What are buyers looking for in 2023?
Looking to sell this year? Find out what buyers are on the hunt for right now and which locations they’re looking in.
For early buyers in 2023, it’s all about apartments.
The first few weeks of the year have revealed home buyers are becoming more value-conscious.
The hit to buying power, caused by higher mortgage rates, inflation and the cost-of-living squeeze is causing property-seekers to hunt for smaller homes.
We’ve seen a clear shift in demand towards flats across the UK, with a notable decline in the desire for 3-bed houses.
Our data reveals:
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27% of new buyers are looking for 1- and 2-bed flats, up from 22% a year ago
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49% of buyers in London are looking for 1- and 2-bed flats, up from 42% a year ago
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Share of demand for 3-bed houses has fallen 5 percentage points to 39%
That said, 3-bed homes are still the most in-demand property type among UK buyers.
What areas are becoming more popular with flat-hunting buyers right now?
Share of interest in apartments is growing in the markets that are near the big cities.
Some of the largest increases in share of demand for flats have been seen in towns next to London such as Slough, Watford, Chelmsford, Guildford and Dartford.
The relative price differential is attractive for those who work locally, or who commute to London and are able to work more flexibly.
The same is true in other regional cities such as Huddersfield, Stockport and Wakefield, though to a lesser degree.
What’s going to happen to house prices in 2023?
In the short term we expect further small single-digit price falls in the first few months of the year, but the housing market is in better shape to deal with the headwinds than in previous economic cycles.
Will demand for homes increase in 2023?
2023 is off to a slower start than more recent years.
The economic outlook has improved slightly in recent weeks but the squeeze on household disposable incomes is very real and is having a direct impact on sales activity.
Some buyers will be waiting to see if house prices - and mortgage rates - start to fall in the first few months of the year.
Mortgage rates are now generally below 5% and look set to remain in the 4 to 5% range for 2023.
While this is a much better prospect than the 6% to 6.5% levels at the end of last year, buyers are likely to remain cautious in the next few weeks.
The pressure on incomes, combined with the costs of running homes, is also likely to drive a certain amount of movement in the market.
Sizeable amounts of embedded equity in many millions of homes may encourage downtrading to release equity and cut the energy bills.
As the outlook becomes clearer after Easter, we believe that demand is likely to pick up further.
How much depends on the economic outlook, the strength of the labour market, the level of inflation and how this impacts interest rates.
Key takeaways
- It's all about apartments for home buyers right now
- And towns near big cities are proving to be the hottest locations
- 2023 has kicked off to a slow start, but our research team believe demand for homes is set to rise as mortgage rates continue to fall
Gas and electricity bills breakdown
Here's a breakdown of the average energy bill to give you a better idea of where your money is going.
Here's a breakdown of the average energy bill to give you a better idea of where your money is going.
Your gas and electricity utility bill sets out the charges you've incurred as a gas and electricity customer.
Your energy supplier sends you your utility bills on a monthly or quarterly basis so that you can understand how much you owe.
The average utility bill is made up of several different components, with the majority of your payment going on the energy you use.
But there are other costs factored in, like distribution charges, environmental costs and VAT.
Here's how the average energy bill breaks down to give you a better idea of where your money is going.
Breakdown of the average energy bill
Where your gas payment goes
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67% on wholesale energy, supply costs and profit margin
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16% on distribution charges
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6% on environmental costs
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5% on VAT
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4% on other costs
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2% on transmission charges
Where your electricity payment goes
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58% on wholesale energy, supply costs and profit margin
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16% on distribution charges
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11% on environmental costs
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5% on VAT
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5% on other costs
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4% on transmission charges
Environmental costs
A proportion of your gas and electricity bill is used to subsidise the government's environmental initiatives.
Environmental costs comprise approximately 6% of your gas bill and 11% of your electricity bill.
Environmental schemes which are subsidised by your gas and electricity bill include:
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Feed-in Tariff scheme (FITs)
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Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT)
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Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP)
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The Renewables Obligation (RO)
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EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)
Find out more about the Feed-in Tariff scheme on Uswitch.
VAT charges
Contrary to popular belief, you do not pay full VAT on gas and electricity, but you do pay some.
Currently, VAT payments are capped at 5% of your total bill.
Transmission charges
Transmission networks are what actually deliver electricity and gas to your home, and some of the cost of building and maintaining transmission chargers is passed on to customers.
