UK house prices
Reuters

UK Chancellor George Osborne may have "pulled the rabbit out his hat" after announcing the abolition of the old stamp duty tax system, but he has disappointed campaigners who are fighting for more control over the rental market.

"With house prices set to increase by £10,000 in the New Year, it's clear that it is only going to become more difficult for young Brits to make that critical first step onto the property ladder, which means that the demand for people needing to enter flatshares – particularly in cities – is going to grow," said Thomas Villeneuve, CEO and Founder of flatsharing network Weroom.

Weroom survey

• 53% of consumers say that landlords should be required to fix any reported problems alerted by tenants in under 7 days

• 47% claim a vetting scheme should be introduced for tenants AND landlords

• 40% say landlords should not be able to increase rent until two years after the initial tenancy agreement

• 34% of renters and landlords should be encouraged to have a direct relationship to avoid unnecessary costs from estate agents

• 31% of landlords should be required to inspect their properties on a monthly basis in case repairs need to be made

• 30% believe landlords should be required to have their proposed charge for rent approved by a qualified letting agent before asking tenants to sign a contract

• 29% of people renting for more than 5 years should be given first access to loan schemes to buy their first property

• 20% think landlords should include TV licence fees and water, gas and electricity bills within the overall rent charge

"One thing that we would [have] therefore liked to [have seen] raised in the Autumn Statement is the introduction of a dedicated renting minister, a policy that 50% of the British public said they want to be put in place in our recent research.

"The introduction of a renting minister would open up the potential to offer greater support to property owners and landlords, specifically through rent subsidies and financial support schemes."

Office for National Statistics data, house price annual inflation was at 12.5% in England, 5.8% in Wales, 7.6% in Scotland and 10.9% in Northern Ireland.

The average UK house price in September 2014 stands at £273,000 (€342,025, $427,614) compared with £274,000 in August.

The regional breakdown showed that the average property price in England stood at £285,000, £172,000 in Wales, £143,000 in Northern Ireland and £197,000 in Scotland.

According to the latest Buy-to-Let Index from the UK's largest lettings agent networks, Your Move and Reeds Rains, while tenants' finances have improved, rent has also risen 1.5% over the last twelve months.

Annual rent rises increased by 1.5% in the twelve months to October 2014 while month-on-month rents rose 0.3%, or just £2 compared to the previous month of September 2014.

Meanwhile, landlords' gross returns reach 13.3% over last year, due to shorter void periods and rising house prices.

Meanwhile, the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced that people who own their flats will be given new rights.

Almost five million people in England and Wales own flats and the CMA has decided those people should be given support in the form of new laws, which could see flat owners get rid of property management (freeholders) by majority vote.

During an eight-month review of the sector, the watchdog found many flat owners are the victims of overcharging and poor service.

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