CIH calls for more professional lets

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has called on the government to increase the number of professional lets on the market.

According to the professional body, the notion that only students find such accommodation appealing is growing increasingly outdated as the property downturn continues to gather pace.

Head of policy Abigail Davies explained that the professional letting market entails a number of benefits for people who no longer consider buying their own property a viable option.

She warned, however, that unless measures are implemented to increase the supply of such property the potential benefits of the fledgling market would fail to be realised.

"Rental housing is a good offer for a lot of people, but there are potentially a lot of people who would not be able to access it because the supply is not high enough," Ms Davies commented.

Shelter's annual Roof Affordability Index found that the value of the average first-time property in the UK has skyrocketed from £52,674 to £159,494.

News posted on 30th April, 2008