The British Do not Want House Prices to Go Up

A survey, commissioned to BBC Two's Propertywatch, revealed that the majority of the British do not property prices to rise. All respondents were asked one and the same question: “Thinking about your current circumstances, do you want house prices to increase, decrease or stay the same?” The ICM opinion poll showed that 64% of the respondents want the prices to stay at the current level or even to decrease. It should be noted that only one third, or 32% of the respondents would welcome the increase in property prices. Four per cent of respondents were at a loss for answer. It is interesting to highlight the fact that older people in the United Kingdom are far more likely to want property price to go up with 40% of 55-64 year old UK citizens wanting the house prices to increase and 21% wanting prices to go down. The sharp difference can be noted when compared to young citizens of the UK, aged 18-24, 18% of which welcome the increase in property prices and 52% of which want the prices to decrease further. The results of the ICM poll reflect the opinions of people across England, Scotland, and Wales; according to the answers’ breakdown, Scotland is the place with the largest number of people, who want prices to go up (38%) versus 29% of people who want prices to fall. The West Midlands is the place, where the vast majority welcomes the decrease in property prices (38%) versus 26%, who want to see prices increasing. The poll was conducted through the means of telephone calls. ICM randomly interviewed 2,006 people, aged 18 and older, between 29 April and 4 May 2009 all across the United Kingdom.