SWEEPING changes to pension tax will help to fuel growth in the housing market, a Worcester letting agent has claimed. Dani James, chief executive of property management specialists Premier Places, has spoken out following George Osborne’s recent Budget when he revealed detailed reforms to tempt people to invest their nest eggs in property, meaning more homes available for people to rent. From next April, the Chancellor’s changes will see everyone in a defined contribution pension scheme with the ability to access their entire pension pot at the age of just 55.

Although it is still not possible to invest in housing directly with a pension fund, the changes will give people greater freedom to utilise their pension pots, taking the money out and scrapping the need to buy an annuity. It will mean people have the capital they would need to invest in a buy-to-let property which many people across Worcestershire see as a better option to build their retirement fund. Also included in the Chancellor’s plans was a drop in the stamp duty threshold on property bought through a limited company, which was reduced from £2m to £500,000.

Ms James, who is advising current and would-be landlords across the county on the changes, said: “The Chancellor’s Budget has, in many ways, given another shot in the arm to the property market. Property professionals have welcomed the stamp duty reduction but overall experts do not believe this will have much impact on the property market. Where Mr Osborne has really excited the lettings market is through his pension reforms. Giving people more freedom to access their pension pot early hands them new choices on how to spend the money they are putting aside for their retirement – with many interested in investing in bricks and mortar.

“That has been echoed by the British Property Federation which believe the reforms will give those spending their pension pots the flexibility to take some of their fund and invest in the property industry. With more options now available in buy-to-let mortgages, coupled with the pension reforms, we could see further growth in the county’s property market as more people have the capital to invest and bring in a new source of income. In Worcestershire, the recent increase in property prices has been far steadier than in London, meaning investors’ money goes further here than it does in the south. Overall, Mr Osborne’s announcement has the potential to have significant and positive impact for the buy-to-let market.”

However, Ms James warned those looking to access their pension funds from next April should take ‘detailed and impartial’ advice before making their move into the buy-to-let market.