Currently, 2% of your gas bill and 4% of your electricity bill make up these costs.
Distribution charges
16% of your gas bill and 16% of your electricity bill go towards distribution costs.
This covers some of the cost of building, maintaining and operating the local gas pipes and electricity wires which deliver energy to the home.
Wholesale energy and supply costs
The bulk of your bill, unsurprisingly, is comprised of charges for the gas and electricity you actually use.
This comes to roughly 67% and 58% of your respective bills.
Wholesale cost is the price that the energy supplier has to pay for the gas and electricity they buy.
Supply costs are the costs the energy supplier incurs for the general administration associated with a retail business, like running a call centre and sending out bills. These vary according to which tariff you're on.
Compare gas and electricity deals on Uswitch
Other costs
Other costs cover things like meter installation and gas storage, which comprise about 4% of your gas bill and 5% of your electricity bill.
How can you bring your energy bill down?
These energy-saving tips will help bring your energy bills down and reduce your carbon footprint.
Heating
The biggest portion of your energy bill is taken up with heating your home and water.
Follow these tips and you could save a fortune on your heating bills:
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Turn your thermostat down by a single degree. This could save you as much as £60 on your energy bills over the space of a year.
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Make sure your home is adequately insulated. Loft and cavity wall insulation may require an initial investment, but could easily save you hundreds a year in heating costs.
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If you're on a low income, you may be eligible for an energy efficiency grant to make improvements to your home.
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Try to block any draughts that are coming into your house and make sure you close your curtains to keep the heat in.
In the kitchen
The next largest portion goes towards powering your washing machines, fridges, freezers and cooking appliances.
Keep kitchen costs down with these tips:
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Do your washing less frequently. It may sound obvious but make sure the machine is full every time for maximum efficiency.
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Use the economy setting on your washing machine. Many washing powders will now work at temperatures as low as 30 degrees, which is enough to effectively wash clothes while also helping your machine run more efficiently.
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Dry your clothes outside or on a clothes horse. Tumble dryers use a lot of energy, so if you can dry your clothes for free, that will help keep costs down.
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Replace your current fridge and/or freezer with an energy-efficient model. Look out for the energy efficiency stickers on modern appliances. You should also make sure they're kept as full as possible and that the area around them is clean so they don't have to work as hard.
Computers, gadgets and electronics
Next up is the amount of energy used by consumer electronics such as DVDs, TVs and computers every year.
Bring these costs down by:
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Turning electronics off instead of leaving them on standby. If you're forgetful, invest in a standby saver - it will automatically cut the power to any electronics left on standby.
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Only charging devices when you need to. Don't leave laptops and mobile phones charging overnight as this is a big waste of energy.
Lighting
Finally, there is the portion of bills going towards lighting your home.
The quickest and easiest ways to save on your lighting costs are to:
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Buy energy-efficient LED lightbulbs. They last up to 24 times more than incandescent lightbulbs and each one you swap could save you at least £4 per year.
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Turn the lights off behind you when you leave a room and get into the habit of switching the lights off as you move through the house.
How much value did your home gain in 2022?
12 in 13 homeowners enjoyed value gains in 2022, could you be one of them?
2022 started well…
2022 was a year of two halves for UK housing.
It kicked off with a strong start thanks to record-low mortgage rates and a continuation of the pandemic-driven desire to move.
These factors, combined with a chronic lack of homes for sale, meant house price growth remained strong up until the summer.
And looking across the year as a whole, 12 out of 13 homeowners saw the value of their home increase by an average of £19,000.
Among them, nearly 3 million homeowners made more than £50,000.
How much value did your home gain?
But then things started to change…
In the second half of the year, the picture became less rosy.
Rising living costs and a jump in mortgage rates halved the demand for homes, causing the rate of house price growth to start slowing rapidly.
In some areas of the UK the value of individual homes is now falling, writing off some of the recent pandemic gains.
How much value are homes losing?
Of the UK’s 30 million homes, 16 million experienced value losses by the end of 2022.
But for the majority of these homeowners, the drop is small. The average value reduction in the final 3 months of 2022 was £3,900.
When compared to the average value gain of £19,000 over the course of the whole year, this leaves most homeowners comfortably in the black for 2022.
And that figure becomes even smaller when noting the average home gained £32,400 during the first two years of the pandemic.
