Agency trade body calls for stamp duty exemptions as part of housing reforms

Agency trade body Propertymark has called for the government’s housing market reforms to go further and has even suggested targeted stamp duty exemptions.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week unveiled plans to extend Right to Buy to housing association tenants and launched a review on the scope for low deposit mortgages and further support for more people to get onto the property ladder.

But Eleanor Bateman, policy officer for Propertymark, said more clarity was needed on boosting supply.

She said: “Sales and lettings agents do not have enough homes to meet demand from buyers or renters. What they needed to hear from the Prime Minister was more detail on how his government intends to ensure the planning system is geared up to boost new supply.

“The Prime Minister talked about unlocking small publicly-owned development sites, converting agricultural buildings and supporting self-build schemes – but these are simply not going to deliver the number of houses we need on the ground to cope with demand.

“Making it easier for people to save for a deposit or to get a mortgage as part of his Levelling Up agenda will have little value if there are not the houses available for them to buy.”

Propertymark has also suggested introducing new stamp duty incentives.

Bateman added: “It’s not just about ramping up building. 

“We think more could be done to maintain the turnover of existing homes, such as incentivising right-sizing through targeted stamp duty exemptions, something that could be further facilitated through policies that deliver more suitable homes for older and disabled people.”

On the mortgage review, Nathan Emerson, chief executive of Propertymark, said: "We welcome the Prime Minister's promise to review the mortgage market, as with rising interests rates many first-time buyers and current homeowners will continue to need support to access finance.

"However, as well as reviewing lending options, the UK Government should consider what it can do to encourage sustainable routes to homeownership, such as extending the Help to Buy Equity Loan to the second-hand market and re-opening the Help to Buy ISA.

"Fundamentally, the UK Government must increase the supply of housing and incentivise movement in the housing market so that alongside access to finance, prospective purchasers have something to buy."