3 Build higher-density where necessary: Councils and developers will be expected to build higherdensity homes in areas where there is a shortage of land, as well as in locations well served by public transport.
4 Speed up house building: Developers will be required to start building on land within two years, rather than three years, where planning permission has been granted ‒ or permission will lapse.
5 Encourage more house builders: As 60 per cent of new homes are built by just 10 companies, the Government will back small, independent builders through the £ 3 million Home Building Fund.
6 Help first-time buyers on to the ladder: Those hoping to see relief on stamp duty charges to stimulate the property market will be disappointed. Existing schemes such as Help to Buy will continue and a plan to offer discounted starter homes will be launched.
7 Make renting fairer for tenants: The report confirms that letting agent fees to tenants will be banned“ as soon as parliamentary time allows”, to give renters greater clarity and control over what they pay. The Government is also proposing to make the private rental sector more familyfriendly, by promoting longer tenancies to avoid frequent high moving costs and save children from having to change schools often.
8 Encourage build ‒ to ‒ rent homes: Planning rules will be amended to make it easier for councils to plan more long-term build-to-rent homes.
9 Leasehold fees and charges: Consultation will be held on a range of measures to“ tackle all unfair and unreasonable abuses of leasehold”, including uncontrolled ground rent rises.
10 Make the best use of existing homes: The Government also aims to consider the shortage of homes for older people ‒ or last-time movers ‒ including retirement housing, to release more family homes on to the market for younger buyers.
Commenting on the White Paper, Richard Snook, senior economist at PwC, says:“ While the paper includes a raft of new measures, the absence of change in key policy areas is perhaps more striking. There appears to be no major new initiatives on tax, the greenbelt or enabling local authorities to borrow to build.”
This is certainly true and, while the White Paper is still open to consultation, many questions remain unanswered. But in many respects, after years of neglect, some of the right questions are at least now being asked.
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