Significant changes to the dynamics of the real estate sector across the board - from development and construction to investment - need to be recognised and acted upon, a new report has claimed. Savills has published its view on the current state of the UK's property industry, noting that the government needs to acknowledge the expansion in the private rented sector in its plans going forward.
Head of Savills residential research Yolande Barnes explained that the policy currently being suggested is focusing on moving developments to markets "with the greatest capacity for delivery". She commented: "This points towards a continued focus on equity-rich owner-occupier markets, but if ambitious new housing targets are to be met first-time buyer and investor markets cannot be ignored."
The latest HomeLet Rental Index for August recently revealed that mean rents across the country increased marginally last month, while the average age of tenants fell to a two-year low. John Boyle, managing director of the company, suggested that a lack of availability of social housing combined with rising numbers of students in the UK could account for this. He added that many view the private rented sector as offering "an affordable, stable and long-term alternative" to purchasing a property.