The outlook for Housing Investment Trusts
Jim Robertson
In its Housing White Paper the Government announced its intention to bring into being a new sort of investment trust designed to channel capital into housing for rent (Housing Investment Trusts or HITs).
Research by Coopers & Lybrand has assessed how effective the proposals might be and highlights some areas for improvement. Their conclusions are that the Government has got it 'nearly right'. The decision to allow HITs to acquire property which is already let (provided it is shorthold) is particularly welcome; but limitations upon the ability of existing companies to take advantage of HIT status may mean that the new regime gets off to a slow start.