In a recent survey by SmartNewHomes.com, 94 per cent of participants said they felt there were not enough new homes available for families to buy.
The survey was run as part of the SmartNewHomes.com campaign, which is asking the government to review its planning rules to provide suitable housing for young families, and invited visitors to the site to express their view on the current housing mix.
86 per cent of participants indicated they were looking to purchase a typical family home and 72 per cent were looking to move within the next year. However, the majority of these potential buyers were struggling to find a suitable property to meet their family’s needs.
The survey revealed 39 per cent indicated they were looking to spend under £200,000 for their next home, yet the average price for a new home last month was recorded as £254,374.
David Bexon, managing director, SmartNewHomes.com, said: “This survey reinforces our campaign. Not only are there not enough new family homes on the market, but those that are available are beyond the budget of over a third of buyers. Surely if a massive 94 per cent of consumers feel there is a shortage of suitable family homes the government should take action and adjust their current planning policies accordingly.
“A recent announcement by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) clearly highlights that there is a vast proportion of brownfield land available for development, with enough land in the South East to accommodate over 400,000 new homes. However, it is essential that the government gives careful consideration to the types of properties built in such areas. Affordable three and four bedroom houses are clearly in demand and apartments must not be constructed at the expense of young families.”
While 58 per cent of properties on the SmartNewHomes.com site are currently apartments, only 34 per cent of people who visit the site actually search for this type of property. In contrast, detached and semi-detached properties make up just 32 per cent of the mix on the site, yet 56 per cent of visitors are searching for these properties.
Bexton added: “There is clearly a severe problem with the current housing mix, with too many apartments and a not enough detached and semi-detached properties being built. The current over supply of apartments was recorded in our recent index which noted apartments taking the biggest fall in price.
“If the government fails to address this issue and refuses to work more closely with the developers who understand the demand across different regions this problem seems set to worsen, with rising house prices preventing young families from getting onto the housing ladder or forcing them to stay in their current property as they cannot afford to move.”
