In February, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the government’s four-stage roadmap out of COVID-19 restrictions. Housing experts are predicting that this also signalled the start of a new era for UK property.

Summary:

• April 2021 has seen UK life start to get back to ‘normality’, with outdoor dining, non-essential shops, pubs and the beauty industry reopening, and even staycations allowed again.
• Initial figures from across the housing industry indicate that UK property is reacting strongly to the ease of restrictions, with a ‘post COVID-19’ boom on the horizon.
• Housing experts and professionals are predicting that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live, and how we see our homes, forever.

Confidence in the market

Since COVID-19 became part of the lives of millions of people across the world, the UK government has always made it clear how important the country’s housing market is to the wider economy.

The housing market was re-opened earlier than many others around the globe and the government initiated extra support such as the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) that was introduced in July 2020 and extended in March 2021.

Looking at the recent data, this support appears to have made a huge difference to the UK housing market, confidence amongst professionals is high with the continued growth:

• The latest house price index from Halifax shows that property prices increased by 1.1% between February and March 2021 and they are also now 6.5% higher than in March 2020.
• Recent data from the Office of National Statistics demonstrates that the UK economy returned to growth in February, with output rising by 0.4%. Construction was the highest growth area (rising by 1.6%), providing further support to the UK housing market.
• The latest economy and property market update from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) suggests that property activity is set to increase as lockdown restrictions are lifted. Specifically, their data is showing that tenant demand is remaining firm, with rents projected to rise by around 2.5% nationally over a 12-month time period.
• Homebuyers and Investors are flocking to property portals, with Rightmove showing record days of activity in March and April. On Wednesday, 7th April more than 9.3 million people visited the property portal.

Employment figures are also thought to be a key indicator of the future strength of property market. Unemployment figures fell in March 2021 and the hope is that as businesses re-open, these figures will fall even further.

Low interest rates are also allowing mortgage borrowing to continue and the fears of an immediate economic shock caused by Brexit appear to be unfounded.

Confidence in the UK in general appears to have been bolstered by the government’s successful roll-out of the vaccination programme and people are optimistic that the country is hopefully on an ‘irreversible path’ out of lockdown. This allows people to more assuredly turn their attentions to matters such as buying houses and making investments.

Overseas investment

Overseas sentiment in the UK market seems to be following the trend of domestic confidence. According to data from estate agent ludlowthompson, the number of as landlords owning property in the UK has reached a five-year high. The number is currently at 184,000 which represents a 19% rise over the past five years.

While there are forthcoming implications from impending tax changes in the buy-to-let sector for overseas buyers, what the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit show us is that the UK property market is robust enough to attract overseas investment even in the face of adversity.

Future of UK housing market

Many housing experts are forecasting that the market will be changed forever due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Working-from-home is no longer a perk given by a few choice employers but is being seen as a ‘normal’ way of working that will continue to be a big feature of our lives.

This is having a big effect on how people see their homes and how they need them to function. Many are now desiring bigger living spaces so that they can have a dedicated ‘working-from-home’ area, and the need for outside space in the form of a garden or balcony is also likely to have major implications on the UK residential scene.

While there are many external factors that can be influential on the UK housing market, the reality is that it is a sector that will always bounce-back after a dip. With current house prices growing, demand remaining strong, and the UK government seemingly determined to ensure its strength, the future of the UK housing market is looking bright indeed.