As readers of previous blogs will know I have been urging the Government to do more to support the housing market as a means of stimulating the whole economy. The Chartered Institute of Housing have written to Chancellor George Osborne ahead of next month’s budget with a 4 point plan which they say will generate billions of pounds and support more than 20,000 jobs. Their plan includes a Stamp Duty holiday for Landlords, a plan to provide long-term certainty on rents in the affordable housing sector, allowing the Local Authorities to borrow more money to invest in developing new homes and increasing the discretionary housing payment budget.
I hope the Chancellor listens to these requests and comes up with an imaginative and positive plan for the UK housing market. I look forward to reporting on the budget next month.
Lindsay Darroch Partner – Head of Property