Back in 2012, I proposed the following two step method for assessing housing policy initiatives:
1. How many people are likely to be affected?
2. If the policy affects relatively large numbers of people, what's the likely impact on the housing market?
If you want to solve the housing crisis you need the answer to (1) to be 'lots' and the answer to (2) to be 'does not increase house prices, but increases supply'.
On (1): Currently Help-to-Buy has assisted 7,313 people. This is not a lot.
On (2): If Help-to-Buy ends up helping a lot of people, it will increase demand, rather than supply. This will push up prices making housing less affordable.
In other words, if Help-to-Buy does 'work' it won't 'help'.
CEP Urban and Spatial Programme Blog (formerly SERC)
