In a new feature we round up the most important news of the day.
Nationwide helps first-time buyers save mortgage deposit
First-time buyers who feared they would never make it on to the housing ladder are being offered a helping-hand from Nationwide. From Friday, the building society will be offering Save to Buy accounts, which pay 20% interest with the aim of getting savers to their reach deposit target quicker. After six months of saving, wannabe home-owners will then be able to apply for one of Nationwide's 95% mortgages.
Shapps pledges more land for self building
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has called on housing associations, councils and developers to make more land available to self-builders. Such properties account for every one in five houses built in the UK, which is one of the lowest rates in Europe.
Mr Shapps said, "I can confirm that the government will lead the way to promote more self-build housing by using the government's build now, pay later scheme to earmark public sector land, with plots available exclusively for self-builders."
MPs rebel against plans to scrap tenancy for life
Thirty-eight MPs have signed an early day motion, which asks the government to rethink reforms to social housing. The motion, tabled by Labour MP Austin Mitchell, criticises plans for affordable rent, claiming: "While new high rents will drive up housing benefit costs, the proposals will fail to regulate high private rents and not build any of the secure, genuinely affordable homes for rent needed by the 5 million on housing waiting lists and others who will be priced out of the unaffordable and insecure private rental and mortgage market."
MPs have demanded the government think again and cap rents, rather than cutting housing benefit. The changes will be introduced in the localism bill which will reach report stage in the Commons shortly.
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