six years. Profit should be between £500m [...]
UK house prices suffer surprise July fall as housing market ‘treads water’ August 7, 2019 UK house prices continued to “tread water” in July as they slipped 0.2 per cent month on month, Halifax warned today. However, annual growth rose 4.1 per cent thanks to the housing market’s poor performance in 2018, the bank’s latest house price index found. Russell Galley, managing director of Halifax, said: “The average UK house [...]
We need a bold new approach to tackle London’s housing crisis July 19, 2019 When I was a young boy in the 1970s, my family lived in council housing in Ladbroke Grove, and London was in decline. The depressed mood about London was reflected in the price of housing: the average property cost just £24,000. Mind you, the average income was only £6,000. The prospect of our family owning [...]
London house prices suffer worst plunge in 10 years July 17, 2019 London house prices suffered a staggering 4.4 per cent annual drop in May, their worst annual drop since the financial crisis, public data revealed today. While UK house prices rose 1.2 per cent compared to May 2018, London house prices sank, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed. Read more: UK house prices slip for [...]
UK house prices surge 5.7 per cent in June July 5, 2019 UK house prices shrank by 0.3 per cent in June compared to the previous month, according to data released today. But the growth rate rocketed 5.7 per cent on an annual basis last month, according to Halifax’s latest house price index, to take the average UK house price to £237,110. Read more: UK house price [...]
UK house prices: Growth falls to four-month low in June July 2, 2019 UK house prices remained “subdued” in June, new figures showed today as the cost of buying continued to fall in London and the south east. The price of a UK home grew 0.5 per cent year-on-year over the month, lower than May’s 0.6 per cent growth. The rate was the worst since February’s 0.4 per [...]
DEBATE: Is the obsessive focus from politicians on increasing home ownership misguided? June 26, 2019 Is the obsessive focus from politicians on increasing home ownership misguided? Clive Docwra, managing director of McBains, says YES. Politicians are obsessed with home ownership, including both contenders for Prime Minister. Jeremy Hunt has put a new “right to own” policy at the heart of his bid, while Boris Johnson has backed replacing Help to [...]