11/09/2020
Britain has seen the most widespread increases in house prices in four years despite the economic downturn.
The survey by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) found a “sharp acceleration” in prices across the UK, with the exception of London where prices were reported to be mostly flat. Four-fifths of those surveyed expect continued increases in demand for homes with gardens, outdoor spaces and local green spaces over the next two years.
It marks the latest sign of the mini-boom in the property market since lockdown restrictions eased and a stamp duty holiday was announced in England and Northern Ireland.
RICS said rising prices could make getting onto the property ladder even more difficult in some areas.
Agents across Britain were already dealing with a surprising surge in sales as pent-up demand from lockdown was combined with a new desire to move to larger, greener homes.
All British housing markets have now reopened in line with detailed Government guidance for how house viewings and sales can be conducted in line with social distancing. These include a ban on open houses, restricting viewings to only members on one household, and asking sellers to vacate properties during viewings.
Buyer demand, measured by the number of inquiries on properties, has since jumped to 46pc above pre-lockdown levels according to property website Zoopla. Sales agreed are now 4pc above the level seen at the beginning of March. The rate of recovery has been significant – during lockdown, agreed sales fell by 92pc.
Pent-up demand combined with a new desire to move is fueling a short-term boom in activity, particularly in prime rural markets as buyers leave London for more space and better value, and northern towns.
In July, asking prices hit a new record high of £320,265, £7,640 more than the average price tag in March, according to property website Rightmove.
Zoopla has forecast price growth between 2pc and 3pc for the rest of the year. But many think a property downturn is only being delayed.
There’s a great deal of optimism around the property market at the moment, with Rightmove hailing ‘the busiest month for 10 years’ in August and Zoopla saying activity is at its strongest level in five years. This might not last, however. Experts believe the market (and house price growth) could slow down once the government’s coronavirus financial support schemes and the stamp duty cut come to an end.
Halifax says the housing market will eventually feel the effects of the economic downturn, with ‘greater downward pressure on house prices in the medium-term’.
Nationwide says the winding down of government support schemes could ‘dampen housing activity’.
Rightmove says the market is likely to continue performing well in the short-term, but buyers and sellers ‘still need to be mindful of the wider economic concerns’.
Zoopla believes that prices and activity will remain stable until the end of the year.
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