Property chief calls for rental focus

THE head of the UK trade body for property has called on the
Government to encourage a professional rented sector to help ease
the shortage of housing.

Liz Peace, chief executive of the British Property Federation
(BPF), which represents developers, fund managers, investors,
commercial agents, as well as legal and accountancy professionals
working in property, was commenting on the latest Nationwide
housing figures.

She said: “It's clear that changing conditions in the
housing market have brought to an end the boom in buy-to-let. Yet,
with the numbers of immigrants and students ever rising, the
government needs to look at encouraging a professional rented
sector, akin to that enjoyed in the USA and Germany, as a potential
solution to the housing crisis.

“We need to look at new solutions to the problem. People
purchase TVs and groceries from trusted brands, and if the families
or workers were able to rent housing from a professional rental
sector funded by large investors, we could go a long way to
stabilising the market and offering people the level of quality
they deserve.”

Ms Peace recently topped the Evening Standard's poll of
influential people in property.