The new housing bill in the 62nd Queen’s Speech, which was held yesterday, should have been focused on housebuilding the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) says in a reaction to the announcement.
RICS also finds that much more details about the extension of the Right to Buy scheme should have been provided.
With that the professional body joins a chorus of voices calling on the government to do more about the building of new homes on the supply-strapped housing market.
Jeremy Blackburn, RICS head of policy, commented:
“Government is clearly putting Housing at the heart of its agenda but ‘Right to Buy’, Starter Homes and Brownfield together still fall short of a comprehensive supply strategy to the housing crisis. There is a huge amount of detail required on ‘Right to Buy’ if Housing Associations and the people who need them are not to be disadvantaged.
“Devolved powers to English cities offers the opportunity for property-led growth, but guidance on how LEPs and metro mayors will work together must be made clear in a prospectus which outlines the available powers and funding
“Establishing a Northern Powerhouse will depend heavily on committed infrastructure spend – particularly in rail and broadband – if it is to unleash its economic potential. HS2 and these measures need to attract industrial occupiers to the north.
“2017 is too late for an EU referendum if the property sector is to maintain levels of inward investment. We also need to make the new settlements for Scotland and Wales work and not get mired in five years’ of constitutional debate.
“Finally, we have called for property tax certainty, not a tax lock. Freezes on some taxes create uncertainties about others, which is why clarity on property tax will is urgent and will be essential in Chancellor’s July Budget.”
