All change as Hopkins replaces Prisk
The government has been criticised for seemingly downgrading the housing portfolio in its cabinet reshuffle. Kris Hopkins was appointed parliamentary under-secretary (housing) replacing Mark Prisk who held the more senior post of housing minister.
New home registrations soar
New home registrations in the UK in the third quarter of 2013 were 19% higher than the same period last year, says NHBC.
Coalition and Labour clash on Help to Buy
The shadow chancellor Ed Balls has called for the Bank of England to carry out an urgent review of Help to Buy as the government’s mortgage initiative becomes a major debating point between the political parties.
Thames ontap for Kingston Heights
In a UK first, energy secretary Ed Davey has formally switched on an open water source heat pump system which draws water from the River Thames to provide heat and hot water.
New home growth continues to soar - NHBC
<p>New home registrations in the UK in the third quarter of 2013 were 19% higher than the same period last year, says NHBC.</p> <p>In total 33,573 new homes were registered between July and September compared to 28,151 in the same months in 2012. Within this, private sector registrations led the way, rising 23% in the period to 24,984 while the public sector experienced a 10% rise.</p> <p>NHBC also revealed that its latest statistics show that the proportion of young people buying new homes has fallen over the past five years from 8% to 6%, while the over 55s are taking a bigger share - 23% compared to 17% five years ago.</p> <p>These age related figures are based on surveys of customers who have moved in to their new homes, so may not yet show the effect of Help to Buy which the government hopes will help younger first time buyers onto the housing ladder.</p> <p>Commenting on the age profile, NHBC commercial director Richard Tamayo said: "New homes are a particularly attractive option for the older generation as they are cheaper to run, easier to maintain, safer and provide protection through an NHBC warranty."</p>
Shadow chancellor calls for urgent review of Help to Buy
<p>The shadow chancellor Ed Balls has called for the Bank of England to carry out an urgent review of the government's Help to Buy mortgage initiative which he says is boosting demand without increasing housing supply.</p> <p>In an article penned on the Politics Home website, Balls says that stamp duty receipts are up 39% reflecting a booming housing market in parts of the country. "But by boosting demand with Help to Buiy while failing to take action to boost housing supply, (the chancellor) George Osborne risks making home ownership even further out of reach of the aspiring first time buyers the scheme should be helping."</p> <p>He added: "I believe the Bank of England must now urgently review the details of the Help to Buy scheme. How can it make sense for a scheme that should be about helping first time buyers to offer tax payer-backed mortgages on homes worth up to £600,000?"</p> <p>Balls also urged the government to bring forward £10 billion of infrastructure investment this year and next year "which could be used to build 400,000 affordable homes".</p>
Berkeley urges tax reform to save recovery
<p>Frequent changes to property tax could hold back the housing recovery and hinder international investment, according to a report from the London School of Economics, commissioned by the Berkeley Group.</p> <p> </p>
Experts raise concerns at HMI conference
<p>High loan-to-value mortgages will aid the housing market without creating a housing bubble, md of investment banking firm Jeffries International Anthony Codling has said.</p> <p><br /><br /></p> <p> </p>
Ministers make housing pledges at HMI conference
<p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The government will next month launch a Right to Contest scheme, which will allow people to identify government-owned land that they believe could be put to better use, Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the treasury announced yesterday (October 9).</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><br /><br /></span></p>
Government launches Help to Buy mortgage scheme
<p>The government is launching the mortgage guarantee element of Help to Buy today (October 8), three months ahead of plan.</p>
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