Immigration of worker visa holders on fixed-term contracts can contribute to house price inflation, but its impact is relatively limited compared to factors like interest rates, housing supply constraints and broader economic trends The most noticeable effects are in rental markets and in specific high-demand areas where workers are concentrated.
To keep this in context I will be discussing about LEGAL immigration and visa holders who have gained sponsorship to work, and have obtained a visa to live and reside in the country during a fixed time.
2:16 *correction: I say that the Bank of England’s interest rate has been cut from 4.5%. I meant to say ‘to 4.5% (from 4.75%)’
➤ original Channel 4 news report here: Interest rates cut but UK growth forecast slashed
https://youtu.be/IIvpo-Hm0o0?si=ambTmk561dYm_oL7
➤ salary hike on work visas: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8j0rkpk1ggo
Note: I am making this video off the back of the BBC’s “ImmigratIon Week” news feature (whatever that is) which has been broadcast nationally from Mon 3 March – Friday 7 March 2025 in the UK. Watch my commentary on Youtube based on each topic:
➤ PART 1, YT Video Here: Do Immigrants Steal UK Jobs? https://youtu.be/_M-oUWnj2II
➤ PART 2, New Video Here: UK Immigration & Housing: https://youtu.be/32Qm7aioNmk
➤ PART 3, YT Video Here: What Will Boost the Economy – Immigration or Rate Cuts? https://youtu.be/PBa0ECRMDSM
➤ PART 4, YT Video Here: Immigrants Abuse the NHS (?) https://youtu.be/ii9ZbGa2Zjk
8:48 *correction: I say that the Bank of England’s interest rate has been cut from 4.5%. I meant to say ‘to 4.5% from 4.75%’
In this blog post I am not going to get into detail the processes to obtain a skilled worker visa however I am going to give a summary of how strict, thorough and tedious the selection and application process is. There are negative attitudes, ideas and views in general about immigration in general, but to keep this in context I will be discussing legal immigration and visa holders who have gained sponsorship to work, and have obtained a visa to live and reside in the country during a fixed time. Visa tend to be time-limited, which means the visa-holder can legally only live in UK for a set number of months or years, usually no less than 6 months, and no more than 3 years. Tourist and temporary visas tend to be valid for an extremely short amount of time, meaning a tourist, visitor or temp visa is valid for no longer than 6 months.
There seems to be a tenuous link between immigration &:
• UK Trade, cost of living and living standards
• Housing inflation
• Increase in crime rates
• Over-population
• The steady and gradual marginalisation of UK citizens
JOB ROLES
As of March 2025, the National Health Service (NHS) in England continues to face significant nursing shortages, particularly in Band 5 clinical nursing roles. While exact current vacancy numbers are not readily available, recent data and trends provide insight into the staffing challenges:
National Shortages:
- In mid-2024, the NHS in England reported over 43,000 nursing vacancies, indicating a substantial gap in the workforce. theguardian.com
Decline in Nursing Students:
- The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) highlighted a significant decrease in nursing student enrollments across England, with some regions experiencing reductions as high as 40%. This decline exacerbates the existing staffing shortages and impacts the pipeline of qualified nurses entering the workforce. theguardian.com
Impact on Band 5 Roles:
- Band 5 positions are typically entry-level roles for newly qualified nurses. The decrease in nursing students directly affects the availability of candidates for these positions, contributing to higher vacancy rates.
Current Vacancies:
- Specific figures for Band 5 nursing vacancies across England are not centrally published. However, individual NHS Trusts regularly post their vacancies on platforms such as NHS Jobs and HealthJobsUK. nhsjobs.comHealth Jobs UK
Addressing the Shortage:
- The RCN has called for increased investment in nursing education and better financial support for students to attract more individuals to the profession. They also advocate for improved pay and working conditions to retain existing staff and reduce vacancy rates. ft.com
In summary, while exact current vacancy numbers for Band 5 nursing roles are not readily available, the NHS in England continues to face significant challenges in filling these positions due to a combination of high overall nursing vacancies and a declining number of nursing students.
Salary requirements
The ‘standard’ salary rate of at least £38,700 per year, or the ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher. Another example of the the salary requirments: if the salary for a job offer is £39,000 per year, but the annual going rate for the job you’ll be doing is £42,000 the applicant does not meet the usual salary requirements for this visa.
Salary requirements – Healthcare or Education There are different salary rules if you work in some healthcare or education jobs. Your salary must be at least £23,200 – or more if your job’s ‘going rate’ is higher. The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK offers various roles to overseas candidates requiring a Skilled Worker visa. To be eligible, the job must be on the list of approved occupations and meet specific salary thresholds.
HOUSING
The Bank of England has cut interest rates from 4.75% to 4.5% – the lowest base rate since June 2023
The Bank also cuts its growth forecast for the UK economy in 2025 from 1.5% to 0.75%
When the Bank of England (BoE) cuts interest rates from 4.75% to 4.5%, it generally makes borrowing cheaper, which can have significant effects on house prices.
- Lower Mortgage Rates → Increased Buyer Demand
- Increased House Prices (Likely in the Short Term)
More demand can push up house prices, as buyers compete for available properties. Historically, lower interest rates boost property values by making housing more affordable. - Boost for First-Time Buyers (But Higher Prices Could Hurt)
Lower borrowing costs help first-time buyers enter the market.
However, if house prices rise too quickly, the deposit required may still be a barrier
