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PricedOut
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Concerned Citizen

Posts:51

16/05/2008 11:36 AM	Alert
PricedOut had a meeting with Iain Wright MP (the Junior Minister for Housing) on 15th May 2008 to discuss the housing market and the forthcoming review of the private rental sector. He said the government were trying to encourage moderate house price inflation because when house prices were rising, the general population felt happier than when they were falling. PricedOut responded by saying that this was the result of programming by the press. Government and PricedOut agreed that the current availability of mortgages was a major issue, particularly the absence of 95% and 100% loan-to-value mortgages. PricedOut suggested the Government use Northern Rock as a vehicle for making 95% mortgages available, but this was rejected on the grounds that the Government didn’t want to Northern Rock to unfairly compete with other mortgage providers. PricedOut stated that we wanted a situation where the average person could buy the average house with a mortgage on a reasonable income multiple. We were reminded of the Governments very recent announcement of “shared equity for all”. (It turns out that this is not new money at all but that is a different story.) PricedOut stated that the general population were suspicious of shared equity and saw it as a method to sell a house at a price that was unsustainable. We would rather that prices found a new (lower) market value. Iain was in favour of increased supply of housing – something which PricedOut applauded. Now we need to see this translated into action at the regional assembly level. PricedOut stated that we wanted the private rental sector to be limited. The buy to let share of the housing market has increased dramatically and most of it is crammed into the entry level market sector – exactly where first time buyers make their purchases. Of particular concern to PricedOut is the issue of tenants rights under the Assured Shorthold Tenancy (the de facto basis for private letting). PricedOut tabled the article by the Citizens Advice Bureau about retaliatory evictions (where a tenant is evicted with 2 months notice after making a complaint about the accommodation). Iain said that legislation to improve tenant’s rights was not very likely in the next session of parliament. PricedOut is disappointed by this. PricedOut were invited to give an input to the Private Sector Rental review which is being conducted for Government by the Centre for Housing Policy at York University. PricedOut would like to thank Iain Wright for this open and constructive meeting.

james armstrong

First Timer

Posts:5

23/05/2008 1:08 PM	Alert
Ian Wright, MP said.... govdernment were tryoing to encourage modest house price inflation." If so they are a failure. House prices have risen immoderately and consistently since 1997. it is easier to believe that Govenment has encouraged and achieved immoderate and officially unmeasured hp inflation. In fact Lord George of the B of E told the H of C that the actions opf the Bank itself , pushed up house prices (as a way of staving off deflation after the Japanese banks and yen crisis of 1997. Housing miniters are not in charge of housing policy, the b of e and the Treasury each have a housiong policy- to which Steven Nickell of the national housing and planning advice unit and of the MPC of the bank contributes big time. It is better described as a housing debt policy which requires increased prices to stimulate increased mortgage lending to stimulate the habit of debt and credit to keep the high street shops busy. Now is a good time for pricedout to lobby since the government are looking for popular major policy changes amongst which couldand should be steps to break themonopoly of land for building houses, whcih enables the landbankers (Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey etc to fix prices and to adjust supply to suit the (non) market. James

Bankula

Concerned Citizen

Posts:35

11/06/2008 5:00 AM	Alert
It's not hard to look around Europe and pick a private rental model that works. The German model has provided a stable system for years. It's one that recognises the responsibilities of tenants and their families whilst retaining enough interest to attract and maintain a healthy balance of would-be and existing landlords. The UK needs to implement an improved system as a matter of urgency.

Jono456

First Timer

Posts:1

16/08/2008 6:24 AM	Alert
THis is precisely what we need - the current UK legislation covering private rented properties is the worst in Europe and has been since they amended the laws in 1996, it has been a major contributor to the imbalanced housing market, and rush of amateur landlords wanting to make short term profit. If tenants have better rights of occupancy, only the more stable investors bother buying houses, leaving them free for first time buyers instead. Its simple logic.

plainservice

Concerned Citizen

Posts:93

17/09/2008 5:18 PM	Alert
Iain was in favour of increased supply of housing – something which PricedOut applauded. Now we need to see this translated into action at the regional assembly level. Well, who would build the houses? The new houses that are coming on, are staying empty. Those houlseholder, that bought land, would have done so at the higher price..... so there is no way they would build houses, simply to be sold at a loss. Of particular concern to PricedOut is the issue of tenants rights under the Assured Shorthold Tenancy (the de facto basis for private letting). I think PricedOut policy is confused on this one. On the one hand Pricedout are anti landlord and want changes to the Assured Shorthold Tenancy. So if a landlord decides to sell up and needs posession back of the property. He/She can't do if it is impossible to get a tenant out!. Or imagine, those people who are going for a work placement overseas for a year. They will not risk renting their property out, since they would not be able to get it back. Also, if you happen to live next to a problem neighbour, it would be impossible for the landlord of that property to get him/her out! e.g. loud music or alcolic drink thrown into your garden etc... One thing that annoys me about PricedOut, is that it is such a 'narrow' campaign. It is crazy that nothing was discussed about making homes eco-friendly. It is ridiculous that people will spend 100k+ on a property, yet 3k seems too much to fit solar heating. What is the point of getting on the property ladder, it is under 2 meters of sea water!? The German model has provided a stable system for years. They have escaped price inflation, because everyone rents!!! And they are not obsessed about property!

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