What next indeed, for house prices? I’ve been glass-half-empty on this for some time, oversupply with so many new-builds, supposed clamp-downs on money-launderers buying London properties and the artificial stamp duty holiday bubble being my rationale. ‘He would say that, wouldn’t he’ (kids etc.) and, yes, I do think stocks and shares are better for most than a buy-to-let. Although I don’t want my house to go down in value any more than the next man or neighbour; but I do have younger Hanleys who might at some time hope to afford a home of their own. What’s gone up can, and will pretty soon, I fear, go down. Sorry.
“John Lewis foray into BTR could result in losses of £57m”
I did predict a while ago that Waitrose Homes rather than Waitrose Home Deliveries could be the future. John Lewis were probably the most benign big business to decide to go into the housing rental market, a move which could swing things away from the unpredictability of the mass of private landlords who dominate the sector.