Are new build houses smaller than they were in the 1970’s?
In Property News This Week:
- House Prices Surge Again: Nationwide reports a 3.5% annual rise with a 0.5% boost in May alone—defying predictions that the end of stamp duty holidays would kill demand.
- Rental Crisis Deepens: Average monthly rent hits £1,226—a new high not seen since October 2024, marking the fifth consecutive month of increases.
- Housing Association Scandal: A staggering four-fold increase in tenant complaints since 2020
This Week’s Guest: Andy Morrison – Director, UK Property Development Ltd
With Labour promising 300,000 new homes annually, Russell grills a developer at the coalface about whether the target is realistic.
- The 1970s space comparison: Have today’s new homes really shrunk compared to houses built decades ago—and is it just about room size or room count too?
- The land banking mystery: Over 1 million plots already have planning permission but remain empty—why aren’t they being developed?
- Why 300,000 new homes is such a huge challenge: The real obstacles including skilled labour shortages, material cost spikes, and market dynamics that make government targets unrealistic
Plus: First-time buyer Gareth Butters beats the odds with a lightning-fast two-month completion! Listen here.