I am joined by Michael Keaveney the Director of Land and Development at Grainger PLC, the UK's Largest Landlord to discuss the UK's Housing Emergency.

Michael is probably the most qualified person I have ever spoken to on UK Housing, and my gosh did it show!

We discussed;

- Michaels background and career going from a degree in Building surveying to working for project managers and private developers to his current role at Grainger PLC.

- The difference between how private companies and public companies operate in the Development space.

- How the Development industry has changed over the past 30 years.

- The problems of Town Planning and how it has been politicised.

- How NIMBYism is a disease.

- Why the rhetoric & the narrative of pro development is the biggest single change to planning reform.

- Why he feels we are in a Housing Emergency.

- £2.3 Billion a year being spent on Temporary Accommodation and housing waiting lists being out of control.

- Why the Renters Reform Bill & Renters Rights Bill were direct responses to the Private Rental Sector being used by people that cannot afford it and should not be in it.

- Mom & Pop Landlords, accidental landlords, part time landlords and how important they are for the PRS.

- Why he does not agree George Osbourne's main aim was to institutionalise the PRS.

- According to surveys of customers/tenants in the PRS, the vast majority get a good deal, so why are the PRS demonised?

- Why he is happy with the majority of reform of rental industry in the renters rights bill.

- Why no one speaks about how the PRS has propped up housebuilding in the UK.

- Similarities with Section 106 in suburban areas holding up development and the PRS demonisation stalling ultra urban development.

- Why Private investment is vital for UK housebuilding, development and infrastructure.

- Why most house builders are now avoiding ultra urban schemes in favour of less units of housing.

- Why rate of sale is so key for house builders.

- The ability of private capital to say no to investing in Housing in the UK.

- Why policy makers need to understand what development needs to be viable.

- Why Michael agrees with approaches by the GLA in the past to percentages of affordable housing needed on sites.

- Why he prefers the ideas of grants to the dropping of tariffs for housing.

- Why the loss of SME developers in the market is a disaster.

- Where he feels there are opportunities for SME Developers.

- The costs of getting to planning for SME Developers.

- Why big house builders cannot be set up in this environment and what needs to change.

- Labour seeking to tackle red tape around town planning.

- Planning isn't THE problem but it is a problem.

- Why Landbanking is a misnomer.

- £90 Billion required to build 90,000 social homes.

- Why the SME builds in a different way to big house builders and why we have lost capacity in the UK to build lots of houses in different areas.

- Why subsidy for social homes is vital.

- Michael gives advice to any young person who is looking to get into the real estate industry.

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a comment below and let us know your favourite part. We rely on growing our audience to keep getting excellent guests so please make sure you subscribe. We are also on Youtube, follow us there too. https://www.youtube.com/@rodcast-property

As always thank you to www.978finance.com for making this episode possible. If you are looking for structured finance, Development loans, Bridging loans or just investment mortgages please get in touch.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.