Shelter Scotland responds to Scottish data from Council of Mortgage Lenders
27 May 2009
Responding to Scottish data released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders [1], Graeme Brown, Director, Shelter Scotland, housing and homelessness charity, said:
'The Council of Mortgage Lender's figures echo our own findings [2] which show that first time buyers are still being locked out of home ownership despite falls in house prices and low interest rates.
'However, we do not share view of some lenders that a return to high house prices is in the interests of would-be and current Scottish homeowners. In particular we do not want to see a return to the discredited lending practices of the past where banks were lending money they didn't actually have or Scottish Ministers gambling on the housing market by diverting funds to subsidise home ownership.
'Sensible lending practices for those who can afford a property are necessary but we must also reverse the shortage of homes that was a key driver in the housing crisis. At a time when private building has dropped off, the Scottish Government must make building homes a priority, not just for would-be first time buyers but also rented homes for people who will never be able to buy.'
