The nascent recovery in the housebuilding market appears to have ground to a halt as an industry survey measuring the number of people reserving new homes to buy dropped to its lowest level on record.
The survey, conducted weekly by the Home Builders Federation, is for internal use and is regarded by the industry as the best guide to housing demand.
Its latest report, seen by the Financial Times, shows that deposits on new properties have dropped below those recorded in 2008, the nadir of the market.
The HBF declined to comment.
The chief executive of one of the UK’s largest housebuilders said the data were “worrying, highly significant and consistent with a falling market”.
Financial Times 04/09/10 page 1
