First time buyer news: Kelly: Affordable homes 'top priority'

11-May-2006

Secretary of state for communities and local government, Ruth Kelly, has announced that she plans to turnaround the UK's affordable homes shortage by calling on the government to build more properties.

Ms Kelly claimed that building more social and affordable homes would be a "personal priority" in her new post and has suggested a change to planning laws to allow for new developments.

"I personally think we need to put a greater emphasis on increasing housing supply in the future," she told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

She added: "That may mean, for example, changing the planning regulations to make sure that more housing comes forward."

Aspiring first time buyers considering affordable housing options should work with a good mortgage broker.

The secretary said that the government's priority on housing in the years after 1997 had been refurbishment of existing stock rather than constructing more affordable homes.

However, she insisted that she would make sure that the emphasis of policy was shifted towards building new homes in the future.

First time buyers can make buying a new home affordable through a 'gifted deposit' scheme whereby a deposit is not required just the cost of professional and arrangement fees of £5000

She concluded that it is vital that a balance is struck between housing vulnerable families, such as the homeless, and local people who have a right to a home in their community.

Mortgage lenders have risen to the challenge of creating a growing number of options for first time buyers.

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