2022 was a turbulent year in almost every way imaginable. From geopolitics to the UK economy, this year will go down as a nadir, even after the trials of COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021.

However, for most of the year, the housing market was a rare source of good news for anyone working within conveyancing. Last spring saw record-breaking house prices. Meanwhile, due to the stamp duty holiday extension, the ‘race for space’ and constant price growth, transaction levels remained stable throughout the year.

All in all, 2022 was a satisfying year for conveyancers everywhere. Despite this, it became increasingly clear in the last quarter of the year that storm clouds are on the horizon. So what does 2023 have in store for the housing market?

Has the Slowdown Begun?

Sadly, the end of 2022 didn’t match the start. According to Halifax, October and November saw the largest drop in the average house price since 2008. And it looks as though 2023 promises more of the same.

The Bank of England is expected to continue ramping up interest rates. Estate agents Savills predict that the Bank base rate will hit 4% sometime in the next few months and remain there until mid-2024. Meanwhile, other commentators are predicting it could spike to 4.75% before inflation is tamed over the next couple of years.

The most probable outcome of this is a fall in demand. Anyone on a variable-rate mortgage is likely to see their costs rise over the course of 2023 and this will also dissuade would-be buyers from making their move. As a result, British banks expect to lend 23% less to homebuyers in 2023, in effect, pushing volumes down to pre-pandemic levels and ending the two-year housing boom.

How Far Will House Prices Drop?

It appears we’ll see some fall in property prices over the next 12 months but what kind of figures should we expect?

Well, as always with predictions, it depends on where you look. Conservative estimates expect predict price declines of between 5% and 12%. However, there are plenty of more extreme projections at the other end of the scale, with some commentators predicting a worst-case scenario of 15-20%.

It’s important to state though that, long term, this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Of course, the boom of the last two years has been very good for conveyancers. Nevertheless, you’ll find few people who’ll argue that the market isn’t overheated or that skyrocketing prices are sustainable.

In the longer term, once interest rates begin to normalise, a drop in prices could just be the kickstart the market needs. It stands to reason that if favourable borrowing conditions return and prices have fallen, many homebuyers who were put off that first-time purchase or dream home may reassess. And that can only be good for volumes and demand.

Transaction Volumes to Fall

Following on from the previous point about pricing, unfortunately, it’s also likely transaction volumes will decline. New analysis from Savills suggests that conveyancers should prepare for transaction levels to fall by as much as 28% in 2023.

Yet, before we all start rending our garments and predicting the end, it’s worth pointing out that this is a long way from the doom of 2008. Even if the worst possible outcome does come to pass and transactions drop by nearly a third, they would still be 18% higher than the lowest levels of the global recession. So there is hope, even if you need to employ a little perspective to find it.

As for when transaction levels are set to recover, again, this is a matter of some conjecture. Some feel that by 2024 things should be sparking back into life. Meanwhile, others are predicting a much gloomier outlook and proffering 2027 as the point when transaction volumes will return to pre-pandemic levels.

But It’s Not All Bad News

We’re conscious that thus far we’ve offered mostly doom and gloom – not what anyone asked for in early January. Despite this, there are some reasons for optimism.

Firstly, as we’ve already mentioned, this slowdown is set to be much milder than the cataclysm of 2008. It probably won’t be much comfort to anyone worried about the year to come, but the housing market and conveyancers have weathered far worse and bounced back stronger.

Second, while the market is set to dip quite dramatically, virtually no expert is predicting a wholesale crash. This means that, while there will be less activity, things won’t grind to a halt and much of the industry will continue working, albeit at a more pedestrian pace.

Finally, this could just be the correction the market needs. It’s been clear for some time that the UK housing market is running far too hot and that current prices are unsustainable. As stated earlier, a decline in prices coupled with a cut to interest rates sometime in 2024 or 2025 could actually be a good thing for the market. It could help entice reluctant buyers back and open up new opportunities for prospective first-time owners.

The elaborate game of musical chairs that is UK politics continues apace. And, this time, the music stopped with Rishi Sunak. By this point, you’ve probably got a fairly good idea of what Rishi Sunak (or at least his PR) is all about – fiscal responsibility, economic stability, and housing reform. 

But, with house prices expected to slump 12.5% in London and 10% across the UK in 2023, the question on everyone’s lips is what will Prime Minister Sunak do? Can he save the housing market?

Let’s take a look at the positives first.

Yes

First of all, there’s some evidence that Sunak has begun to undo the damage wrought by the previous administration’s disastrous mini-budget. The PM’s appointment has seen Sterling climb to its highest point since the mini-budget and UK gilt yields are beginning to recover. What’s more, the five-year swap rate, which is used to price most UK mortgages, is sitting at 4.5% and is likely to drop further. 

