UK Housing Market Update Will new capital requirements halt the fall in mortgage spreads? More stringent capital requirements on lenders will raise the cost of funding, which other things equal will be passed onto customers through higher mortgage interest rate spreads. But we estimate... 9th July 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Housing market facing stronger headwinds after Summer Budget Cutting the amount of tax relief landlords can claim on their mortgage interest payments will reduce after-tax rental yields. We expect that to take the wind out of the BTL market’s sails, as... 8th July 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Rise in buy-to-let lending highlights inconsistencies in regulation The record share of mortgage lending going to the non-regulated sector could be a sign that lenders are looking to get around rules designed to bolster financial stability by turning to the buy-to-let... 26th June 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Has Help to Buy really helped? The Help to Buy scheme was able to temporarily boost the availability of low deposit mortgages, helping a lucky few first-time buyers. But that improvement is proving to be temporary, as the resulting... 15th June 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Can London house prices keep on rising? Despite our belief that the London economy and labour market will continue to perform strongly, we don’t expect that to allow house prices in the capital to go on outperforming. Further house price... 27th May 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update What impact will a Conservative majority have on the housing market? With the threat of a Mansion Tax removed, greater political certainty and interest rates likely to be held low for longer, the Conservative victory is an overall a positive for the housing market. But... 11th May 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Stamp duty holiday will provide little help to first-time buyers Labour’s proposal for a three year stamp duty holiday for first-time buyers will distort the market and will not address any of the market’s deeper failings. That won’t help FTBs. Indeed, it could... 27th April 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update What is the fall in the number of vacant dwellings telling us? The sharp fall in the number of vacant dwellings over the past couple of years seems to support the view that there is a severe shortage of housing. But with other data showing that the dwelling stock... 24th April 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Extending Right to Buy will reduce housing market efficiency Extending Right to Buy to housing associations will be challenging to implement, and could make it more difficult to boost the supply of housing. And other things equal, moving people from the social... 14th April 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Do buy-to-let investors have an advantage over other buyers? The ability to deduct mortgage interest before paying tax on rental income does not offer buy-to-let investors an advantage over owner-occupiers. But the fact that investors are not subject to the... 2nd April 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Is housing demand really as weak as some surveys suggest? Despite a very favourable economic backdrop, the RICS new buyer enquires balance has yet to report any rise in housing demand. But other indicators do show that underlying demand is strengthening... 24th March 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Help to Buy ISA could slow housing market in short term The Help to Buy ISA has the potential to boost house prices over a two to six year horizon. But we expect it will dampen activity in the short term, as prospective buyers hold back to provide their... 18th March 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Do the household statistics provide evidence of a housing shortage? The latest statistics on household formation show there has been a surge in the number of households with non-dependent children. While most will view this as further confirmation of a housing... 26th February 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update What are the implications of revisions to private rent data? The upwards revision to the ONS private rental data brings it closer into line with alternative measures, and so does not alter our views on the housing market. But the figures do suggest that while... 5th February 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update What impact will the general election have on the housing market? General elections have in the past had no discernable impact on the housing market. While it can be argued that the elevated level of uncertainty surrounding this year’s election will change that... 22nd January 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Prime central London values under pressure The uncertainty generated by the slump in oil prices and the crisis in Russia have the potential to give a short-term boost to safe haven demand for prime central London homes. But beyond that... 19th December 2014 · 1 min read
