NAEA: Chancellor must free up the housing market further

Wendy Evans-Scott, President Elect of the NAEA said: “The Chancellor’s help for first time buyers is a good gesture towards re-starting the stalling property market. However, it is nothing more than a gesture – the focus on new build properties, rather than incentivisation across a broader spectrum of property, means there will still be little upward momentum in the market. While the measures aimed at first time buyers must be welcomed, it is unlikely that they will provide the kick-start that the housing industry badly needs.
The review of Stamp Duty, for which we have long-campaigned, is a positive step and we believe the Chancellor is right to address planning laws and change of property use. However, without the ability to overcome the substantial capital barriers that are currently restricting property ownership, the market will stagnate in 2011. Such a stagnation has wider implications for the economy as it restricts the flexibility of the workforce and the ability of families to own the homes they need as they grow. Encouraging first time buyers back to the market is an important first step, but it is just that – a first step on a long road to recovery.”