The ‘build it and they will come’ mantra should be ringing in the ears of property funds given global trends

A number of government policy moves, regardless of how well-intentioned, have created further problems that could hamper accommodation supply.

A number of REIT's posted results in recent days. We take a look at what insight we can derive from their performance in the opening half of the year.

As more people wait and see regarding the huge financial pressures of buying a house, they will continue to rent, and they will discover that renting is far from a second choice. This demand will be boosted by buy to let properties being taken off the market due to new legislation.

The first few months of the new Labour government have been reassuring for the property industry, and indeed the house buyer, with major planning reforms on the way, and a streamlining of efforts to re-develop brownfield land. Most notably, the new Chancellor ruled out the possibility of rent controls in her first week in office.

Despite an estate weighing in at 6.9 million hectares, the NHS land portfolio is used poorly. Hospitals and services are creaking while staff often struggle to find affordable homes nearby. Most NHS workers spend close to 50% of take-home pay on housing.

As another UN Climate Change Conference, Cop 28, comes to a lacklustre close in Dubai, with key elements again watered down by vested interests, it is worth relating this back to property, and particularly the office sector.