Of course, the UK housing market and economy are intrinsically linked. So, the markets stabilising with the return of ‘sensible’ politics is good for anyone buying a house or remortgaging. 

With the return of some stability, the longer-term outlook is a little sunnier. The cost of borrowing for government and business has been falling since Sunak took office – the markets reacting positively to tough talk on ‘balancing the books’. This does bring some hope that interest rate rises are over, for now – a huge relief for homebuyers. 

However, it’s worth noting that rates are still far higher than they were 12 months ago. Much of this is out of the government’s hands. As we slide into a cost of living crisis and mini-recession, we just don’t know how far the Bank of England (BoE) will have to go to try and dampen inflation. But, for the moment, it does look like mortgage rates will return to 4-5% in 2023.

For conveyancers, this is broadly good news. More certainty around borrowing costs will stabilise transaction volumes, even if it doesn’t necessarily mean prices will remain at current levels. 

What of the shortage of affordable homes that’s hamstrung the bottom end of the market? The picture here is less clear. While there’s been some encouraging rhetoric from Sunak on the need to build more houses and relieve demand, the jury is still out on how far the government will fulfil its pledges on new homes.

No 

Now for the slightly less positive outlook. It’s not news to anyone involved in property that the market has been overheating for some time. The average house price in the UK is between 8 and 11 times the average salary (depending on where you live). It’s a situation that has priced a generation of potential homebuyers out of the market and it’s been clear for a while that something has to give.

That ‘something’ could be about to. Remember earlier when we mentioned that gilt markets have calmed? The trouble is they haven’t calmed that much. Yields on ten-year gilts are still double what they were in May 2022. 

The problem with this is that gilt yields (or how much the government has to pay investors for what it borrows) are a key barometer for mortgage providers when setting interest rates. Or to put it another way, high gilt yields mean high-interest rates.

Unless something is done to solve this quickly, the market could be about to undergo a correction.

Even if interest rates do decline back to 4-5%, in a country that’s grown used to 2% mortgages, that’s a huge jump. As many first-time buyers come to the end of 2 or 5-year fixed-term mortgages on lower rates, they may find that higher rates coupled with a cost of living crisis mean they suddenly can’t afford to pay. 

To illustrate what we mean, Goldman Sachs has estimated that 40% of the UK’s mortgages will be repriced in the next 12 months. A homeowner who bought a £290,000 house on a 2-year fixed rate of 1.56% (both average prices) will pay an extra £5,900 per year if they’re forced to switch to a new fixed rate of 6%.

Those homeowners, predominantly first-time buyers who are already spending a huge chunk of their income, simply won’t be able to pay. So, they’ll sell, and in turn, the supply of new buyers will dry up, leading to a decline in prices. 

This isn’t to say all is lost and a little deflation in the housing bubble will be a good thing in the long term. And, there are things Sunak could do to ease the situation, namely mortgage interest relief and energy rebates targeted at those homeowners who need them most.

However, what Sunak cannot change is that the era of cheap credit is over and, with it, the age of rampant house price growth. Perhaps it’s now time to look at what comes next.

As the dust settles on (another) Tory Leadership contest and Liz Truss emerges victorious, attention turns to the new cabinet. And amongst the high-profile demotions and political musical chairs, we have a new housing secretary – the fourth this year.

Taking the hot seat is Teeside MP, Simon Clarke, replacing Greg Clark (confusing, eh?) who lasted just two months in the role. Mr Clarke has been named, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Typically, we’d expect a specialist Housing Minister to be appointed alongside Mr Clarke but, as of yet, it’s unclear whether that role will continue to exist.

But who is Simon Clarke? And, most importantly, what can conveyancers and the housing market expect from him?

Who Is Simon Clarke? 

Hailing from Warwickshire, Clarke stood in the 2015 general election as the Conservative candidate for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, eventually losing to then Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop. But he returned victorious in the fateful 2017 general election, winning the seat from Labour. 

Since then, Clarke has had stints as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government. As part of the 2021 September Reshuffle, Mr Clarke became the youngest cabinet minister in government after being appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

So, despite his relatively young age for politics, just 37, in Clarke we appear to be getting an experienced operator. It’s also important to note he has some experience in the housing sector, serving in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in 2020.

But what about his politics, in particular towards housing? Well, Clarke has been a vocal supporter of regeneration projects in the North East. In May of 2022, he tweeted it would be a “disaster for the Conservatives” if “we do not build the homes we need, where we need them”. 

