/ Author: SPF

MD Pierre Blampied featured in his regular spot, discussing housing on the John Randall Show, today with Steve Williams from GHA and Deputy Barry Brehaut.

Centering around the KPMG housing report the panel found a lot to be positive about with regards to the market in general and the contribution made by the GHA. Though it was agreed that the report was ’not particularly groundbreaking’ the consensus was that it made for a stable framework from which to move forward.   

Pierre reported that banks are still keen to lend, indeed coming into final quarter they will be looking to set targets for next year. However he said that the same old problem existed for many first time buyers which is funding the deposit. This was an area where his opnion differed from the KPMG report. Their proposed lowering of document duty wouldn’t help as many  islanders and would cost the States, whereas a deposit scheme would reach further and prove cash positive to the States as opposed to reducing income.

The panel concluded that it was difficult to determine at what level the States should intervene but that certainly the GHA helped one area of the market. They also agreed that the changes in population permits had meant that rental markets are very strong.

You can listen again online at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05drqj9 (from 01:55:00).

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