UK Housing Market Update Demand shock to hit rents in 2020 The economic hit from the coronavirus will cool rental demand, while social distancing measures will tip market dynamics in favour of renters. We have downgraded our forecast for rents and now expect... 25th March 2020 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Update How low will mortgage interest rates go? Banks will be slow to pass on the latest rate cuts, as the economic turmoil in Q2 puts them on the defensive. But as conditions start to normalise, mortgage interest rates will fall further, reaching... 20th March 2020 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Update Housing transactions to fall sharply We now expect the coronavirus to severely limit housing market activity this year, with transactions and house purchase mortgage approvals falling by 40% in Q2. That said, as long as any pick-up in... 18th March 2020 · 4 mins read
UK Housing Market Update Coronavirus likely to cut short the housing recovery Coronavirus fears will cut short the housing market recovery, and we have reduced our forecasts for house price growth in response. What’s more, the risks to the market – particularly housing... 6th March 2020 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Update London house price revival unlikely to last The next few months could see a modest jump in London house prices, and we have upgraded our forecast to a 4% gain for 2020. But with the house price to earnings ratio still exceptionally high, any... 25th February 2020 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Update Are leading indicators of sales still reliable? Leading indicators could be understating the coming recovery in housing sales. While we maintain our view that the recovery in transactions and lending will be modest, this suggests that the risks to... 21st February 2020 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Update When will the post-election sugar rush end? The post-election housing market recovery is likely to last a few more months, and we have upgraded our 2020 forecasts in response. But the housing market fundamentals were unchanged by the election... 14th February 2020 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Update Rising owner occupation reflects housing policy Rising owner occupation in part reflects government policy – tax hikes on buy-to-let landlords and support from Help to Buy. As a result, landlord taxation is unlikely to be eased anytime soon. And it... 3rd February 2020 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Update Could lower for longer rates boost house prices? Lower than expected interest rates would do little to boost house prices. After all, a shallower path for Bank Rate would reflect weaker than expected economic conditions. And in any case, there is... 10th January 2020 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Update Our outlook for housing in 2020 Political uncertainty has eased following the election result, but the housing market fundamentals leave little room for a recovery in price growth or transactions in 2020. Combined with waning... 16th December 2019 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Update Election hopefuls pull their punches on housing Labour and the Conservatives have pulled their punches on housing policy. Indeed, only Labour’s pledge to boost social housing construction would materially affect the market. As a result, we expect... 29th November 2019 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Update Election 2019: are social housebuilding plans realistic? With housebuilders already close to capacity, the sector will struggle to sustain a further surge in output. As a result, if elected, we think Labour would likely to miss their manifesto commitment to... 22nd November 2019 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Update Housing completions hit their peak Housing completions have reached their highest level in over three decades. But timelier data on housing starts point to a weakening pipeline of construction. On that basis, we think housing... 15th November 2019 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Update Election and Brexit delay leaves outlook in limbo The Brexit extension and general election leaves the housing market outlook even more uncertain than a week ago. What’s more, given the vast distance between the two main political parties’ approach... 1st November 2019 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Update Where is housebuilding slowing? London has led the fall in housebuilding, but more recently, construction has fallen sharply in nearly every region. Looking ahead, given continued economic uncertainty, housing starts are on track to... 16th October 2019 · 3 mins read
