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What do you want to see from govt on housing?

Journalist: Anna Sagar, Mortgage Solutions / Specialist Lending Solutions

ended 29. May 2024

Interested in speaking to mortgage brokers about what they want to see in terms of policy/pledges from Conservative or Labour with regards to housing. 

  • What are the key areas in housing/mortgage sector where there needs to be government intervention/overhaul? What would be on your wishlist? 
  • Do you think housing will be a priority for the two main parties? 

7 responses from the Newspage community

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Justin Moy
Managing Director at EHF Mortgages
Housing has no choice but to be a main priority for all parties, this subject has been underinvested for way too long. One of the easiest solutions is to ensure all new developments have a higher % of smaller 'starter' homes, such as 1 and 2-bedroom homes. So many developments seem to start with 3-bedroom properties as their smallest, immediately pricing many of the first-time buyers out of ownership. We don't need new build schemes like Help to Buy, just sensible borrowing options and more affordable properties to buy.
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Michelle Lawson
Director at Lawson Financial
The biggest thing for the incoming Government would be an overhaul in the system and for the fundamentals to be cross party and not political hot potatoes. Making housing a senior role rather than a feeder role is a start. More innovation and the digitalisation of the sector to speed up transactions is desperately needed.
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Kundan Bhaduri
Property Developer and Portfolio Landlord at The Kushman Group
Both parties need to think about 3 crucial issues - affordability, availability, and sustainability. Both the Conservative and Labour parties acknowledge the necessity of building more homes. However, actualising ambitious targets, such as reinstatement of mandatory targets to build 300,000 homes a year is vital. Streamlining planning processes and incentivising developers to build in underutilised areas will significantly boost supply. The tenant charter and the idea of removing 'no fault eviction' is controversial at best. There is no such thing as 'no fault eviction'. Ask any landlord who has had to serve a s21 notice, and they will lay bare the tribulations that the have had to go through. Housing is poised to be a priority for both parties. Labour, leading in opinion polls, emphasises comprehensive reforms to increase supply and protections. The Conservatives, facing a tougher electoral battle, wil need to bolster their housing policies to resonate with voters.
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Kundan Bhaduri
Property Developer and Portfolio Landlord at The Kushman Group
Both parties need to think about 3 crucial issues - affordability, availability, and sustainability. Both the Conservative and Labour parties acknowledge the necessity of building more homes. However, actualising ambitious targets, such as reinstatement of mandatory targets to build 300,000 homes a year is vital. Streamlining planning processes and incentivising developers to build in underutilised areas will significantly boost supply. The tenant charter and the idea of removing 'no fault eviction' is controversial at best. There is no such thing as 'no fault eviction'. Ask any landlord who has had to serve a s21 notice, and they will lay bare the tribulations that the have had to go through. Housing is poised to be a priority for both parties. Labour, leading in opinion polls, emphasises comprehensive reforms to increase supply and protections. The Conservatives, facing a tougher electoral battle, wil need to bolster their housing policies to resonate with voters.
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Austyn Johnson
Founder at Mortgages For Actors
First time buyers will always need a little help, so consentrating on this area will encourange new homes being bought as well as second and third hand houses continueing to be recycled. Not everyone can afford to live in london and the rental payments for the rental sector there are much higher than a mortgage.
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Kasia Makarewicz
Senior Mortgage Adviser at Step by Step
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James Bull
Mortgage Broker at JB Mortgages
Housing is always a vote winner so i would expect this to play a key part in the election. Unfortunately as mortgage rates have gone up to 5% on the Tories watch this may go against them. It would be nice to see a stamp duty holiday, this has previously given the market a boost when it has been tried before.