Unusually for a Conservative, Clarke has also been very outspoken on climate change. He’s spoken out against fellow Conservatives who’ve claimed that net-zero should be placed on the back burner due to the energy crisis, going so far as to describe it as “positively irrational.”

What Can Conveyancers Expect?

We’ve established that Simon Clarke has principles and at least some background in housing, but what does any of this mean for the housing sector?

First, let’s deal with some positives. Clarke’s outspoken support of ‘levelling-up’ could be a boost to the country’s flagging new-build programme. In rhetoric at least, Clarke has proven himself a staunch supporter of building more houses, particularly in those areas in most desperate need. This can only be good for the housing market, given its difficulties in matching supply with demand – particularly for first-time buyers. 

On top of this, his backing of net zero is interesting. It’s no secret that the UK’s housing stock is woefully insulated, which is bad in more stable times but potentially disastrous in an energy crisis. What’s more, terrible EPC ratings devalue plenty of otherwise decent housing stock. It’s clear something needs to be done; could Clarke be the man to do it?

Now for some slightly more downbeat predictions. Unfortunately, Clarke has one of the most daunting in-trays of any government minister. Alongside the problems with homebuilding, he also faces a rampant homelessness crisis and a rental sector on its knees. It remains to be seen how much space this leaves for an ambitious homebuilding or insulation project.

Then we have the views of Prime Minister, Liz Truss. Truss has repeatedly expressed an ideological distaste for “Soviet top-down housing targets.” It’s not completely clear what that means yet and it’s probably worth treating it more as red meat for the Tory base rather than a cast iron proclamation. Nevertheless, we can probably assume that the government’s target of building 300,000 homes per year by 2025 is likely to be altered, if not scrapped.

So, what can we conclude? Well, for all his principles, Clarke is still a member of what looks to be one of the most ideologically committed governments in a generation, beset by crisis. So the smart money is on housebuilding ticking along at much the same level it has done for much of the last decade. It’s not what the housing market needs but for the time being, at least, don’t expect radical change. 

Has the dreaded slowdown begun? If we’re going by demand figures then, surely, the answer is yes. However, at the same time, prices look relatively stable. Confused? You have every right to be. Let’s take a look at what’s going on. 

What’s Happening? 

Starting things off, July and August have seen a slackening in demand. Sales expectations for the coming 12 months have fallen by 36%, down further from the 21% drop in June, according to a survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). This comes in the wake of the Bank of England (BoE) announcing its steepest rate hike since the mid-1990s. 

According to RICS’s report’, “This marks the third successive report in which this indicator has been in negative territory, thereby representing the longest stretch of falling demand seen since the early stages of the pandemic.”

Alongside this, August has seen a small drop in the average house price for the first time this year. Figures just released by Rightmove reveal prices have dropped by 1.3% or £4,795 so far in August. 

But that’s not the whole story.

The RICS survey also reveals that the overall trend (aside from the August blip) is still towards rising house prices. And, according to research, fall-throughs are not rising dramatically – something you would expect if the market was about to come screeching to a halt.

What Does This Mean?

This all seems a little contradictory on the face of it, so what can we learn?

Well, first of all, the cost of living crisis and higher interest rates are having an impact on the housing market. Demand has slowed. And half of estate agents report that average selling prices are no longer coming in above the asking price for properties worth up to £500k. Meanwhile, many sellers with properties worth more than £1m are being forced to accept lower offers. It is worth noting, however, that the fall in demand predates the BoE’s interest rate hike. 

What about house prices? Well, given it’s such a small drop, the 1.3% fall in prices this month can probably just be attributed to the time of year. August has always been a slow time for the property market; most of us are on a beach somewhere for at least some of the month. So, both buyers and sellers simply put things off until early autumn.

As for projections about prices continuing to rise, it’s the same old story. There is still a huge imbalance between demand for new homes and housing stock. Unsurprisingly, the UK’s crippling shortage of new housing stock hasn’t gotten better with the onset of a cost of living crisis and a possible recession. This means that, while buyer demand has been falling for the past three months, it’s well above where the market was as recently as 2019. 

What Does the Future Hold?

A good way to gauge where the housing market is headed is to look at what the industry’s big players are saying. Generally, if they sound particularly alarmed, we should be too. However, most of the housing heavyweights seem remarkably sanguine about what’s happening, if not downright chipper.

Lloyds Banking Group (owner of Halifax) said last month that it was bracing itself for a slowdown but was still expecting lending to grow by single digits in the next 12-18 months. This sentiment is echoed by Right Move, which still expects UK house prices to end 2022  7% up on 2021. 

