§ 53. Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has that gazumping by private house 103W builders affects the price of home ownership; what representations he has received up to the latest convenient date thereon; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EyreHouse prices have risen mainly because demand has exceeded supply. Gazumping is the result of high demand for houses rather than a cause of price rises. Both the Lord Chancellor and my Department have had many letters about house price rises generally, and the Law Commission is studying the whole problem of buyers and sellers of houses withdrawing without legal obligation from agreements made "subject to contract".