Budget housing announcements response
We welcome the clear-cut push to increase housing stock, but would have liked Mr Hammond to have acknowledged that variety is as much a problem as volume for the sector.
Our ONS reclassification reaction
The moral hazards that challenge us
Working in housing can be extraordinarily rewarding but it’s never been easy. We have always struggled in an environment where demand massively outstrips supply. We have rarely, if ever, had the resources to do everything we know needs to be done. Too often we have had to ration that which we know people need. Nearly every day we have faced moral hazards.
Bjorn Howard on Sajid Javid 'broken housing market' speech
The housing market is broken so it’s encouraging to see the government getting on the front foot. Putting social housing at the top of the agenda is a welcome move from the secretary of state and the sector will await the green paper with interest.
A timely boost from Halifax
Any positive move by the UK’s biggest mortgage lender brings confidence to the market, so Halifax’s announcement that it is increasing its loan-to-value threshold for shared ownership mortgages is a timely boost.
The land release fund is a welcome move from the government
“The launch of the Land Release fund is a welcome move from the government. We need to build 250,000 new houses a year to meet demand and making use of available land of all sizes is essential to achieving that. The 160,000 homes that the scheme intends to help deliver is a firm step in the right direction."
What I learned from a day on the frontline
Opportunities to meet customers and experience different sides of the business are often limited due to the nature of my role in finance, so I like to jump at chances to get out and about on the frontline.
Our comment on the launch of Virgin Money shared ownership mortgages
The cost of the average home has gone up by nearly five per cent in the past 12 months while salaries increased by only two. Affordability is a long-term issue and ‘traditional’ ownership is becoming unrealistic for increasing numbers of people.