Property has been a hot topic in the run up to the election. From banning tenant fees to reforming stamp duty politicians know this hot topic can be a real vote winner.
The Conservatives say they will “Extend the “Right to Buy” to 1.3m housing association homes in England.
Labour says they will “Guarantee three year tenancy agreements in the private sector and a ‘ceiling’ on rent increases”
UKIP want to “Build a million homes on previously developed land by 2025’
The Green Party will “Bring 350,000 empty homes back into use”
All vote winning policies but what effect could these have on property values and rent? A cap on rents and restrictions in this market could cause many landlords to exit the business reducing an already low rental stock. This may cause property prices to go down if the market is flooded with new properties for sale. Stock goes up, prices go down.
Will building new homes really help when mortgage lending is getting harder?
Some 200,000 homes will be made available to first-time buyers in England by 2020 if the Tories win the election, David Cameron has promised.
The coalition government already announced plans for 100,000 cut-price homes for people aged under 40.
Mr Cameron said his party would double it if elected, giving more people the security of owning their own home.