Demand lifts housing hope

STRONG demand for new homes during the normally slow summer month of July has fuelled hopes of a housing market recovery, according to the House Builders Federation, writes Gail Counsell.

Its latest survey shows that the number of reservations improved in July after slowing in the previous two months. Tony Hillier, HBF president, said the trend was continuing 'strongly' into August.

Around 68 per cent of builders questioned by the HBF report said they expected sales this year to be higher than last.