Tag: Housing Policy
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First Home Guarantee Risks: RBA Oversight Amid Rising Property Prices
RBA warns of potential risks in the First Home Guarantee Australia’s central bank boss, Michele Bullock, used a Senate estimates hearing to highlight how housing policy settings, particularly the federal First Home Guarantee, could influence borrowers’ risk profiles and the broader financial system. While the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has long distanced itself from…
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RBA Chief Warns First Home Guarantee Could Lift LVRs and Riskier Loans
RBA Warning: First Home Guarantee May Increase LVRs The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is flagging potential risks tied to the federal government’s expanded First Home Guarantee scheme. Central bank governor Michele Bullock told Senate estimates that while the policy aims to boost home ownership, it could, on balance, lead borrowers to take on higher…
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Politicians Challenge Ireland’s Apartment Planning Rules in High Court
Background: New apartment planning standards spark legal scrutiny Ireland’s government faces a courtroom challenge to recently introduced guidelines aimed at accelerating apartment development and addressing a lingering housing supply shortfall. A judicial review has been lodged by multiple county councillors, including a journalist-turned-activist, a senior political figure from Labour, and Green Party and Independent representatives.…
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Conservatives pledge Stamp Duty abolition on primary residences to boost home ownership
Conservatives promise stamp duty abolition for primary residences The Conservative Party has announced a policy to abolish stamp duty on the purchase of primary residences in England and Northern Ireland, a move designed to bolster home ownership and bolster the party’s economic credibility ahead of the next general election. The pledge would see buyers pay…
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Tories pledge to scrap stamp duty on primary residences, Badenoch announces at conference
Conservatives outline a bold stamp duty pledge for primary residences In a keynote policy-focused address at the party conference, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch laid out a plan that would abolish stamp duty on the sale of primary residences in England and Northern Ireland. If the Conservatives win the next election, buyers would no longer pay…
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Tories pledge to abolish stamp duty on primary residences announced by Kemi Badenoch
Executive summary In a policy-focused speech at the Conservative Party conference, housing and equality minister Kemi Badenoch laid out a bold proposal: abolish stamp duty on primary residences in England and Northern Ireland for purchases over £125,000. The pledge, part of a broader plan to boost the economy, aims to make home ownership more attainable…
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Budget 2026 Measures Take Effect: Fuel Costs Rise While VAT Cuts Target Hospitality and Education
Budget 2026 Takes Effect: What Changes Today Mean for Households The Irish government’s Budget 2026 measures, announced in the Dáil, moved into effect at midnight, bringing a mix of relief and new costs for households, businesses, and students. As debates resume in the Dáil, the government argues the package balances immediate supports with longer-term fiscal…
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Budget 2026: €10 Social Welfare Rise and Key Measures
Overview: A €10 boost for social welfare The long-awaited Budget 2026 is set to be unveiled, with government officials signaling a cautious approach amid uncertain economic winds. The headline change confirmed ahead of the address is a €10 weekly increase across all social welfare payments, including the state pension. This marks a more gradual rise…
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Budget 2026: Social Welfare Up by €10 as Government Signals Careful Spending Ahead
What Budget 2026 Means for Social Welfare and Pensions The government has unveiled Budget 2026, highlighting a cautious approach in the face of uncertain economic winds. A core element of the package is a €10 weekly increase across all social welfare payments, including the state pension. While this marks an uplift for retirees, carers, and…
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Conservatives unveil £5,000 first-job homebuyer’s tax rebate
Overview: a new incentive for young homebuyers The Conservative Party has announced a plan to reward young people entering the workforce with a £5,000 tax rebate aimed at helping them buy their first home. Described by party officials as a “first-job bonus,” the policy intends to divert a portion of national insurance contributions into a…