Within the group of 16 million homeowners experiencing value losses in the last 3 months of 2022, only 2.3 million (or 8%) registered a loss over the year.
For these homeowners, that average loss was £7,300.
And more than 26% of those homes were in London.
We estimate that 1 million homes lost all of the value their properties gained in the two years leading up to February 2022.
But these homes were found in areas where prices didn’t increase much during the pandemic in the first place, such as the capital, the South East and Scotland.
A further 7.3 million homeowners lost part of their pandemic paper gains in the last 6 months of the year.
However, while home values are starting to decline in some areas, in contrast to the national headlines, our price estimates for the UK’s homes reveal that 14 million properties saw their values increase in the final 3 months of 2022.
Where are homes losing value?
The reduction in home values over the second half of 2022 was concentrated in markets where price gains have been slower over the last year.
Homeowners in London have seen the largest number of reductions, followed by the South East.
The average reduction between June and December was £8,400 in London and £5,200 in the South East.
However in both these areas, more homes increased in value than fell, showing how the pressure on values is highly localised.
Outside of London and the South East, we found that three-quarters of homeowners saw the value of their home increase by an average of £6,600.
And price falls in these areas were modest, averaging £3,800.
Which areas are in demand right now?
In the latter half of 2022, some markets were faring better than others.
Our latest House Price Index found that affordable cities and suburbs continue to see strong demand for homes, while the outlook is weaker for the more expensive markets and rural locations.
Why are homes losing value?
Home values are starting to fall back because of weaker demand in the final 6 months of 2022.
Rising mortgage rates and cost-of-living pressures are causing some potential home movers to press pause for now. And a reduction in demand leads to a reduction in upwards pressure on house prices.
But while the number of homes losing value is growing: rising from 8 million in between July and December 2022 to 16 million in the 3 months to December 2022, it’s crucial to remember that these price reductions are fairly modest compared to the gains made in recent years.
What’s going to happen to home values in 2023?
The scale of value reductions has been relatively small so far but is likely to grow further in the first part of 2023.
We’re expecting to see national house price falls of around 5% for this year.
Homeowners who lose value may be put off moving or need to look at alternatives like cheaper homes or lower-value markets for their next move.
That said, we’re still expecting 1 million property transactions to take place this year as the pandemic-driven search for space continues. The ability to work from home remains for many office workers, which has opened up the location landscape for many.
Those in retirement, who may be cash buyers or looking to downsize, will also continue to look for new homes and cost-of-living adjustments are likely to motivate people to find new properties that are cheaper to run.
How can I find out what’s happening to house prices in my area?
The outlook for home values depends very much on the individual home and the market it sits within.
It's important that homeowners don’t focus too much on national trends in prices, but rather what’s happening in their area locally.
Key takeaways
- Despite a turbulent second half to the year, 92% of homeowners enjoyed value gains on their homes in 2022
- The average capital gain was £19,000
- However, weaker demand from July onwards meant that nearly 1 in 3 saw the value of their home decline by an average of £4,400 from July to December
New Save to Buy scheme launched for first-time buyers
What if the rent you paid could be saved towards your deposit instead? New homes developer Fairview has launched a scheme that does exactly that.
A new scheme has been launched for first-time buyers under which all money they pay in rent is put towards a deposit for their home.
The Save to Buy initiative enables first-time buyers to move into their home and pay ‘rent’ at a fixed cost for between six months and two years.
But instead of the money going into the pocket of a landlord, it is set aside until they have saved a big enough deposit to qualify for a mortgage on the property.
The scheme, offered by housebuilder Fairview New Homes, is currently running at two of its developments: New Hayes in West London, and Epping Gate in Loughton, Essex.
However, homes at other developments are expected to be added to the scheme later this year.
Christopher Hood, sales and marketing director at Fairview, said: “We’re bringing forward the opportunity to own a home for our customers.
"Those who thought home ownership was out of reach, because of the rental trap they found themselves in, can finally have the breathing space to save.”
How does Save to Buy work?
People who want to buy one of the Save to Buy homes must have already saved a deposit equivalent to 1% of the property’s value.
They hand this over to Fairview when they first exchange contracts and move into their home.
They then pay ‘rent’ at a fixed monthly cost, based on their own finances and average local rents, with 100% of the money going towards their deposit.
