EU Referendum 'Likely To Slow Housing Market'

The housing market is likely to be depressed in the run-up to the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU, according to consultants Hometrack. Hometrack’s index of house prices in 20 UK cities revealed the overall number of sales fell by 2% in the last year. The consultancy warned that uncertainty over the ‘Brexit’ referendum was “likely to slow activity further”, based on analysis of the market during the Scottish referendum. It added that other policies – such as higher stamp duty for investors and second homeowners – was expected to contribute to a slowing market. Read more on the Hometrack website.

Tory MP Blasts IDS Plan to Grab Mentally Ill’s Cash As 'Brainless'

Plans to strip benefits from the mentally ill unless they agree to treatment were savaged as "complete tosh” today – by an influential TORY MP. Dr Sarah Wollaston, the chair of the Health Select Committee, said the proposal was “unethical, unworkable nonsense” and “fundamentally flawed”. Iain Duncan Smith is looking at forcing claimants with depression or anxiety to undergo therapy as a condition of getting sickness benefits. But Dr Wollaston said: “Presumably this complete tosh planted by someone who has no understanding of consent to treatment.” Posting on Twitter, she added: “When I say it’s a ‘no brainer’ I mean this unethical, unworkable kite flying comes from someone with no brain.” Read more on the Daily Mirror website.

Housing Costs Cause Stress and Depression for Millions

A new survey from Shelter has revealed the emotional strain faced by millions of families as they struggle to meet their housing costs. According to the research:

    *almost one in three adults (equivalent to 15 million people) say housing costs are causing stress and depression in their family

    *one in four (equivalent to 12.2 million people) are kept awake at night by the stress of paying their rent or mortgage

    *one in four say housing costs are causing arguments with their partner and other family members.

The findings follow on from Shelter’s earlier research, which showed 7.8 million people are constantly struggling to keep up with their rent or mortgage, an increase of 44% from the same time last year. Read more on the Shelter website.