Help-to-Buy scheme ‘fuelling house price rises’, says economist

There is “now little doubt” that the Government’s Help-to-Buy scheme has fuelled property price hikes, according to an economist, with latest figures showing the highest rise in prices in two years.

According to the property price index from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), house prices have more than doubled nationally since the collapse of the property market in 2013.

Residential property prices rose nationally by 10.7% in the year to February, the largest increase since May 2015.