Propertymark calls for fiscal policy geared towards stimulating supply in the private rented sector, boosting homeownership, and tackling the scourge of empty commercial properties that blight Welsh communities.

The property industry urgently needs a clear strategy and strong, consistent leadership from the next UK Government. As the nation prepares to go to the polls on Thursday 4 July Propertymark has examined the manifesto promises on housing from major parties to see what is on offer to voters who care about the future of our sector.

Propertymark was invited to give evidence to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee (LUHCC) as part of their inquiry into the role the UK Government, local councils and developers have in ensuring the delivery of suitable housing for disabled people, and what the UK Government can do to support disabled tenants in the private rented sector.

The current phase of the scheme will close for applications at the end of March 2023, and the Welsh Government will be introducing a new price cap of £300,000 from April 2023, in line with increases in average house prices in Wales. 

Northern Ireland Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced an increase in the Co-Ownership property value limit from £175,000 to £190,000 to continue to support people into home ownership. The increase takes effect from 21 September 2022 and applies to the Co-Own, Co-Own for Over 55s and Rent to Own schemes.

The threshold of the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme in Scotland – which allows people to buy a home without having to fund its entire cost – has been raised by 9 per cent to reflect rising house prices.

Sam Legg, a nineteen year old farmer from Leicestershire, has become the 300,000th homeowner to use the Help to Buy: Equity Loan Scheme since its launch in 2013 and urges others to do the same.

From 1 April 2021, a new Help to Buy scheme will be introduced in Wales, replacing the current scheme which closes to new applications on 31 March 2021.

Ahead of the budget on 3 March, Propertymark has published its manifesto asking for ten changes the UK Government to make to support the housing sector. Principal changes are a continuation of the cut in stamp duty and extending the Help to Buy scheme to the second-hand homes market.

First-time buyers looking to purchase a home in England will continue to receive Government support under the revised Help to Buy: Equity Loan Scheme (2021-2023), which is now open for applications with buyers able to move into their new properties from 1 April 2021.