Buyers typically have between six to 12 months to save their deposit, but the scheme can run for up to two years if they need longer.
They can also top up their monthly payments to reach their goal sooner.
When they are within one month of having saved the required deposit, they submit a mortgage application to a lender to buy the property.
Once they have legally completed, they own the property, just as they would if they had bought it on the open market.
Who can use Save to Buy?
The scheme is designed to help people who would not otherwise be able to buy a home immediately.
To use it, you must also be a first-time buyer, be employed and the property must be your only residence.
If you think this applies to you, Fairview suggests talking to one of its sales representatives.
Those wanting to take part in the scheme will need to be assessed by a financial advisor, who will set out the income and deposit they require. They will also conduct a credit check to make sure you are eligible.
Homes available through the scheme are offered on a first come, first served basis, with the initiative due to close to new applicants in December 2023.
What other help is available to first-time buyers?
While Save to Buy is offered by a housebuilder, there are a number of government schemes available to help people get on to the property ladder.
Shared Ownership enables people to buy a share in a property and pay rent on the rest.
First Homes enables first-time buyers, key workers and local people to purchase a home at a 30% discount to its market price.
The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, recently extended until 31 December 2023, enables both first-time buyers and home-movers to purchase a property with just a 5% deposit, with the government guaranteeing the portion of the loan over 80%.
First-time buyers saving for a deposit can also use the Lifetime ISA, under which they can save £4,000 a year. The government then adds a 25% bonus - up to a maximum of £1,000 annually. The money must be used to either purchase a first home or for retirement.
The government has also increased the threshold at which stamp duty kicks in for first-time buyers from £300,000 to £425,000 on homes costing up to £625,000 until April 2025.
Key takeaways
- A new Save to Buy scheme has launched, enabling first-time buyers to move into the home they plan to buy before they have completed on the purchase
- They then pay ‘rent’ at a fixed cost, with all of the money going towards their deposit
- The scheme, launched by Fairview New Homes, is currently available in London and Essex, but is set to be rolled out to other developments later this year
Fixed rate mortgage deals up for 1.4 million homeowners in 2023
If you're worried that your fixed deal is up this year, you’re not alone. 57% of people who need to remortgage in 2023 are coming off two-year deals fixed at 2% rates.
If your fixed-rate mortgage deal is due to expire this year, you’re not alone. More than 1.4 million homeowners are in exactly the same boat.
And more than half of that 1.4 million, around 57%, are coming off two-year deals that were fixed at 2% rates, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The report said that with the average cost of new two-year fixed rate deals standing at around 6%, someone with a £100,000 mortgage would face a £220 increase in monthly repayments.
Someone with a £300,000 loan would face a £661-a-month jump.
A total of 353,000 fixed rate mortgages are due to expire in the first three months of the year, followed by a further 371,000 in the three months to the end of June, with the rest coming up for renewal during the second half of the year.
An estimated 86% of homeowners with outstanding mortgages are on fixed rate deals, under which the interest rate charged stays the same for the length of the product term, usually two or five years.
The figure is up from just 51% in 2016.
What will happen to interest rates in 2023?
The official cost of borrowing is known as the Bank of England Bank Rate.
The Office for Budgetary Responsibility, which provides independent analysis on the UK’s public finances, has forecast that the Bank Rate will increase to 4.8% in the second half of 2023, before falling to 4.5% in 2024.
But this is just an estimate, and a number of factors, including the uncertain economic outlook, war in Ukraine and high inflation, make it more difficult to predict the future path of interest rates than usual.
What’s happening in the mortgage market right now?
The good news is that despite the fact the Bank Rate increased in the final part of last year, the cost of fixed rate mortgages has actually fallen for the past two months.
This is because the cost at which lenders borrow money for the deals shot up in the wake of the mini-Budget.
It has since come back down after new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt reversed many of his predecessor’s announcements.
The average interest rate charged on a two-year fixed rate mortgage is now 5.79%, according to financial information group Moneyfacts.
For a five-year deal, it is 5.63%.
If you’re borrowing just 60% of your home’s value, typical rates fall to 5.39% for a two-year fix and 5.33% for a five-year fix.
And some sub-5% deals are now becoming available.
By contrast, the average cost of a standard variable rate mortgage – the rate borrowers are automatically put on when their current deal ends if they do not remortgage – is 6.64%.
