In response to Labour leader Ed Miliband’s comments earlier today with regards to Rent Controls, Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman of HBF, said today:
“Building more new homes is the only answer to solving the problems caused by the country’s housing crisis. New homes are required in all tenures; for people to buy or rent as well as more new affordable homes.
“Any new intervention in the market has to be measured against the potential impact on investment and new housing supply.
“We would be very concerned about any measures that could damage the private rental sector or buy to let market or have implications for housing supply generally.
“After many decades spent trying to encourage institutional investment into this sector progress is now being made, and any proposals must not deter potential investment.
“We must ensure housing policies lead to an increase in supply and the associated social and economic benefits building more homes will deliver.”
For media enquiries, or to arrange an interview, please contact Steve Turner – 020 7960 1606 / 07919 307760 or steve.turner@hbf.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
1. The Home Builders Federation (HBF) is the principal representative body for private sector home builders and voice of the home building industry in England and Wales. HBF member firms account for some 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales in any one year, and include companies of all sizes, ranging from multi-national, household names through regionally based businesses to small local companies: www.hbf.co.uk