Smith reckoned the economy is in a robust place and cooling house prices should be viewed as a positive for buyers struggling to afford to get on the housing ladder.
haart chief executive Paul Smith has branded the notion of Brexit holding up house sales ‘ridiculous’, as he urged people to move on by the time Article 50 is triggered.
Smith reckoned the economy is in a robust place and cooling house prices should be viewed as a positive for buyers struggling to afford to get on the housing ladder.
The estate agent’s house price data reported a 3.3% reduction in the year to December, contrasting with yesterday’s government house price index which saw a 7.2% annual increase to November.
Smith said: “It is certainly time we all moved on.
“The idea of Article 50 holding up someone’s decision to buy or sell a home is ridiculous nearly a year on from the referendum, especially as the economy has remained so robust.
“Prices cooling down is a good thing for buyers – now is a great time for them to get a good deal."
haart’s national housing market monitor reported a 3.1% increase in house sales in December 2016 – however they still stood 17% below levels from December 2015.
Smith was critical of what he viewed as disjointed government policy.
He added: “The government can undoubtedly do more to help the property market in 2017.
“Clearly there are no signs of a ceasefire on the ‘War on Landlords’ with a fresh new plan to introduce England’s second home stamp duty surcharge in Wales – and no sign of scaling back the damage felt by landlords in England.
“The government has even wobbled on the publication of the Housing White Paper, which should have been driving force of fresh new incentives to get housebuilders building, and this points to a government with a lack of a coherent strategy to help solve the housing crisis.
“It is crucial that the government get this right.
“We need to look at more creative housing solutions in 2017, clearly the current shortage is not sustainable, and more thinking outside the box is needed to get first time buyers into the homes they so desperately want.”