Knight Frank also believes that prices will remain relatively stable throughout the rest of 2022, despite a slight cooling off later in the autumn as holidaymakers return and put their houses on the market, stimulating supply. And even RICS, the author of the report on falling demand thinks that, even with a slight loss of momentum due to economic pressures, prices will be ‘modestly higher’ than current levels in 2023. 

All in all, while the next 12 months are unlikely to represent sunlit uplands, they also don’t look so bad. As long as supply remains incredibly low, house prices are likely to remain high, even with what promises to be a long, hard winter around the corner. 

Of course, we could all be proven wrong. After all, it’s happened before (most notably in 2008) and trying to predict the impacts of an economic crisis is usually unwise. But, for now, it looks as though the housing market is one of the few sectors of the British economy set to have a stable end to 2022. 

Economic storm clouds gather on the horizon. The unions are back on strike. And the Bank of England (BoE) predicts inflation will soar to 10% by the end of the year, a huge decline in real incomes, and a rise in unemployment.

It all feels very familiar. After all, we’ve been here before in 2008, 1980, and 1973. It’s often fruitless to compare crises; 2022 is not 1973, no matter what the tabloids might say, the socio-economic conditions are very different. However, when it comes to the housing market, past economic slowdowns can be instructive in what to expect this time around.

But first, let’s deal with whether a recession really is inevitable.

Is There a Recession Coming?

Well, the good news is that the BoE is yet to announce that the UK is in a recession. However, that’s about where the good stuff stops. The UK is currently in a period of ‘stagflation’, a term that brings economists and financiers everywhere out in a cold sweat. 

Typically, when a country gets locked into a period of low growth and high inflation or ‘stagflation’ (as the UK is) the only way out is a recession. This can be a long, hard recession like 2008 or a relatively short one a la April to June 2020 but the rule of thumb is that some sort of economic slowdown must follow.

And the figures aren’t promising. Consultancy KPMG predicts that GDP growth will more than half this year, with further decreases in 2023. This is also backed by the figures coming out of the Office for national statistics, which show decreases in GDP for March and April. When you consider that the definition of a recession is ‘two successive quarters of decline in GDP’ this is already edging towards that territory. 

How Bad Will the Recession Be?

While there’s a broad consensus among economists that a recession or, at least something that feels very much like one, is coming, as yet, there’s no agreement on how bad it’s likely to be. 

Some experts, such as KPMG, are predicting a mild recession. The BoE is clinging to the technical definition and stating two consecutive quarters of decline are unlikely. Meanwhile, the CEBR is suggesting that we could see a ‘widespread recession’.

Whatever happens, it now seems near-certain that we’re headed for a major economic slowdown, so what does that mean for housing?

What Will Happen to the Housing Market?

First of all, let’s tackle the obvious. Higher bills for energy, goods and services, as well as interest rises (both from the BoE and mortgage lenders), are likely to act as a brake on housing market growth. 

It’s a simple question of buyers having less money in their pockets. The growth of recent years has largely been driven by incentives for buyers, be that low-interest rates or the stamp duty holiday. If the inverse is true, (rising interest rates, falling incomes and plenty of other disincentives) many who would have entered the market will either hold off in the hope better deals will be available in future or simply be priced out.

A recession could also put a dent in house prices themselves. Research from Risk Concern, reveals that, when adjusted for inflation, the average impact on house prices across the last six recessions is -9.22%. That might not sound like much when house prices in the UK have risen by 53% in the last decade, but it’s still a hell of a drop.

All that being said, there are a few nuggets of good news to cling to. Firstly, no economist has predicted an outright crash. It’s worth remembering that despite the doom and gloom, we’re some way from a 2008-style scenario. Alongside this, mortgage approvals remain well above pre-pandemic levels, indicating that plenty of people still have the motivation to move. And, we’re still in a period where the labour market is reasonably strong, with unemployment low and vacancies high.

In conclusion, were we unwise enough to predict the next year of the housing market, we’d probably opt for a slight slowdown, with a single-digit percentage fall in prices. Less first-time buyers will enter the market and fewer owners will opt to upgrade but the market should remain steady. However, this does come with a caveat. Given the last few years we’ve lived through, it’s probably wise to take these predictions with a healthy pinch of salt.

