Housebuilder Vistry Group is bracing itself for a pre-tax loss of £30 million in the first half of 2024, as it struggles to sell off its £300 million backlog of unsold private homes. The company's share price plummeted by 8% on the day of the announcement, with new Chief Executive Adam Daniels implementing substantial price cuts to address the challenge.
At the start of the year, Vistry held approximately £600 million worth of unsold private homes. However, after a series of deep discounts, this figure has been nearly halved to under £300 million, with £190 million of this reduction expected to finalise by December. The average discount offered to private buyers surged to 7.1% in the first half of this year, a significant increase from 1.4% during the same period last year.
Vistry had initially projected a reduced profit in May, but the current forecast indicates a further deterioration in market conditions. The company cited heightened uncertainty and lower consumer confidence, partly attributed to the Middle East conflict, as key factors contributing to the downturn. Rising mortgage rates, driven by inflation and expectations of Bank of England interest rate hikes, also played a role, although these have recently eased.
Looking ahead, Vistry does not foresee an immediate improvement in the market. The company commented, "Although we would welcome some demand-side stimulus, we are not anticipating a significant change in open market conditions in the second half or in early 2027." In response to the challenging environment, Vistry plans to cut its annual cost base by £25 million through voluntary redundancies and more selective hiring practices.
In recent years, Vistry has strategically shifted its focus towards building social homes in collaboration with housing associations, local authorities, and build-to-rent investors. The company is currently negotiating new framework agreements with ten key partners in this sector. However, there are ongoing concerns regarding the timing of state funding for these projects, particularly under Labour's proposed £39 billion social and affordable housing programme. Grants for which Vistry's partners have applied are expected in the coming months.
This financial update follows a series of profit warnings for Vistry in 2024, primarily due to losses within its southern division. Despite reorganisation efforts aimed at rebuilding investor trust, the company's share price has seen a substantial decline of almost two-thirds over the past year.