Bricks And Bubbles

Episode

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

20140806

20140802 (R4)

With official statistics showing UK house prices up almost 10% over the past year, the Governor of the Bank of England has described rising property prices as the greatest threat to economic recovery. But are fears of a property bubble justified?

In the first of a four part series, Michael Robinson travels across the UK to ask what's going on in the British housing market.

In the South West he finds estate agents with almost nothing to sell while buyers snap up houses within days of their coming onto the market. In the North-West where houses are far cheaper, first time buyers are struggling to compete with a new army of buy-to let landlords. And in Northern Ireland, where prices are now low enough for first time buyers to get a foot onto the ladder, he also meets some of the casualties of one of the biggest property crashes in UK history.

Michael Robinson asks whether the UK is really experiencing a housing bubble.

Series exploring the truth in claims that the UK is experiencing a housing bubble.

20140813

20140809/10 (R4)

Last year, London's house prices rose by more than the entire GDP of New Zealand. Rents in the capital are almost double the national average. Meanwhile, wealthy investors are paying in cash for luxury homes which haven't even been built.

London's property market calls the tune for the rest of the UK. Michael Robinson asks how London came to be so expensive and what its continually ebullient market holds in store for those who wish to buy and rent there.

Michael Robinson asks why London's homes are so expensive.

Series exploring the truth in claims that the UK is experiencing a housing bubble.

20140820

20140816/17 (R4)

In this programme, Michael Robinson gets to the bottom of the UK rental market.

He meets the buy-to-letters who've bought up council homes to rent out as private landlords - not to be confused with the let-to-buyers who are renting out their old home so they can buy a new one for themselves. He discovers the impact of changes to the housing benefit system and asks whether the current relationship between tenants and landlords is just a way of transferring wealth from young people to their baby boomer parents.

Michael Robinson finds out why the UK rental market has been booming.

Series exploring the truth in claims that the UK is experiencing a housing bubble.

20140824

20140823 (R4)
20140827 (R4)

Increasingly unaffordable prices, soaring rents and regional imbalance. What can be done to fix Britain's broken housing market?

Should we build more? Do we just need to open up empty homes? What about investing our pension money in property development? In the final part of his series, Michael Robinson explores how to put the property sector back on track.

Michael Robinson explores how to fix Britain's broken housing market.

Series exploring the truth in claims that the UK is experiencing a housing bubble.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	20140806	20140802 (R4)	With official statistics showing UK house prices up almost 10% over the past year, the Governor of the Bank of England has described rising property prices as the greatest threat to economic recovery. But are fears of a property bubble justified? In the first of a four part series, Michael Robinson travels across the UK to ask what's going on in the British housing market. In the South West he finds estate agents with almost nothing to sell while buyers snap up houses within days of their coming onto the market. In the North-West where houses are far cheaper, first time buyers are struggling to compete with a new army of buy-to let landlords. And in Northern Ireland, where prices are now low enough for first time buyers to get a foot onto the ladder, he also meets some of the casualties of one of the biggest property crashes in UK history. Michael Robinson asks whether the UK is really experiencing a housing bubble. Series exploring the truth in claims that the UK is experiencing a housing bubble.
02	20140813	20140809/10 (R4)	Last year, London's house prices rose by more than the entire GDP of New Zealand. Rents in the capital are almost double the national average. Meanwhile, wealthy investors are paying in cash for luxury homes which haven't even been built. London's property market calls the tune for the rest of the UK. Michael Robinson asks how London came to be so expensive and what its continually ebullient market holds in store for those who wish to buy and rent there. Michael Robinson asks why London's homes are so expensive. Series exploring the truth in claims that the UK is experiencing a housing bubble.
03	20140820	20140816/17 (R4)	In this programme, Michael Robinson gets to the bottom of the UK rental market. He meets the buy-to-letters who've bought up council homes to rent out as private landlords - not to be confused with the let-to-buyers who are renting out their old home so they can buy a new one for themselves. He discovers the impact of changes to the housing benefit system and asks whether the current relationship between tenants and landlords is just a way of transferring wealth from young people to their baby boomer parents. Michael Robinson finds out why the UK rental market has been booming. Series exploring the truth in claims that the UK is experiencing a housing bubble.
04	20140824	20140823 (R4) 20140827 (R4)	Increasingly unaffordable prices, soaring rents and regional imbalance. What can be done to fix Britain's broken housing market? Should we build more? Do we just need to open up empty homes? What about investing our pension money in property development? In the final part of his series, Michael Robinson explores how to put the property sector back on track. Michael Robinson explores how to fix Britain's broken housing market. Series exploring the truth in claims that the UK is experiencing a housing bubble.