Those looking to remortgage will need to move fast, with the average deal available for just 15 days before lenders pull it, down from 28 days in January 2022.
Renters also face higher housing costs
The ONS study found that homeowners are not the only ones facing increased costs, with those renting in the private sector seeing the fastest growth in rents since records began in 2016.
One in four renters said their rent had gone up in the past six months, with rents rising by an average of 4% in the past year.
Rent accounts for an average of 24% of renters’ weekly expenditure, compared with just 16% for those who have a mortgage.
Key takeaways
- More than 1.4 million fixed rate mortgages are due to expire this year
- Around 57% of people who need to renew their mortgage in 2023 are coming off two-year deals fixed at 2% rates
- But mortgage rates have fallen for the last 2 months and sub 5% fixed-rate deals are now available
New rules make property listings more transparent
When it comes to searching for a home, the devil is in the details. Here’s everything you need to know about the new material information rules when you’re buying, renting or selling a home.
If you’re searching for a home, you might’ve noticed that property listings are more detailed than ever before.
It’s no coincidence. In fact, it’s part of an industry-wide process to improve property listings and give you all the important information from the get-go.
The aim is to create a more transparent and less stressful process for everyone involved in buying, selling or renting. It’s all about helping you make informed decisions about a property.
And ultimately, it should help your sale, purchase or rental go through more smoothly, as the facts are clear and everyone knows what they’re getting into from the start.
What is ‘material information’ for a property listing?
The term ‘material information’ covers the nitty-gritty details about a property that might impact your choices around it.
National Trading Standards (NTS) defines it as “information which the average consumer needs, according to the context, to take an informed transactional decision”.
So think of it as the fine print that you really *need* to read about a property, once you’ve stopped admiring the photos or searching for the nearest pub.
It doesn’t cover information like local school ratings or proximity to a train station, as these are seen as preferences rather than essentials.
What information should you see on a property listing?
Since May 2022, estate agents need to include all unavoidable costs associated with a property when they list it for sale or to rent.
This video from NTS explains what’s changed with the material information rules and how they’re benefitting buyers, sellers and renters.
You should see the following information on all listings for properties for sale:
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Sale price
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Council tax band (or domestic rate in Northern Ireland)
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Tenure (freehold, leasehold, share of leasehold, commonhold, feudal)
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For leasehold properties: length of lease, annual ground rent, ground rent review period, annual service charge amount and service charge review period
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For Shared Ownership properties: the percentage share being sold plus the rent you’ll pay on the other proportion
And for rental properties, listings should include:
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Rental rate
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Deposit amount
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Length of tenancy (year/month)
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Council tax band (England, Wales and Scotland)
If you’re wondering about energy efficiency, you’re a step ahead. EPC ratings must be included on property listings under existing laws.
What if a listing is missing this information?
It’s the responsibility of estate agents to submit accurate material information on all their properties.
If they’ve missed something, NTS might get in touch with them to ask them to update or remove it.
If a property you’re interested in is missing some of the details, it’s best to contact the estate agent to ask them for more information.
There are no plans yet to remove property listings that don’t comply, but that might change in the future.
What does it mean if you’re selling your home?
The material information changes mean you’re required to provide certain details about your home and you might be liable if you misrepresent anything.
But it’s nothing to worry about.
Your estate agent will ask you for all the details they need and they’ll be responsible for adding it to the listing.
In fact, giving these details upfront will help encourage genuine enquiries. Potential buyers or tenants will be interested based on accurate information they’ve seen on the listing.
It can also help prevent a sale or rental agreement falling through at a later stage.
What material information will be shown on listings in the future?
When we reach the next steps of the process, you can also expect to see a property’s:
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Renewable or alternative energy sources
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Broadband options
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Parking details
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Locational information like flood risk
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Rights and restrictions affecting the property
…and maybe more. The NTS is working on exactly which information will be required in Parts B and C of the process and we’ll update you as soon as they’re good to go - or watch this space for the latest updates.
Key takeaways
- The term ‘material information’ covers the nitty-gritty details about a property that might impact your choices around it
- Estate agents now need to include all unavoidable costs associated with a property when they list it for sale or to rent
- There are plans for property listings to become even more detailed in the future.
Gas and electricity: your common questions answered
Here at Uswitch, we're asked lots of questions about energy suppliers, bills and switching. Here are the answers to some of your most common queries.
