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A look at the post-election property market across Mid Somerset

Given that not long has passed since the 2017 General Election, it is difficult to state what impact the election has had on Mid Somerset. However, there is no denying that the snap General Election had a slowdown effect on the housing market across the country. This is no surprise and it is a recognised fact that uncertainty in the political landscape causes people to be cautious with their money, which limits the number of property deals that are being concluded. While Mid Somerset has managed to weather the recent external storms better than many other areas, there is an acceptance that the political uncertainty coupled with Brexit concerns is making some people hold off on major decisions for now.

RICS saying sales are falling
Across the whole country, house sales dipped in May for the second month in a row and according to a survey undertaken by the Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors, an increase of 8% of respondents reported that sales were falling as opposed to buying. While there are many factors influencing people’s buying decision in the property market, a significant number of respondents cited the General Election for a slowdown in the market for the month. There is no denying that people want to see the result of an election before they make a major commitment, and the outcome of the General Election of 2017 may actually cause the uncertainty to continue.

No one is too sure how the new Government will shape up
While the Queen’s Speech has been heard and Parliament is back in session, there is still doubt about how the Government moves forward from here and what is going to happen. This is likely to have a knock-on effect for many people who will want to wait more months to see how the new Government shapes up. The role of the DUP could potentially have an impact on key decisions and of course, a lot of focus now falls on Brexit negotiations and what deal can be constructed. Whether the results of the General Election have an impact on this, with some observers believing the Prime Ministers bargaining position has been weakened, remains to be seen but until people know what they are dealing with, it is only natural that they will hold off from making major decisions.

Mid Somerset shouldn’t be as affected as some areas. This is because there is a smaller level of supply of property in this area while there is always a level of demand. This means that prices should be maintained, or even rise, which stands in contrast to many areas of the UK. It may also be that the personal circumstances of people living in or looking to live in the area are not as affected by Brexit and a changing Government as other parts of the country. With this in mind, it would be reasonable to expect that Mid Somerset will not be affected by the post General Election shakedown in the way that some parts of the UK will be.

About Tom Morgan

Founder of Jungle Property the multi award-winning letting agent based in Glastonbury, Somerset. I am passionate about property and Glastonbury and about providing the very best advice to anyone who wants the best return on a buy-to-let property investment. For an open and brutally honest opinion on anything in the Glastonbury property market please contact me via tom.morgan@jungleproperty.co.uk

Large number of Mid Somerset households occupied by OAP renters

While Mid Somerset strikes you as an area with a high proportion of home ownership and families staying in the area for generations, the actual statistics for the area, and the country as a whole, may provide you with a different take on matters. Figures in 2016 showed that in Glastonbury, over a third of people adults were tenants, and similar patterns can be found across the area.

When you take on board the fact that Mid Somerset has a strong elderly population and figures provided by the Office of National Statistics suggest that close to 5% of OAPs reside in private rented property, there is going to be a reasonable number of Mid Somerset households occupied by OAP renters.

A lot of OAPs have never owned property
A survey undertaken by the Prudential revealed that close to 60% of OAPs who rent had never owned property. Of the remaining OAP renters, 20% sold up to clear debt, close to 10% sold their property to provide funds for retirement and the remaining group cited other factors behind their decision to rent.

While the period between the 1980s and mid 2000s saw a huge focus on owning property, this wasn’t always necessarily the case at other times. This means that many OAPs may have missed out on the property ownership boom times. By the time schemes and mortgage lenders were available to assist, these people may have already been settled into a renting lifestyle or dealing with life to an extent that they couldn’t spare the time or money to enter the property market. Now, with renting becoming a hugely important aspect of the UK market, these people have grown older and have found that they have completely missed the boat when it comes to property ownership. Even in areas like Mid Somerset, which are different from inner city areas, there are people who rent and who have always rented.

There is a significant rental market in Mid Somerset
Add in the reasons for people who previously owned property but have now decided to rent, and you have a combination of factors that mean the OAP rental market in Mid Somerset is becoming larger. This is something that will appeal to landlords and investors. It may even be that you see current property owners selling their home to reap the benefits of this action and the buyer then letting the property straight back to the seller, or someone like them.

Another factor that is relevant when discussing the older generation is that people are living longer. Somerset has long been perceived as a location with a high life expectancy and this plays a role in people’s decisions.

This behaviour will lead to debate and discussion over whether it is good for the overall market but there isn’t any reason to be immediately alarmed or concerned. Landlords should be keen to maintain the condition of their home, and the surrounding area, so there is an incentive for them to find the best type of tenant; and it may be that OAP tenants suit their needs and requirements.

For people who have lived in Mid Somerset throughout their life, or who find the pace and nature of the area appealing, it is easy to see why selling up and then renting in the area is an attractive proposition. An issue for the Mid Somerset property market has always been the lack of suitable property for buyers, and this will still be an issue that exists in the rental market, even if current homeowners sell up to downsize.

However, the issue of OAP renters is a growing one across the United Kingdom and it is something that will be relevant in Mid Somerset now and in the future.

About Tom Morgan

Founder of Jungle Property the multi award-winning letting agent based in Glastonbury, Somerset. I am passionate about property and Glastonbury and about providing the very best advice to anyone who wants the best return on a buy-to-let property investment. For an open and brutally honest opinion on anything in the Glastonbury property market please contact me via tom.morgan@jungleproperty.co.uk

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