By Steve Roulstone
Well it only lasted for ten minutes, but I for one would like to thank the BBC for actually doing what I have been pointing out for what seems like years – if you are going to discuss the Rental Industry, get a professional in to do it! Alongside a representative from Shelter and from a leading London Estate Agent, the BBC invited Ian Potter of ARLA to join the discussion about where the housing market is going in relation to supply and growing demand.
UK is larger than the South East.
It was also good to hear it being pointed out to the Estate Agent world, whose representative initially quoted facts and figures for the London market, that this is a larger Country and that what happens outside of London is not only different, but that it matters just as much – well done Ian!
Supply and demand.
The main points raised in the short debate (longer than would have been allowed on TV so not complaining!) was that the market is reacting to supply and demand and that availability and prices reflect exactly what is happening in the market at present. The equality between wages and deposit requirements, now and thirty years ago when deposit requirements were approximately the same was noted with great interest and spoke volumes about where modern priorities now lie. It was also made clear that more Landlords would buy if the property was available to enable them to invest, but it was a shortage of property that was delaying them doing so.
Family needs catered for.
It was also muted that more family homes were required, to enable couples to settle and start a family in the rental sector, rather than waiting until they could buy before they did so. This is a subject that I agree wholeheartedly with and have backed up with property that My Wife and I have purchased for our portfolio, which are all Family homes. Now here’s an idea, if the Government wants to do something to get the market moving and solve an issue which could if ignored have an impact on birth rates, how about encouraging the Landlords with the money to buy the family homes that are not selling?
The difference.
The plea that Ian Potter of ARLA made loud and clear in the programme (although I am still unsure what level playing field was being talked about?) was that Estate Agents, Letting Agents and Landlords be given professional status through Government legislation. It was good to hear a plea for professionalism and to see that other agencies, in this case Shelter, agree. It would have been nicer if it could have been embellished upon, but I have to accept it was not the central theme of the discussion.
A good shout well made!
The point was however clearly there for all to hear, that through professional agencies, would come professional services and the minefield that can exist for Tenant and Landlord alike, should they suffer the consequences of dubious management by the rogue agents that continue to give our industry a poor reputation, could help to be avoided. So well done Ian, and thank-you BBC for bringing in a Professional from our Industry.
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