The housing market - whether it is the shortage of new homes, stamp duty reform or regulation within the industry - has not been considered important enough to merit a dedicated housing debate at the Conservative Party conference next week.
It is not known whether prime minister David Cameron or chancellor George Osborne will mention this subject in their keynote speeches, but the only guaranteed mention of the subject at the conference, which begins on Sunday in Birmingham, will be in a wide-ranging debate on Monday afternoon.
Then the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, will be one of three Cabinet members headlining a 90-minute section called in the conference agenda: Work and Pensions, Government Reform and Communities and Local Government.
So far there has been no word on whether Pickles will reveal new Tory housing-related policies ahead of the general election next May, although housing minister Brandon Lewis has separately hinted that shops-to-homes' conversions in small town centres may be one new policy.
However, the subject is going to come up in a string of fringe meetings at the conference; most of these will be given over to house-building, social housing and regeneration issues rather than anything directly applicable to agency.
But on Monday the RICS residential director Peter Bolton King will be speaking at one fringe event and on Tuesday the Residential Landlords Association will be holding a meeting titled Private Landlords - Local Problems and National Solutions.
Brandon Lewis, whose responsibilities include some planning aspects, will be speaking at several fringe meetings.
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Comments
Mortgage lending is still driving the housing market but with uncertainty on the increase, in terms of house prices, trees and woods seem to be starting to loom large once again - going forward.
The August 14 lending figures speak for themselves and the idea of increasing borrowing facilities even further for FTBs under 40 can't and won't sort this out.
Given the present circumstances the political party ought to be ashamed of itself, especially considering their stated intention to improve the workings of the housing market made before they last got themselves elected. Also, because of the sporadic volatility and regional discord, promulgated by their existing policies, which now lack all credibility. It's pretty sad really, particularly for those whom used to keen house-owners rather than reluctant renters.