Assuming you remember the 1980s, what defined the decade for you? The music? The
fashion? The miners’ strike? If you’re a Conservative MP, chances are, it’s none of the above.
No, for many in British politics, the defining moment of the decade was Margaret Thatcher’s
Right to Buy policy. So much so, that there have been multiple attempts to revive it in one form
or another. Who remembers Michael Howard’s manifesto commitment in 2005? Or David
Cameron’s pitch for his 2015 election bid? Or Robert Jenrick in 2019?
So it comes as no surprise that Boris Johnson has become the latest Conservative politician to
hitch his wagon to this particular star. It was announced in early May that the Prime Minister is
considering reviving the scheme to allow housing association tenants to purchase the properties
they rent at a discounted price.
Under the proposed scheme, 2.5 million households would be eligible for discounts of up to
70% on their rental properties. But will it happen this time? Is it a good idea? And what would it
mean for conveyancers?
Will It Happen?
As we’ve already covered, this isn’t the first time the scheme has arisen from the dead. So
what’s different this time?
Well, it’s no secret that Boris Johnson is in desperate need of a vote-winning policy in the wake
of partygate and the ongoing cost of living crisis. Likewise, the Tory party could do with some
good old fashioned conservative policies to burnish its credentials with an unhappy electorate.
These factors alone make it an attractive option for both Johnson and the party.
However, given the timing of the announcement, it’s entirely possible that this is little more than
a political ‘dead cat’ to distract from other issues. Time will tell.
Is It a Good Idea?
Laying all that to one side for a moment, say this was to happen, would it be a good thing?
Let’s take a look at the good bits first. First of all, as we mentioned, this scheme would mean as
many as 2.5 million homes entering the market over its duration (although the real figure will be
far smaller than that). This would obviously be a real shot in the arm for the housing market.
It would also mean many people who are currently shut out of the housing market could gain a
foothold (much like the original scheme). Although low on details (quelle surprise) the
Government’s proposal did suggest that housing benefit could be used by would-be purchasers

to help secure a mortgage. That detail, at least, is laudable.
Now, we have to deal with the bad. Top of the list is how eye-wateringly expensive the scheme
would be, with some estimates putting the cost at £14bn over 10 years.
In addition, the new scheme suffers from many of the same problems as the original. The 1980s
version proved that it’s virtually impossible to replace housing stock one-for-one. Private
developers have little incentive to build social housing and local authorities (who were entrusted
with replacing it the first time around) whose resources are stretched and are legally required to
spend their budgets elsewhere.
And, so we end up with an even greater deficit of social housing for the neediest in our
communities. It’s less than ideal when the waiting list for local authority provided social housing
already stands at 1.16 million households.
Very little appears to have been proposed for how these problems will be countered or how the
scheme will ensure we aren’t in the same (or a worse) position in twenty years’ time.
Lastly, the scheme claims to tackle generation rent. Unfortunately, this strategy has a glaring
error. Although social housing still makes up a sizeable portion of the housing sector (around
18%) it isn’t how the majority of renters, particularly the younger people the phrase generation
rent was coined for, live.
The private rental market generally hovers around 20% of all households occupied, closer to
30% in London. That’s a huge swathe of potential homeowners and, if we’re being cynical,
voters for whom this scheme does nothing.
What would it mean for conveyancers?
Now we’ve tackled the benefits and drawbacks, what would the revival of the scheme mean for
conveyancers?
In the short term, it would potentially lead to a spike in the number of new houses coming onto
the market. Of course, more work is generally a good thing for conveyancers, even more so if
it’s stimulating the lower end of the market and adding new homeowners to the ladder.
However, this will be little more than a short term blip if the problems of the earlier right to buy
scheme aren’t tackled. Or, to put it another way, the result will only be positive if it is matched by
an increase in the size of the housing market to match the ever-growing need.
Anything other than this just risks shifting demand to another part of the market and the
shortage continuing ad infinitum.

