The article presented below comes from newspaper Vocable No. 671 of October 3 to 16, 2013.

He explains measures to support the housing sector, launched last March in Britain by George Osborne, the chancellor of the Exchequer. Called "Help To Buy", this plan is intended to facilitate access to the property. The plan came in two parts. The first piece is limited to the purchase of newly built homes. The second part of the plan allows anyone to buy a house with only a 5 percent down payment.  

The government of Prime Miniter David Cameron has cast the program as a way to stimulate the country's sluggish economy by helping consumers buy homes they could not otherwise afford. But critics say it could lead to a housing bubble and a spate of problem loans on which the government could be left to make good.

But during in October, the outcry has grown from some lawmakers and economists, who are demanding an early end for "Help To Buy". However, the government says the programm has been a success so far. More than 10,000 people have reserved newly built homes since April, and the number of first-time buyers was at the highest level since 2007, the government said on October.

Andrew Brigden, an economist at Fathom Consulting, said the program would make it easier for banks to make riskier  loans. "Help To Buy" is a reckless scheme because it uses public money to incentivize the banks to lend precisely to those individuals who should not be offered credit.

The article from The New York Times, by Julia Werdigier, helps to understand how is access to the property in Britain and, thus, compare with French practices.