BPF: Rental management can aid market

23 2008
The British Property Federation (BPF) has suggested that it believes the British housing market can be helped by the introduction of large companies which would take control of the rental market.

Large brands, which both develop and manage rental properties, could create much more housing throughout the country, giving those in need of affordable property a real alternative to saving for a large purchase deposit.

Ian Fletcher, BPF residential director, explained: "With the average age of first-time buyers now 34, it's no wonder that more households have found a new home in the private rented market since 2000 than all other tenures put together.

"There is significant demand for renting, both now and for the foreseeable future. If the forthcoming housing reform green paper focuses too much on killing off supply from a few bad landlords and not enough on how it is going to incentivise investment to meet future demand for rented homes, it will be judged as a missed opportunity."

BPF's suggestions reflect the recent surge in demand for rental property seen in the UK.

This week, Your Move reported a 50 per cent year-on-year rise in demand for rented accommodation for the month of September and with student numbers rising annually, renting certainly could begin to look more popular than ever.ADNFCR-1219-ID-18841767-ADNFCR

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