How much longer can house prices continue to rise?’ Whether you’re a first-time buyer
desperately trying to gain a foothold on the ladder, a longtime homeowner thinking of selling up,
or just a conveyancer, it’s the question on everyone’s mind.
House prices just keep on growing. New data from Halifax reveals February saw the fastest
growth in prices since June 2007 – an era that feels very distant in so many ways. Meanwhile,
according to data from Rightmove, the average cost of a house in the UK now stands at
£354,654, the first time it’s ever exceeded £350,000.
So it’s clear that records are being broken and ceilings smashed month on month. But what’s
behind the precipitous rise? And, perhaps more importantly, what could end it?
What’s Driving the Rise?
There are several interweaving factors contributing to soaring prices. And, depending on which
expert you ask, you’re likely to get a different answer as to which is the most important. So, let’s
take each in turn, starting with the simplest.
First up, large swathes of the UK property market (particularly in London and the South East)
are simply overvalued. S & P Global Ratings, the US credit rating agency, believes that property
in London is overvalued by 50%, while property outside the capital costs 20% more than it
should.
It puts this down to a combination of ‘low-interest rates, the stamp duty holiday and excess
savings amid the pandemic’ driving up prices. And, while these are certainly all factors, there’s
more to it.
The COVID-19 pandemic also boosted the desire for larger and rural homes, the so-called ‘race
for space’. With many people working remotely, most of the time, buying property in Britain’s
major cities has lost some of its allure. Indeed, asking prices for four-bedroom homes and those
in rural areas have shot up.
However, at the same time, prices in cities like London have continued to escalate. And that’s
because, as legal restrictions have lifted, and some businesses encourage a return to the office
for at least some of the week, another group of buyers is moving back in (or at least within
commuting distance).
Finally, there’s a major mismatch between supply and demand. So much so, that Rightmove
estimates there is currently double the number of would-be buyers as there are sellers. Anyone
looking to sell at the moment would find a market in which the chance of finding a buyer in the
first week of putting a property on the market is the highest it’s ever been. And, with such
frenzied demand, comes frenzied prices.
What Could End It?
We’ve tackled some potential reasons why the UK property market is running so hot, now let’s
look at what could cool things down.
If you’ve paid any attention to the news lately, you’ll know that UK inflation is currently running at
its highest rate for a decade and is unlikely to get better anytime soon. The IMF predicts that the
UK will have the worst inflation in the G7 by the end of 2023.
In response, the Bank of England (BoE) has become increasingly hawkish, hiking up borrowing
costs to try and get things under control. Ordinarily, a sharp increase in the interest rate would
be expected to take the steam out of the housing market and prices would fall accordingly. After
all, that’s what happened in the early nineties.
However, the old link between housing prices and inflation appears to have been weakened.
There’s been little sign so far of any impact on demand for property. And, lest we forget, the UK
housing market came through similar external shocks in the global financial crisis and COVID
remarkably unscathed.
What’s more, so long as demand outstrips supply, prices will continue to surge, particularly at
the more spacious end of the market. Of course, more affordable housing would dilute demand,
but there’s been scant evidence of enough property being built to do this any time in the near
future.
We also need to consider the looming spectre of a potential recession. The war in Ukraine and
resulting energy crisis rumbles on and there are plenty of gloomy predictions as to what this
means for the UK economy were it to continue.
The UK housing market has proved recession-proof in the past and could do so again. But, it’s
worth sounding a note of caution. Interest rates were slashed following the last financial crisis,
incentivising market activity. With an ongoing fuel crisis and soaring inflation, this isn’t likely to
happen again, not least because the BoE has fewer fiscal levers to pull on this time around.
And, without cheap credit, the housing market won’t rebound anything like as quickly.
One final point is the double bind homebuyers currently find themselves in, caught between a
cost of living crisis and astronomical property prices. If left untended, we will reach a point
where homebuyers simply can’t afford to buy. When and if we get there will depend upon
decisions taken by the government and BoE in the next few months.

The last few weeks have been horrifying. Virtually nothing appears to have gone untouched by the nightmare playing out in Ukraine and beamed in real-time onto our televisions and smartphones. And the same is true of the London property market.

Chelsea might be a long way from Kharkiv but as a multi-pronged crackdown on Russian money in the city begins, many fear that the London market could be in for a shock. 

The logic is simple: the top end of the property market is probably Britain’s most visible contact point with Russia. So it follows that any sanctions applied to the people that drive high-value real estate (Russian oligarchs) could have a knock-on effect on the market as a whole.

But is this accurate? Is the market really that sensitive to Russian investment or are fears of a dip unfounded?

The current picture 

First of all, it’s important to state that sanctions will likely have some effect. The Telegraph estimates that Russian Oligarchs accounted for a 36.5% rise in central London property prices as recently as 2007. 

What’s more, there is evidence that purchases by Russian oligarchs have increased in the last few years. Data from the Land Registry reveals a massive increase in titles registered to Russian property owners, from 86 in 2010 to 1,127 in 2021.

All of this amounts to a pretty hefty chunk of capital being removed from the London property market as assets are frozen and seized. 

Indeed, there are early signs of a fall in activity. Investors’ Chronicle reported that high-end estate agents Savills and luxury developers Berkley Group shed six and five per cent respectively in late February. 

The long term 

We’ve established that sanctions have had some effect on the London property market, but what does this mean in the long run? And could it benefit buyers at the lower end of the market?

