Sales activity in the London housing market remains flat in June following a trend of subdued newly agreed sales extending to March 2017, according to the latest RICS UK Residential Market Survey, June 2018.
The RICS series is a good lead indicator by around two quarters of the HMRC and Land Registry transactions national data, and this continued decline in newly agreed sales that’s mirrored in the national picture suggests that the softer trend in sales volumes will not improve over the coming months.
The new buyer enquiries series* which provides a gauge of the appetite to acquire property, is showing little reason to expect any uplift. The number of people looking to buy was flat in June, following two months of marginal increases in London. This is likely to persist through the second half of the year with national figures showing the time taken to complete a sale edging up from around sixteen weeks (Spring 2017) to around eighteen weeks at present.
For the fourth month in a row, new instructions have risen, with 22% more respondents seeing an increase in the flow of properties being put up for sale, in the capital. However, with average stocks levels remaining low at 37 it would be too early to suggest that this issue is lessening as an obstacle.
The survey has in the past highlighted a lack of available second-hand stock as a key impediment to the efficient functioning of the market, and the pipeline looks unlikely to improve with new appraisals of property by valuers down on the same period last year.
Looking ahead, sales expectations in London are mildly positive for the coming three months, with a similar outlook for the twelve months ahead, according to respondents.
At the headline level prices continue to report declines in London, albeit the pace of decline has eased slightly, compared to the five previous reports. Respondents are also anticipating declines to continue over the coming three months, but again at a slower pace.
Looking at the lettings data, new instructions coming through to London agents has dropped** (a net balance reading of -20%). Meanwhile, the rent expectations series in the capital is pointing to a rise in rents over the five year horizon.
Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist, commented:
“It is hard to see what is going to provide much impetus for activity in the housing market in the near term. Meanwhile the on-going challenges around lifting the delivery pipeline, reflected in last week’s disappointing data on housing starts, is captured in the suspicion in the survey that prices are likely to resume an upward course over the coming year. The challenge is also visible in the response of the private lettings market to change to the tax treatment on investment properties. While it is understandable that the government wanted to provide a lift for first time buyers, this may well come at the cost of higher rents as the appeal of buy to let diminishes.”
Geoff White, RICS Policy Manager commented: “This is one of the most complicated market situations that we have seen in some time, and with some of the working policy solutions taking a long time to get to market we’re seeing a difficult situation get worse.
“The situation in the Private Rented Sector gives great cause for concern as supply continues to drop. It would appear that new policy on taxes and Stamp Duty have made it so difficult for landlords at a time when the UK needs more homes to rent, that many continue to exit the market. A standardised set of regulations would go some way to help ease the life of both those renting and those looking to let, and RICS continues to ask government for greater regulation through adopting the Code of Practice used by RICS professionals and others.
“In the meantime, the government also struggles to reach its house building target. The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is to be announced soon but few hold out hope it will achieve its aim of significantly speeding up planning applications and actual delivery. The Prime Minister also tasked Sir Oliver Letwin to review build out rates and alleged land banking. His interim report suggests building a greater mix of tenures – including PRS – is the answer, and we look forward to the final recommendations.
“Faced with the uncertainty around Brexit, recent government changes and a shortage of skilled trades such as bricklayers, as identified by Sir Oliver Letwin, and you can see how the new Housing Minister Kit Malthouse – the eighth person to have that title since 2010 – has his work cut out.”
Leave a Comment