Building momentum in the housing sector is undoubtedly good news for installers, but things could slow in the long term.
That’s the view of Jeremy Brett, director of the Consumer Protection Association (CPA), the installer support body recently named by Fensa as one of only a handful of accredited companies able to provide installers with Insurance Backed Guarantees (IBGs), since they became mandatory for glazing installations.
Jeremy said his membership base was ‘upbeat’ following the news that private housing starts are set to increase by 18% this year to 134,170 units.
Government figures published recently also revealed that help to buy sales had hit a monthly high, with 4,357 sales made under the equity loan scheme in June 2014 – the highest monthly total since the scheme launched in April 2013.
But in conjunction with leading housing analysts and economists, Mr Brett said that his members were well aware of how fragile the market remains.
He commented: “We understand that over the next two years, the construction industry as a whole is forecast to grow by 10%, with the private housing sector experiencing strong growth too. This means increasing opportunities for installers to win new business and we are equipping our members with the tools they need to meet expectations.
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“However a slowing of growth is anticipated towards the end of the decade and installers should be aware of the trajectory of the economy. But in the short term, the private sector is benefitting from improving economic conditions and sensible government measures.”
The CPA also recently launched a campaign to lobby government to remove VAT on home improvement products.
