ao link
Twitter
Facebook
Linked In
Twitter
Facebook
Linked In

You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles

Morning Briefing: mortgage levels hit new high

The number of mortgages taken out to buy a home reached the highest level in a decade in February, figures show.

Linked InTwitterFacebookeCard
Picture: Getty
Picture: Getty
Sharelines

50,000 mortgages were completed in February, the highest level for that month since 2007 #ukhousing

With the local elections drawing near, the LSE explores how stock transfers have been shaped by local ideology #ukhousing

In the news

More than 50,000 mortgages were completed in February according to trade body UK Finance, the highest level for that month since 2007, The Times reports.

This increase comes in the face of the Resolution Foundation’s report yesterday, which highlighted the crisis of homeownership in the UK.

Following that up, the Independent’s economics editor Ben Chu writes on the perils of leaving millennials in the private rented sector.

This report provoked an unusual reaction in one post on the right-wing opinion website Unherd.

There, Polly Mackenzie argues that we should forget about social housing and focus on homeownership.

Local politics is set to take centre stage, with local elections around the UK just over two weeks away.

In that spirit, a post on the London School of Economics’ policy blog explores how housing stock transfer in local authorities has been shaped by political ideology.

Building reports on one innovative housing development in Hertfordshire, where the county council has formed a £2bn joint venture with construction company Morgan Sindall.

Across the Irish Sea, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has said it is unable to deliver enough homes to meet demand in Belfast, The Irish News reports.

And as the date for Dame Judith Hackitt’s final report on her post-Grenfell review of building regulations draws near, The Guardian carries a warning from the Royal Institute of British Architect (RIBA) that the review will likely avoid a ban on combustible materials.

Inside Housing reported on these fears from RIBA and other industry bodies back in March.

Coinciding with that, The Guardian this morning has also published an interview with the young human rights lawyer Kwame Boateng, who has made a short film about the Grenfell Tower fire.

On social media

What’s on

  • At 10am this morning, the Work and Pensions Select Committee will hear evidence from charities and researchers on the impact of the controversial rollout of Universal Credit.
  • And Prime Minister’s Questions returns, following the Easter break.
Linked InTwitterFacebookeCard
Add New Comment
You must be logged in to comment.