residential property market

The provisional seasonally adjusted estimate of UK residential transactions in October 2020 was 105,630, 8.1% higher than October 2019, according to data from the HMRC.

On a monthly basis, the number of UK residential transactions saw a 9.8% uplift.

Looking to non-residential transactions in October 2020, this figure stood at 9,140, which was 5.1% higher year-on-year, and up 6.2% on September 2020.

In addition, on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, there were 121,740 residential transactions in October 2020 which is a year-on-year increase of 13.7% and 23.7% higher than in September 2020.

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There were 9,840 non-residential transactions in October 2020, non-seasonally adjusted, which was down 6.1% on October 2019 however, up 12.8% month-on-month.

Sam Mitchell, chief executive of Strike, said: “October was another busy month for the housing market, with transactions still rising despite the tougher lockdown restrictions.

“The government’s stamp duty holiday has created such a strong pipeline of activity that we believe this pattern could continue right up until the end of March.

“It’s shaping up to be a phenomenal end to the year for the UK property market.

“News of a vaccine has boosted confidence, and people are still rushing to benefit from the stamp duty holiday incentive – both contributing to us having a record-breaking day for offers just last Monday.

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“Regardless, we don’t expect any change in the rising number of people looking to move in light of changing circumstances, with the lockdown baby boom and flexible working being two of the many reasons we’ve had more sellers than ever knocking at our door.”

Nigel Purves, chief executive of Wayhome, added: “The HMRC has reported a continued rise in the number of transactions in the residential property market, likely as buyers rush to complete before the stamp duty cut ends in March.

“The property boom is so far showing no signs of slowing down, and there is a risk of a two-track market emerging, where those who can afford to buy are accounting for the increase in property transactions and the reluctant renters and first time buyers are left behind.

“It’s time we address how to even the playing field when it comes to homeownership.”

Paul Stockwell, chief commercial officer at Gatehouse Bank, said: “The pent-up energy buyers have brought to the housing market since the end of the first national lockdown hasn’t abated and transaction volumes continue to climb.

“Deal levels have recovered from the April slump and are now higher than last year’s figures and, with data from the Bank of England showing mortgage approvals in September represented the highest levels of agreed borrowing since before the Global Financial Crisis, this trend looks likely to continue over the coming months.

“However, with the stamp duty discount deadline looming in March, sellers and buyers alike will feel the pressure to get the deal over-the-line as soon as possible, heaping pressure on the property industry as we close out the year.”

By Jake Carter

Source: Mortgage Introducer

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The provisional seasonally adjusted estimate of UK residential property transactions in July 2020 was 70,710, 14.5% higher than June 2020, likely due to pent up demand following lockdown, according to the HMRC UK Property Transaction Statistics.

However, this was 27.4% lower than July 2019.

The seasonally adjusted estimate of UK non-residential property transactions in July 2020 was 8,380, 18.3% low er than July 2019, but 27.6% higher than June 2020.

The non-seasonally adjusted estimate of residential property transactions was 80,490, 23.2% lower than one year previous.

The non-seasonally adjusted estimate of non-residential property transactions in July 2020 was 8,770, 16.6% lower than July 2019.

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The Q2 2020 residential transactions count is the lowest quarterly total within the period of April 2005 to April 2020, reflecting the impacts of coronavirus.

Mark Harris, chief executive of SPF Private Clients, said: “While it’s still too early for the stamp duty holiday to feed through to HMRC’s July numbers, transactions continued to pick up owing to pent-up demand.

“Of much more interest will be September’s data when the full impact of the stamp duty exemption will be felt and the bustle of activity that we are seeing will feed through to the official numbers.

“Lenders remain keen to lend although they are exceptionally busy due to higher demand, dealing with the summer holidays and other demands placed on them by the fallout from the pandemic, with closer scrutiny of borrowers’ incomes meaning everything is taking longer.

“Rates are still competitively priced although at higher loan-to-values in particular they are creeping up.”

Anna Clare Harper, author of Strategic Property Investing, said: “The upward trend in transactions data reflects a piece of positive news for all of us: the housing market is moving again after a complex start to the year.

“This change reflects a release of pent-up demand and supply.

“What we’re seeing in the market, which will be reflected in August and September’s data, is the further influence of recent and temporary policies.

“The temporary Stamp Duty Land Tax change is helping those home buyers and investors who are looking to buy a property worth less than £500,000 in particular.

“We don’t know for sure what will happen next: economically, or in policy. But what we can predict accurately is that two crucial factors – economic confidence and policy – will prove fundamental to the future of the UK housing market.”

Alan Cleary, managing director, mortgages at OneSavings Bank, said: “It’s no surprise that market activity is down on 2019 transactions, but it’s encouraging to see a significant uptick since the easing of lockdown.

“With the market experiencing its busiest month for enquiries in more than 10 years in July, according to Rightmove, as a result of pent up demand and the government stimulus on stamp duty we should see an improvement in transaction levels in months to come.

“First time buyers, homeowners and landlords wishing to take advantage of the stamp duty relaxation should move sooner rather than later to ensure they don’t miss the deadline.”

By Jessica Bird

Source: Mortgage Introducer

Residential property transactions in June increased 32% month-on-month to 63,250 transactions, HMRC figures show.

However, this is still far below the transaction levels seen in the same month last year. Year on year, transactions were 36% lower than June 2019.

Non-residential transactions rose 31% to 7,340 in June but annually, this was represented a 27% decline on the same month last year.

Market position to be seen in months

Andrew Southern, chairman of Southern Grove, said: “The annual decline isn’t particularly flattering but it’s the trajectory that’s most important. The next few months are going to make June look like an amuse-bouche rather than an entrée.

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“A healthy improvement in volumes month-on-month points to a large proportion of agreed sales that were knocked back, due to the pandemic, finally reaching completion.”

Paul Stockwell, chief commercial officer at Gatehouse Bank, added: “Whilst the transactions figures have not improved significantly since May, the nature of the property market means people have not had enough time to get through the moving process.

“It will take a bit longer for us to see how much new activity there has been in the market since it reopened in May.”

Stamp duty concerns

Mike Scott, chief property analyst at Yopa, said the recent stamp duty holiday in England and Northern Ireland, as well as similar initiatives in Scotland and Wales would help bring some transactions forward to this year but suggested this would not have a lasting impact.

“After a spike in the number of completions in March 2021 there will probably be another fall in the second quarter of next year as the normal rate of stamp duty is reimposed,” he said.

Tomer Aboody, director of MT Finance, also agreed the tax break had a positive effect on the market but said changes to capital gains tax could set that back.

Aboody said: “If the government increases capital gains tax on principal home sales, it will push us back again so any progress made by the stamp duty reduction will be swiftly lost.

“We need more stimulus via reduced stamp duty to the upper end of the market and hope for this in the Autumn Budget.”

Written by: Shekina Tuahene

Source: Your Money