Housing minister under fire for 'talking up market'

Posted: 20 Jan 2009 12:30:24 GMT

The housing minister, Margaret Beckett, has been criticised for her remarks suggesting the UK housing market is showing signs of recovery.

Ms Beckett qualified her comments by claiming that they were based on "recent and anecdotal" evidence, saying: "Some people have been saying the appetite to buy has gone through the floor, but clearly we've had this anecdotal evidence of a bit of an upturn in interest."

The claim that there is an upturn has prompted criticism that the government is out of touch with the market.

Property website Rightmove.co.uk, though, has in fact reported that year-on-year figures showing enquiries into homes on sale rose by 100 per cent between the end of 2007 and the end of 2008.

Such figures will be promising for homeowners hoping to sell a property but house prices are still not likely to stop falling for some months.

Those hoping to sell soon may benefit from a higher sale price if they advertise their property online, which could attract more buyers.



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