The Daily Telegraph Thursday 1 August 2019 *** 5
Over-65s ‘stop
young people
from buying
family homes’
By Marianna HuntOVER-65s are blocking young buyers
from purchasing family homes, a study
has suggested, as it found two thirds
have at least two spare bedrooms.
The report, published by Nation-
wide yesterday, showed that the num-
ber of “under-occupied” properties has
risen sharply over the past 20 years.
More than half of homeowners cur-
rently live in a property with at least
two unused bedrooms, while among
over-65s that figure rises to two thirds.
This is despite the average retiree be-
ing able to make £158,000 on average
by downsizing, according to estate
agents Hamptons International.Nationwide warned that the ineffec-
tive use of housing stock could leave
younger generations unable to move
from small starter homes into larger
houses suitable for a family.
Robert Gardener, chief economist at
the building society, said fewer people
were putting their houses up for sale
while there had been a “marked de-
cline” in home ownership among those
aged under 35.
The number of property transac-
tions fell by 3 per cent over the past
year according to the latest figures
from HMRC.
Mr Cook said that dampened house-
price growth has contributed to the
problem. He said: “With few homes on
the market, demand is high.
“Yet young homeowners are finding
that their properties haven’t increased
enough in value.”
However, retirement experts said it
could be necessity rather than choice
that meant older homeowners are not
selling up.
Steve Wilkie, of Responsible Life,
the financial advice firm, said that in
many parts of the country options for
retirees are few and far between, due
to a “chronic shortage” of two-bed-
room houses.
“There are significantly fewer
smaller houses for sale. The ones that
are available are being fought over by
downsizers, first-time buyers and those
moving up the ladder.”News
Dubai sheikh
posts cryptic
poem as wife
attends court
By Steve Bird and Josie Ensor
THE ruler of Dubai published an on-
line poem about “shining swords with
sharp blades” on the day his estranged
wife asked a British judge to make an
arranged marriage protection order.
The billionaire Sheikh Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum, 70, posted a
verse online called Swords of the Excel-
lencies as Princess Haya attended the
High Courts of Justice in London for
the start of their bitter legal battle over
their two children.
She was seen in public for the first
time on Tuesday after fleeing the
United Arab Emirates with the two
children earlier this year while appar-
ently “in fear for her life”.
The vice president and prime minis-
ter of the UAE has applied to the British
courts for the “summary return” of his
children from Britain.
On Tuesday afternoon – the first day
of the preliminary hearing – Sir An-
drew McFarlane, president of the Fam-
ily Courts Division, allowed the media
to report how the princess was apply-
ing for a “forced marriage protection
order.” The 45-year-old Jordanian prin-
cess is also seeking a non-molestation
order, it emerged.
As those details became public, trig-
gering headlines around the world, the
sheikh, a self-proclaimed poet, posted
his latest poem. The verse was up-
loaded at 4.06pm British time.
The sheikh had earlier published a
poem which accused an unnamed
woman of “treachery and betrayal”.
That verse, called Live or Die, in-
cludes the line: “You no longer have a
place with me. I don’t care if you live or
die.”
However, this has been interpreted
as an ode to Abu Dhabi’s crown prince,
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, or MBZ as he is known.
“He (his Excellency) has shining
swords with sharp blades. In their
sheaths, they can cut if drawn,” he
wrote on his official Instagram page.
“For confronting and keeping away
the enemies, he has many soldiers. He
has protected heroes so that nobody
will conspire against them.”
In Arabic, he appears to be speaking
figuratively but it could be viewed as a
veiled threat, possibly to regional ene-
mies such as Iran or Qatar, with whom
the UAE has had strained relations in
recent years.
Sheikh Maktoum suggests the UAE
has not shown its true power and asks
what would happen if this sword were
ever to be used.
The sheikh, thought to have more
than 20 children by six wives, is knownGEOFF PUGH FOR THE TELEGRAPHregularly to write poetry. Before he and
his sixth wife split earlier this year, they
were often photographed together
with the Queen, a friendship cultivated
from their shared passion for horses.
As the founder of the Godolphin
horse racing stable, the Sheikh re-Princess Haya Bint
Al Hussein arriving
back at the High
Court, right; Sheikh
Maktoum with
Sheikh Mohammed
bin Zayed Al
Nahyan in an image
shared on the Dubai
ruler’s Instagram
accountceived a trophy from the Queen after
one of his horses won at Royal Ascot.
The break up – likely to result in a
£4 billion divorce battle – has become
increasingly acrimonious.
It is understood the Princess, the
sheikh’s youngest wife, flew on a pri-
vate jet with her children to the UK in
April.
It is not known why she left, but
speculation has focused on how two of
the sheikh’s children had tried unsuc-
cessfully to flee the emirate.
Full details about the orders applied
for and the identities of the children
cannot be reported for legal reasons.
The trial is due to start in November.‘His
Excellency
has shining
swords withsharp blades.
In their
sheaths, theycan cut if
drawn’‘You no
longer have
a place with
me. I don’tcare if you
live or die’£158,
The amount the that average retiree can
make from downsizing on their home,
according to Hamptons InternationalРЕЛИЗ ПОДГОТОВИЛА ГРУППА "What's News" VK.COM/WSNWS