Where does UK gas and electricity come from?
According to Ofgem, around half of UK gas supplies come from our own gas fields in the North Sea.
The rest is imported from a variety of sources including Norway, the Continent and across the world using liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The UK's electricity is generated from fossil fuels, nuclear, renewable and imported energy. There are more than 2,000 electricity generating stations in the UK.
Who is my gas and electricity supplier?
Check your latest energy bill to find out who supplies your gas or electricity.
If you don't have a bill to hand, find out the name of your gas or electricity supplier in this handy guide:
Who is my gas or electricity supplier?
What is dual fuel?
With a dual fuel plan you get your gas and electricity from the same energy supplier.
Dual fuel usually works out cheaper than a single fuel plan where you buy your gas and electricity from different suppliers.
This is because energy suppliers often offer discounts and reduced rates for dual fuel plans.
Plus, with a dual fuel plan, you only have to deal with one energy company if you have any queries or problems with your gas and electricity.
What is Economy 7?
Economy 7 refers to both the meter that tracks your electricity usage separately for day and night, and the tariff, which charges different rates for the day and night usage.
I've written in more detail about Economy 7 over on Uswitch:
What is green energy?
Green energy is electricity or gas derived from renewable sources such as hydro energy, wind energy, solar energy and biomass.
How are my gas and electricity bills calculated?
Your energy bills are calculated on the basis of how many units of energy you consume. You may also pay a standing charge.
When your meter is read, the energy company will subtract the amount shown on the previous meter reading from the most recent one to work out your bill.
If your meter isn't read, you will get an estimated bill based on your past use or a standard rate.
Units of electricity are measured in kilowatt hours. This is shown on your electricity meter.
Gas meters measure the volume of gas you used in cubic feet or cubic meters and the gas companies convert this into kilowatt hours. The price charged for each unit of energy varies according to what pricing plan or tariff you are on.
What information should my gas and electricity bills contain?
Your gas and electricity bills should show:
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Your last meter reading (either estimated or based on your submission)
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The amount of electricity or gas you've used in the billing period as well as an annual consumption
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VAT charges
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The price you're paying per kWh (the unit rate)
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Your plan name
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Your meter number(s)
How do I read my gas and electricity meters?
This will depend on the kind of meter you have. Check out our guide to reading your meter, and why it's important to submit regular meter readings:
How to take an energy meter reading
Who should I contact if I have a complaint about my energy supplier?
First, you need to contact your energy supplier and go through their complaints procedure.
If you need to escalate your complaint, you can get in touch with Citizen's Advice and failing all else, contact the Energy Ombudsman.
First-time buyer numbers hit second highest level in 14 years
More than half of all homes bought with a mortgage in 2022 were snapped up by first-time buyers.
The number of first-time buyers hit its second highest level for 14 years in 2022.
An estimated 370,000 people got on to the property ladder last year, according to Yorkshire Building Society.
The total was the highest for more than a decade, with the exception of 2021, when 400,000 people bought their first home.
2021 was an exceptional year for the housing market, as the pandemic-induced search for space and stamp duty holiday led to elevated levels of activity.
Despite the slight year-on-year fall between 2021 and 2022, the number of first-time buyers last year was still 5% higher than in 2019, before the pandemic struck.
First-time buyers accounted for 53% of all people purchasing a property with a mortgage during the year, up from 50% in 2021 and 41% a decade ago.
Why is this happening?
Demand from first-time buyers was fuelled by a combination of high employment levels and low borrowing costs for much of the year.
Low mortgage rates helped to offset the increase in the average price paid for a home, which rose 10% from 2021 to 2022 to stand at £272,500.
The total is also likely to have been boosted by first-time buyers rushing to take advantage of the government’s Help to Buy Equity loan scheme before it closed to new applicants on 31 October 2022.
The initiative enabled people to purchase a property with just a 5% deposit, which the government topped up with a 20% equity loan that was interest-free for the first five years.
New Right to Shared Ownership scheme launched
Who does it affect?
The fact that so many people were able to purchase their first home in 2022 is not just good news for those individuals, but also for the housing market as a whole.
First-time buyers play a vital role in the market by purchasing properties at the bottom of the ladder, enabling existing homeowners to trade up it.