Let’s tackle average buyers first. It’s certainly true that Russian purchases of central London property have contributed to spiralling prices in the capital. Again, it’s a relatively simple equation. Billionaires buy up property in highly desirable postcodes, then the slightly less wealthy are pushed further afield, the middle classes are forced outwards until you end up with a situation where a studio flat in E10 costs north of £150,000 (for a much more elegant analysis of this process, we recommend this piece by author Rowan Moore). 

Therefore, it is possible that sanctions could lead to a slight decline in London property prices. However, this isn’t all that likely. Unfortunately, the real effect of the Ukraine crisis on ordinary buyers will probably come from its impact on inflation and interest rates. The Bank of England is going to have to do something to combat skyrocketing energy prices and that will almost certainly come in the form of meaner fiscal policy.

Let’s move on to the future of high-value property in London. For all that Russian money has catalysed rising house prices in London, this actually represents a sizeable minority of the luxury market. It’s no secret that the world is not exactly short on billionaires. And Russian buyers’ contribution pales in comparison to that of Hong Kong, China, the Gulf states and, more recently, southern Asia. 

Regardless of fast-tracked legislation to tackle ‘dirty money’ entering the UK, it’s unlikely that the globe’s super-rich will cease to see London as one of the premier destinations for property investment. Nature, or rather the market, abhors a vacuum and, while sanctions against Russia may cause a short term dip in prices, don’t be surprised when investors of other nationalities step into their place and push the needle right back up again. 

Schemes like the government’s Help to Buy and shared ownership were once trumpeted as the answer to falling homeownership in the UK. But, after a decade of Help to Buy, how well have these schemes really worked? 

Help to Buy

Help to Buy is an equity loan scheme that allows first-time buyers to purchase a home with a 5% deposit. The loan portion of the scheme covers anything from 20-40% of the home’s value (depending on where you live) with the rest covered by a standard mortgage.

The idea behind the scheme is simple, by allowing for a smaller mortgage, it removes the need for a large deposit – one of the biggest barriers to entry for first-time buyers. Sounds pretty useful in theory, right? Let’s get into how well it works in practice.

Starting with the positives, the scheme has helped an estimated 200,000 people in the UK buy a home. And it’s also true that the loan portion of Help to Buy can allow first-time purchasers to access more competitive mortgage rates than they would otherwise be able to.

However, there are some downsides. Firstly, the amount buyers have to pay back isn’t fixed. The loan is based on a percentage of the home’s value, so there’s every possibility that buyers will have to pay back much more than they borrowed. On top of this, after the sixth year of repayment, the interest rate is tied to the Retail Price Index, plus 1%. This means that if interest rates increase, buyers could be faced with unmanageable fees. 

You can make the argument that this is no different from many other loan agreements, but it’s hard to escape the feeling that it isn’t very helpful for buyers who are already struggling to afford a deposit. 

The second glaring flaw in the scheme is that it only covers new-build homes. There are a couple of problems with this. One, the number of new-builds being built lags far behind demand. Two, it gives buyers little choice and they’re much more constrained by geography.

There’s also the spectre of negative equity. Many commentators fear Help to Buy is artificially inflating house prices and that the market could tank once the scheme ends, leaving buyers mired in negative equity. 

Finally, let’s zoom out and look at things at the macro level for a moment. The House of Lords report on meeting housing demand was absolutely scathing about the scheme, even going so far as to state the £29bn spent on it has been ‘wasted’. The report goes on to say that the scheme does little more than ‘inflate prices by more than their subsidy value’ and that the money would have been better spent ‘increasing housing supply’. 

It’s hard to argue with these points. Homeownership continues to fall across the UK and the age of first-time buyers is creeping up year on year. What’s more, the scheme has mostly been accessed by young people who would likely have bought anyway (with help from family) and hasn’t done enough to help those from middle-income or working-class backgrounds who currently find themselves locked out of property ownership.

Shared Ownership 

We’ve dealt with help to buy, let’s take a look at shared ownership. Shared ownership is effectively a halfway house between renting and purchasing a property. It allows first-time buyers to take out a mortgage on a portion of a home between 25 and 75%, with the remainder being owned by a housing association (in most cases). 

Once again, let’s begin with the positives. Like help to buy, shared ownership can provide a stepping stone out of renting and onto the property ladder. Buyers typically need a far smaller deposit for a shared ownership purchase (due to the smaller mortgage). And, even though the mortgage and rental payments can add up to more than a full mortgage, it’s still a relatively achievable route into homeownership. 

Shared ownership also has a key advantage over renting, besides having a stake in the property. The portion of the home a buyer owns can increase if the value of the property goes up. This provides some equity to help homeowners take the next step on the property ladder.

Now for the snags in shared ownership. 

