LIZ TRUSS ENERGY SUPPORT PACKAGE HAS HELPED THE HOUSING MARKET STEP BACK FROM CLIFF EDGE – BUT MORE ACTION IS NEEDED

*National Association of Property Buyers say feared fall in house prices can be prevented by stamp duty reform, tax breaks  and a shake up in council building projects.

THE Government’s action to limit the impact of energy price rises has helped pull the housing market back from the cliff-edge, a leading property association has said. 

But the National Association of Property Buyers’ (NAPB) say further steps are urgently needed to ensure we don’t see a serious downturn in house prices in the New Year.

Spokesman Jonathan Rolande said: “The Government’s swift action to limit the impact of energy price rises has, for now at least, avoided the cliff-edge that the property market was heading towards.  There is still a lot wrong with our economy and housing supply, not to mention the enormous inequalities faced

 by those who neither own a property or have financial backing from someone who does. With a rapid drop in prices looking unlikely for the time being, it is now time for the government to keep the market steady and put measures in place that will return the

 market to something like it was prior to the recent boom.”

Setting out the measures the NAPB would like to see delivered, Mr Rolande added: “We need to start by reforming stamp duty. A positive step would be to see zero rates for pensioners moving downmarket in terms of bedroom numbers, reduced rates for those involved in buy to let transactions and zero rates for first time buyers in less affluent areas.

“We should also look towards selling disused council land for housing with proviso it is built within one year. Where land is not bought by developers, councils should be encouraged to arrange build and rent programmes

“Finally, I’d like to see Ministers offer tax relief for landlords who commit to long term rental with sensible, set rent increases. Renting longer term is a greater risk for the owner so reward them for providing more security for tenants.

Mr Rolande’s comments after experts said reports that the housing market could collapse as interest rates rise and the economy slips into recession may prove exaggerated.

House prices have soared due to near-zero interest rates and many assumed they would fall back to earth as mortgage costs finally start to rise.

Property is now less affordable than it has ever been, with the average UK property costing 9.1 times the average salary, against just 3.55 times 25 years ago in 1997.

The Bank of England has repeatedly hiked interest rates to curb inflation and this is driving up mortgage costs.

The average two-year fixed rate has almost doubled to 4.24 per cent, up from 2.24 per cent two years ago, latest Moneyfacts figures show.

Yet last week’s energy price freeze by Prime Minister Liz Truss could cut the inflation rate by as much as 4 or 5 per cent.

That would reduce the pressure on the BoE, although it is still set to hike interest rates at its next meeting on September 22.

Wages are rising faster than expected while unemployment has fallen to its lowest level since 1974.

It now stands at just 3.6 per cent in July, figures published yesterday showed.

This will reduce the number of forced property sales due to unemployment, while Halifax figures show prices rose another 0.4 per cent in August, and 11.5 per cent over the year.

North London estate agent Jeremy Leaf said the shortage of stock is also supporting prices. “We don’t expect a significant correction yet, although the market is more price sensitive.”