However, first-time buyer numbers are likely to be lower this year due to higher mortgage rates, combined with the cost-of-living squeeze.
What help is available for first-time buyers?
While the government’s Help to Buy equity loan scheme may have closed, there is still plenty of help available to those purchasing their first home.
First Homes helps first-time buyers, key workers and local people to purchase a home at a 30% discount to its market price, while Shared Ownership enables people to buy a share in a property and pay rent on the rest.
Meanwhile, the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme enables both first-time buyers and home-movers to purchase a property with just a 5% deposit.
The scheme, which has been extended by a year to run until 31 December 2023, encourages lenders to offer 95% mortgages by having the government guarantee the portion of the loan over 80%.
First-time buyers saving for a deposit can also use the Lifetime ISA, under which you can save £4,000 a year. The government then adds a 25% bonus - up to a maximum of £1,000 annually. The money must be used to either purchase a first home or for retirement.
The government has also increased the threshold at which stamp duty kicks in for first-time buyers from £300,000 to £425,000 on homes costing up to £625,000 until April 2025.
Key takeaways
- An estimated 370,000 people stepped on to the property ladder in 2022
- The figure was the second highest in the past 14 years, behind only 2021 when the pandemic and stamp duty holiday elevated activity levels
- First-time buyers accounted for 53% of all people purchasing a property with a mortgage during 2022
Latest Housing Census data: number of people renting soars by 28%
More than one in five people now rent in the private sector, while the number of those who own a home has fallen, according to the latest Housing Census.
An estimated 5 million households – more than one in five - rented their home in the private sector in 2021, up from 3.9 million in 2011, according to the government’s latest Housing Census.
Stretched affordability, caused by strong house price growth during the past decade, is likely to be behind the increase, as first-time buyers delay stepping onto the property ladder.
There has also been a fall in the number of households who own their home, with the proportion of owner-occupiers dropping to 62.5%, down from 64.3% in 2011.
The census also found that the number of households in England and Wales has increased by 1.4 million since 2011, to stand at 24.8 million in 2021.
The number of new homes being built has failed to keep pace with this rise, contributing to the increase in house prices seen during the past 10 years.
Here’s what else the census revealed:
How many people own their own home?
Across England and Wales, the percentage of households who own their own home has fallen during the past decade.
However, due to population growth, the actual number of homeowners has increased.
In 2021, around 15.5 million households lived in a property they owned, up from 15 million in 2011.
Overall, a third of people own their property outright, while 29.7% have a mortgage or own a stake in a shared ownership property.
One in five people rent their home in the private sector and 17.1% rent it through a local council or housing association - broadly unchanged from 2011.
A lucky 33,000 households, around 0.1% of the total, live in their home rent free.
This may be because they are property guardians, have a job that comes with a home, are live-in helpers or house-sitters.
Homeownership rates were highest in the South East and South West at 67.1% and 67% respectively, and lowest in London, with the capital having the highest proportion of people who rented from both the private sector at 30% and the social sector at 23.1%.
What type of homes do people live in?
Almost 78% of people lived in houses and bungalows, while almost 22% lived flats, maisonettes or apartments.
The remaining 0.4%, around 104,000 households, lived in a caravan or other temporary structure.
The number of households living in a flat or apartment has seen the biggest increase during the past 10 years, with an additional 500,000 households living in flats in 2021, compared with 2011.
There was also an increase in the proportion of people living in detached and semi-detached houses, while the number of people living in terraced properties fell.
This is likely to be because fewer terraced properties are being built compared with other properties, according to the National House Building Council.
Unsurprisingly, people in London were most likely to live in a flat at 54%, compared with 21.6% in the South East and just 11.4% in the East Midlands.
Do people have enough space?
When recording the Housing Census, the number of 'rooms' a property has doesn't include kitchens, utility rooms, bathrooms, WCs, conservatories, halls or landings.
With that in mind, the study found that three-quarters of people lived in a home that had between three and five rooms, while 13.9% had six to eight rooms.
Just over 1% had nine or more rooms.
At the other end of the scale, one in 10 households are living in properties that have only one or two rooms.
In terms of bedrooms, 40.4% of homes had three bedrooms, with 27.1% having two bedrooms and one in five properties having four or more.
Around 11.4% of properties - the equivalent of 2.8 million households – had just one bedroom.
