If it was tough for the under-35s to get secure housing before this pandemic, just how hard will be it for them afterwards? They will be the ones paying back the economy for years to come. We must change housing policy now to ensure they have a fairer future. Younger people are on the frontline…
First time buyers will be given a discount of 30% under the governments proposed First Homes consultation paper. This will do little to help those people who are the targets for this housing. The average price of a 1-bed flat in London is in excess of £420,000 according to Foxtons. Using the Mayor for London’s…
Rent and mortgage advice update for leaseholders, tenants and landlords – the Government has updated its advice for people having difficulties paying rent, mortgages and shared ownership costs. They rightly suggest a pragmatic approach and urge people to be mindful of each other’s circumstances and begin early discussion. For more information, please read the documents…
If people are facing difficulties they should speak to their mortgage companies or landlords. It s important to agree what to do in light of the pandemic, the government’s announcements and their own employment and financial circumstances. Payment holidays will be offered to Help-to-Buy homeowners. There is also support for renters and homeowners during the…
Mix has secured the Chiswick High Road site from the GLA’s Small Sites Program. It will deliver 28 homes, 14 of which will be intermediate affordable flats sold at fixed discounts with no rent on the portion not bought. One home will be sold at a discount of 60%, affordable to someone on a Tier…
New figures from the National Housing Federation show 3.6 million people in England are living in overcrowded homes. A further 2.5 million are caught in housing they can’t move out of – including house-shares, adults living with their parents, or people living with an ex. Rates of home ownership among the under-35s are at less…
Sterling prize, 25 October 2019 Congratulations to Cathy Hawley and Mikhail Riches on their Goldsmith Street scheme winning the 2019 Sterling prize. It is encouraging that an environmentally and socially sustainable housing scheme is being championed. References RIBA 2019 Sterling Prize Cathy Hawley Mikhail Riches
Reducing carbon in the construction industry is a vitally important task. It is a complex issue as all processes and elements of the build environment need to be considered. The manufacture of building materials, their transportation, installation, use over time and potential redundancy can raise problems in reducing the lifetime carbon component of a development….
Parents in the UK provide £6.3bn to help their children with their mortgages. This make them the 10th biggest provider when measured against other mortgage lenders. According to the Legal & General it is putting many in financial difficulties as parents are using their pensions and savings to help their children. People without the BoMaD…
The recent Santander study on first-time buyer’s views on home ownership and the report by the Guardian shows just how much work needs to be done to provide younger people with hope of, and opportunities to, fulfil their dream of home ownership. Our tenure blind, fixed equity homes are for these very people. We have…
Serpentine Pavilion Visit, 7 July 2019 The 2019 Serpentine Pavilion designed by architect Junya Ishigami is well worth visiting. The heavy slate roof hangs lightly like a leaf about to settle on the ground. The interior space is comforting and as familiar as an embrace. The columns supporting the structure are very slender lending the…
The 06 June 2019 edition of “Savills ProgrammE and Cost Sentiment Survey” shows that construction costs are still very high (and unlikely to go down following Brexit) and sales values for homes are viewed with ever increasing caution. If consequentially land values in London do not come down, we will continue to see a squeeze…