Getting to grips with housing

We have the latest from 'Planning Daily':

"Housing Supply Outstrips Demand"

'Supply of housing has outgrown three times faster than demand, according to latest research by property analyst Hometrack today.' (Click here Guardian press Item here)

Growth in demand has been slowing for the past four months, said Hometrack, with the run up to the general election, pre-budget talk of austerity measures and a continuing lack of mortgage finance all contributing to market uncertainty.

While prices have risen in June, the extent of price rises has declined. Price increases are now limited to just 11 per cent of the market while price falls were identified across 2.6 per cent of the market.

An earlier article from the Guardian here

"...a Guardian investigation found that almost half a million homes are lying empty in the UK – enough to put a roof over the heads of a quarter of the families on council house waiting lists.

The same article records:

"Housing charity Shelter Scotland has secured Scottish government support for the appointment of an empty homes champion who will promote the use empty homes as a way of increasing housing supply and improving neighbourhoods. The position recognises that the financial climate is conducive to maximising the use of existing housing stock"

Even if a mechanism is found to use as many 'empty homes' as possible, there will still be a need for housing. Satisfying the level of housing need across the country surely cannot be achieved through open market housing sales now.