Despite more than one in 10 properties having just one bedroom, only 4.3% of households said their home was overcrowded and they had fewer bedrooms than they needed, although the proportion rose to 11.1% in London.
Meanwhile, seven out of 10 households reported having more bedrooms than they actually required.
How many homes have central heating?
Nearly all homes in England and Wales had central heating in 2021 at 98.5%, although this still left 367,000 households in properties without central heating.
The majority of homes were heated with mains gas at 73.8%, while 8.5% had electric heating.
Just 99,000 properties were heated using solely renewable energy, but a further 135,000 used at least one renewable energy source, alongside other sources, such as gas or electricity.
People living in the Isles of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall, were most likely to be using at least some renewable energy at 6.1%.
By contrast, just 0.2% of homes in Blackpool used at least one renewable energy source.
How many cars do people have?
More than three-quarters of households owned a vehicle, with 41.3% households owning at least one car or van, while 26.2% owned two vehicles and 9.2% owned three or more.
But 23.3% of households did not own any cars or vans, down from 25.6% in 2011.
Unsurprisingly, the highest concentration of households that did not own a vehicle was in London at 42.1%, rising to 77.2% in the City of London.
At the other end of the scale, households in the South East and East were most likely to own two or more vehicles at 42.3% and 41.6% respectively.
Key takeaways
- The number of people renting a home in the private sector in England and Wales has jumped by 28% during the past 10 years
- A third of people own their property outright, while 29.7% have a mortgage or own a stake in a shared ownership property
- The majority of people live in a house or bungalow, but the number living in flats has seen the biggest increase since 2011
Mortgage Guarantee Scheme extended to end of 2023
The government-backed scheme to ensure 95% mortgages remain widely available will now run until December 2023.
The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme is being extended by a year to help more people with a 5% deposit to buy a home.
The government-backed scheme had been due to close at the end of 2022, but it will now run until 31 December 2023.
It has already helped more than 24,000 households to purchase a property, 85% of which were first-time buyers.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen, said: “Extending this scheme means thousands more have the chance to benefit, and it supports the market as we navigate through these difficult times.”
Before the announcement was made, commentators had expressed concern that the end of the scheme would make it difficult for people with only a small deposit to get a mortgage, particularly as house prices in some areas are falling.
A number of lenders had recently withdrawn their mortgages for people borrowing 95% of their home’s value. But news that the scheme is being extended should boost the supply of these loans.
How does the scheme work?
The scheme encourages lenders to offer 95% mortgages by having the government guarantee the portion of the loan over 80%.
This means that if the borrower defaults on the mortgage, the government will cover up to 15% of the shortfall.
The scheme can be used by both first-time buyers and those trading up the property ladder on homes worth up to £600,000.
It can be used to purchase an existing or a new-build property, but the home must be bought with a repayment mortgage, not an interest-only one.
The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme was launched in April 2021, after lenders withdrew mortgages for people with small deposits in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving just eight 95% mortgages available on the market.
What other help is available to first-time buyers?
There are a number of government schemes to help people get on to the property ladder.
First Homes helps first-time buyers, key workers and local people to purchase a home at a 30% discount to its market price, while Shared Ownership enables people to buy a share in a property and pay rent on the rest.
First-time buyers saving for a deposit can also use the Lifetime ISA, under which you can save £4,000 a year. The government then adds a 25% bonus - up to a maximum of £1,000 annually - for free. The money must be used to either purchase a first home or for retirement.
The government has also increased the threshold at which stamp duty kicks in for first-time buyers from £300,000 to £425,000 on homes costing up to £625,000 until April 2025.
Lenders to offer mortgages on flats in high-rise buildings
There was also good news for people who own flats in high-rise buildings with cladding.
Six lenders have announced they will start accepting mortgage applications from people who live in buildings in England that are over five storeys high, or 11 metres tall, and have cladding from early next year.
The move follows new guidance from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to enable valuations on properties impacted by cladding.
But lenders will still want to see evidence that dangerous cladding will be removed, either by the building’s developer or through a government scheme.
The lenders who will consider mortgage applications from people in high-rise buildings with cladding are Barclays Bank, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest and Santander.
Key takeaways
- The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme is being extended until 31 December 2023
- The scheme helps first-time buyers and home-movers with just a 5% deposit buy a home
- It has already helped more than 24,000 households purchase a property, 85% of which were first-time buyers