Most obviously, buyers are still effectively tenants. This means paying rent on top of mortgage repayments, the possibility of eviction, and service charges for communal areas. Worst of all, buyers are not due any reimbursement of the money put into the property if they are evicted until the property is sold.

Then, there’s the leasehold issue. As we’re all aware, a leasehold property becomes progressively harder to sell and the value decreases rapidly the longer it’s owned. Of course, this can be avoided with a lease extension but that’s not always an option. Much like we discussed earlier with help to buy, this raises the threat of negative equity or an effectively worthless property. 

Another issue is ‘staircasing’. This process allows tenants to buy more of the property over time, in smaller, more manageable chunks. It sounds great in theory, but it comes with some pitfalls. Staircasing requires the owner to save for multiple (albeit smaller) deposits and pay for searches, surveys and legal fees each time they want to up their share. This potentially makes it more expensive than the ‘one and done’ approach of a traditional mortgage.

Some Conclusions 

Help to buy and shared ownership do represent an attempt to at least do something to help first-time buyers onto the ladder. However, it’s difficult not to conclude that both schemes are ineffectual alternatives to the complicated business of building more houses or tackling the huge number of empty properties.

Both schemes are riddled with flaws and pose little real value to most first-time buyers. Yes, it’s true that both do offer a way onto the property ladder, but it’s worth asking whether that’s worthwhile when they potentially create more problems for new homeowners than they solve.

Unfortunately, the dwindling numbers of first-time buyers is a systemic problem that requires a systemic fix. Schemes like Help to Buy might win votes or gloss over the issue for a while, but there’s no shortcut to fixing the affordable housing crisis.

For a lot of British people, owning a holiday home is the pinnacle of aspiration. So many of us dream of that bolthole in the Lake District or on the craggy Cornish Coast.

However, from April 2023, the tax system for holiday homes is changing. At present, owners of second homes in England can avoid paying council tax and apply for small business rates relief by stating their ‘intention’ to let the property out to holidaymakers.

From next year, second homeowners will have to prove holiday homes are being rented out for at least 70 days a year to access small business rates relief. Evidence can be provided in the form of websites and brochures advertising the let, letting details, and receipts. 

Properties will also have to be available to be rented out for 140 days a year to qualify for this relief.

Why the Change? 

In the words of Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove: 

“We will not stand by and allow people in privileged positions to abuse the system by unfairly claiming tax relief and leaving local people counting the cost.

The action we are taking will create a fairer system, ensuring that second homeowners are contributing their share to the local services they benefit from.”

He has a point. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that many second homeowners are using the original rules as a tax loophole, without ever renting their property out to holidaymakers. Indeed, anyone who has ever been to the UK’s beauty spots out of season can attest to the sheer number of homes standing empty. 

Let’s take Cornwall as an example. Cornwall is one of the most economically deprived counties in the UK, with soaring child poverty rates. At the same time, its house prices have skyrocketed during the pandemic. For local people, this has meant crippling living costs and in some cases being forced out of the villages and towns they call home.

It’s clear that, as a county, it’s in desperate need of well-funded public services to cater for the local people. All this rule change asks is that affluent second homeowners in area’s like this pay into the local economy they benefit from. 

What Could It Mean for the Housing Market?

So, we know why the change is taking place. Now for the bigger question. What does this mean for the housing market as a whole? Are we set to see a sudden influx of second homes on the market in late 2022 as owners look to cut their losses?  

Not quite. There are around, 65,000-holiday lets in England that are currently liable for business rates and around 97% of them have rateable values of up to £12,000. Under current rules, these are eligible for small business rates relief. 

It goes without saying that £12,000 is a substantial amount of money. But for many of those with the wealth to buy a second home, it’s not likely to be enough to induce them to sell up. What’s more, the short-term rental market is still a very attractive proposition for any would-be landlords despite the extra costs. 

Naturally, there will be some owners who baulk at the additional costs and choose to sell up, but we expect them to be in the minority. In fact, what’s much more likely to drive any surge in sales in places like Devon, Cornwall and the Lake District is high demand.

There’s never been a better time to sell in many of England’s top tourist spots. Devon, Cornwall and the Lake District have all seen at least 10% price rises in the last year. It’s partly down to these areas’ increasing popularity as holiday destinations during the pandemic (with foreign travel off the cards for many). And it’s partly down to the widescale adoption of remote working, as many of us realise that some sea air and coastal views are preferable to city living if you’re not constrained by commuting into the office. 

To draw some sort of conclusion, expect to see demand continue to rise in popular holiday destinations and prices to follow suit. However, it’s unlikely that much of this will be driven by the government closing tax loopholes.