As part of the 2021 census, the Office for National Statistics collected data on the number of second homes and whether individuals had a second address which was a holiday home.  The latter covers any address where the individual stayed for at least 30 days per year.   Local authority data has been modified so that areas within a county have been amalgamated. This results in more meaningful data making it possible to compare say Cornwall with Devon.    Second homes Table one

It’s commonly accepted that house prices have risen far faster than earnings making house purchasing a major problem for many particularly those on lower incomes.  In 1986 the average house was valued at £36,000. If house prices had increased in line with inflation the average value would be £104,193. In 2024 the actual value was £334,000.   The blame game Rising house prices are often used as an issue in discussing intergenerational inequalities, with baby boomers blamed for

Steve Keen the renowned Australian economist has analysed house price data for the United Kingdom.   The problem “ House prices rose on average just 0.25% pre year faster than consumer prices between 1845 and 1979, but all of the increase came between 1960 and 1979, when prices rose by 1.75% per year. But after Thatcher came to power, the annual rate of increase in real house prices increased to 3% .”   The cause Steve Keen identified deregulation of the mortgage market as a

A recent report by Hamptons, a luxury estate and letting agency, gives an insight into the Buy to let market. Despite changes to taxes, they estimate that landlord purchases have remained stable at 11.3% in Q3 2025 compared to 11.2% in Q3 2024.  However, they note that the spatial distribution has changed with lower shares than previously in London, SW England, SE England and the East of England but higher shares in North East England at 28.4%.  They state that the change in

In 1958, JK Galbraith, the Canadian-American economist wrote a book entitles the Affluent Society.  One of the most incisive comments was...

Kemi Badenochs announcement that an incoming Conservative government would abolish stamp duty Stamp Duty Land Tax, SDLT), for all main...

The government announced the locations of 12 new towns on September 28th.  New towns are between them expected to create at least 10,000...

The governments new towns are between them expected to create at least 10,000 new homes in each location. That’s an interesting figure. ...

The Government has announced in a MAGA style event at the Labour Party conference plans to build 12 new towns.  A policy heralded some...

A number of commentators and lobby groups have argued that the answer to house prices, housing problems and also a fairer system of tax...

Main points households, compared with the 10% highest in England (with the average London home being more than five times the highest 10%...

Data released by the Office for National Statistics reveals house prices and sales for a number of years.  The data below is for the year...

Data released by the Office for National Statistics shows expenditure for UK households on Rent, Mortgage and charges with Council...

Gross disposable household income (GDHI) is the amount of money that all of the individuals in the household sector have available for...

Gross disposable household income (GDHI) is the amount of money that all of the individuals in the household sector have available for...

There is ongoing speculation about whether the government will consider introducing some form of wealth tax.  Several lobby groups have...

According to a news report on 2nd September, “ One of Cornwall’s leading developers has submitted its plans to deliver hundreds of...

In July 2024 the government introduced new housing targets.  Overall the objective is for a total of 1.5 million over a four-year period...

So what can we learn from the growth of Newquay?  To recap, Newquay has seen a dramatic growth in housing and population. It is spreading...

The government constantly reiterates the phrase ‘Getting Britain building again’ as if prior to 2024 house building stagnated.  Looking...