Published July 2012
This new Smith Institute and Future of London report examines the London property market, and argues that an influx of overseas investment risks creating an unsustainable property boom, and pricing Londoners out of the market. The report calls on the Government and the Mayor of London to curb speculation in the property market and recommends: better collection of data and information on the scale, distribution and sources of overseas investment into London, especially on empty homes held by investors domiciled overseas; more analysis of the impact of overseas investment on prices, affordability and supply; and incentives and regulation to ensure that overseas investment is not simply capitalising on rising asset values and that it bears costs that are proportionate to the financial benefits.