87% of SME home builders say buyer support would make them more likely to start new sites. New SME Sentiment Survey shows demand-side constraints continue to limit delivery 👇 ➡️ 69% cite housing market conditions as a top barrier ➡️ 63% point to low buyer confidence ➡️ 41% highlight mortgage rates

New data released today shows new home completions in Wales have increased by 11% 📈 Here’s what the numbers tell us 👇 🔸 5,159 new homes were completed in Wales in 2025/26, up 11% 🔸 Around 4,800 new homes were started in 2024/25, up 12%

Over 90% of SME home builders say the Iran conflict has worsened their 12-month outlook. Over a quarter have already paused or reconsidered new sites Geopolitical uncertainty is adding to existing pressures and risks further constraining delivery. SME Sentiment Survey➡️ buff.ly/ZdnBNzf

Around a third of all new Affordable Housing in Wales is delivered by private sector home builders… With 900 Affordable Homes funded by developer contributions each year on average.

Funding for our Brickwork and Roofing Masterclasses is due to end in September, leaving just a limited window for site teams to take advantage of this fully-funded training opportunity. If you've been considering booking a session, now is the time to do so. buff.ly/No54gop

Time is running out to book fully-funded Brickwork and Roofing Masterclasses. ✔ Delivered on your site ✔ No cost to your business or subcontractors ✔ Supports quality, productivity and skills development Book before funding ends in September. Brickwork 👉 buff.ly/quj1AQF Roofing 👉 buff.ly/EYyhV2E

7 in 10 SME home builders now have a negative 3-month outlook for the housing market. Our latest SME Sentiment Survey shows: 📉 75% view conditions negatively 📉 44% expect housing starts to fall 📉48% reporting significant caution or delays to site starts Full results 👉 buff.ly/ZdnBNzf

Last year, the unemployment figure in Wales increased by a third – from 3.3% to 4.5%. Home building supports around 17,500 jobs in Wales each year, inc over 200 apprentices, graduates and trainees – like this group of apprentices training with Davies Homes, an SME home builder based in South Wales.

Join technical professionals from across the home building industry at the HBF Technical Conference 2026. With the Future Homes Standard now published, alongside evolving environmental and regulatory demands, this year’s conference will explore these significant changes. Book now 👉 buff.ly/FuZAOey

88% of SME home builders report that council tax charges are affecting their cash flow, therefore threatening their ability to deliver future sites. Almost half of LAs are charging full council tax on unoccupied new homes, inc those still under construction - like this example from Baker Estates.

Has the implementation of BNG been a barrier to the growth of your business? How about consumer affordability, planning delays or delays to electricity grid connections? SME home builders, share your views 👉https://buff.ly/PoBd4HR

📅 Tuesday 7 July, 11.00am–11.45am – Competition law compliance in the housebuilding sector Gain practical guidance from the CMA on competition law compliance, including key risks around information sharing and the steps businesses can take to stay compliant. Register 👇 buff.ly/YhFz5Pa

📅 Friday 3 July, Homes England's evolving offer to the market Hear how Homes England is evolving its approach to accelerate housing delivery and regeneration, including its Investment Prospectus, the new National Housing Bank. Register 👇 buff.ly/ZgXYkAw

Tickets are now on sale for our 2026 planning and technical conferences Join us this September at Birmingham’s Austin Court for two of the home building industry's leading annual events. 📅 HBF Planning Conference – 9 September 2026 📅 HBF Technical Conference – 10 September 2026

More than 15,000 tradespeople have already benefited from our trade masterclasses initiative, with sessions delivered on home building sites across the UK With CITB funding ending in September, now is the time to book sessions for your sites. Brickwork 👉 buff.ly/quj1AQF Roofing 👉 buff.ly/EYyhV2E

Yesterday, HBF was at the Senedd Marketplace sharing our latest report with Members of the Senedd. It was great to engage with political stakeholders, including the Minister for Housing, Siân Gwenllian MS, Shadow Housing Minister Francesca O'Brien, and Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar.

Rising policy, taxation and regulatory pressures, alongside inflation and demand-side constraints, are making residential development increasingly unviable.Although many of these measures are well intentioned, policymakers have introduced them without consideration for the impact on housing delivery

How confident are you in competition law compliance? Stay ahead of competition law risks and strengthen your compliance knowledge at our upcoming webinar with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

SME home builders, which of the following have been major barriers to your business’s growth in the last 12 months? 🔸Cumulative policy and regulatory costs 🔸Planning delays 🔸Nutrient neutrality Be heard 👉 buff.ly/PoBd4HR

Developer appeals against council tax bills are rising sharply. Our report finds that the 2025/26 tax year saw a 154% increase in developers appealing council tax bills compared with 2022/23. This rise reflects growing pressure on home builders.

Did you know HBF members can contribute data to help strengthen industry-wide health and safety insight? HBF’s latest Annual RIDDOR report, produced with the HBF Health and Safety Committee, highlights top health and safety concerns for industry. #HHAW #HHAW26 #HardHatAwarenessWeek

This is the reality facing many SME home builders under the current council tax regime. Our report warns that developers are being charged council tax on newly built homes before they are complete, sold, occupied or, in some cases, fully habitable.

With Digital Waste Tracking becoming mandatory from October 2026 for permitted receiving sites, the need for a centralised chain of custody is rapidly becoming unavoidable. Join us for this live briefing and Q&A to put your questions to Will Rundle, CEO at Nexus ReGen Register now for free 👇

64% of SMEs cited cumulative viability pressures as a major barrier to growth in our last State of Play survey. Has this figure increased or decreased? SMEs, tell us 👉 buff.ly/PoBd4HR

New homes waiting to be sold are not long-term empty homes. Our Licence to Bill report shows that the current council tax regime is placing unfair pressure on builders, particularly SMEs. 👇

Attendees will gain practical insight into what regulators and investigators actually look for, including: ✔ Waste Transfer Note verification ✔ Carrier registration checks ✔ Facility permit validation ✔ Correct EWC coding Register to attend 👇 www.hbf.co.uk/events/under...

Since 2020, £76,000 has been added to the average cost of building a new home👇 🟦 Over £7,000 in taxes and levies 🟦 Over £23,000 in regulatory costs 🟦 £37,000 in increased material & labour costs 🟦 £7,000 in potential site-specific costs, like nutrient mitigation

The survey to inform our next State of Play report is now live It’ll take no more than 8 minutes to complete … and closes Tuesday 30 June buff.ly/ObXG1TC

There’s still time to sign up for our open webinar on the 2026 Senedd election. Join Mark Harris, Planning and Policy Advisor for Wales at HBF, alongside expert speakers for a discussion on how the election results are shaping the political and policy landscape in Wales. Register👇 buff.ly/vCWTeBT

Council tax should not be charged on new homes before they are completed. Our report calls on Government to introduce a fairer and more consistent national approach to council tax on newly built homes. 👇