TW has been caught out by the credit crunch which has been made immensely worse in the UK by incompetent Government/BoE misjudgements.

Its margins are far less than those of small builders and it has economies of scale.

Without large builders there would be less and more expensive housing.

David, London,

I look forward to the day when they have to sell off the land banks, then other smaller less greedy builders might get a sniff.

Tom Taylor-Duxbury, Ludlow, UK

One of the problems with housebuilders is that they do very little other than buy land and build houses. Land prices and house prices usually peak within 6 months of each other and it is a hairpin bend at the top which leaves them with depreciating assets, no cash and no work that earns a profit.

Nick London, London, UK

There is no problem here.

Taylor Wimpey is owned by shareholders. They vote on who they want to run it. The times are challenging, the strongest and most intelligent survive. If the management isn't up to it - get rid of them if you are a shareholder, move jobs if you are a worker.

No problem.

Laura Roberts, London, UK

Hang on a minute, why isnt the taxpayer bailing them out?.........the world has gone mad...........

ronnie, Bucks, UK

How much do executives earn? 'We need high bonuses otherwise we'd be off to the US where they do pay us!'

Absolutely and utterly useless. Pigs with their snouts in the trough and absolutely no foresight whatsoever.

Just thought though, get Adam Applegarth out of retirement - he'd save 'em!!

Rob, Isle of Wight,

All the house builders have been badly run and incredibly inefficient. We have seen house prices more than double in seven years, if they have not been making huge profits on their over priced, over cramped John Prescott designed hovels then then they are in serious trouble.

Bruce Mcaaw, Grantham,

I agree entirely with Rob in Hull. No-one should have to pay anywhere approaching £100k for a 'starter home' no matter where in the country it is (including London). Even £75k is pretty steep when based on average earnings. Taylor Wimpey deserves no sympathy.

Paul, Coventry,

Richard, Ipswich

Why is it so shocking they invested in Spain the US and UK? This is where the prices were rising the most due to reckless lending by banks. You can hardly expect them to invest in places that didn't have excessive house price inflation.

Fred, Moray, Scotland

They should cut the margins on their overpriced boxes, maybe then people would buy them. They should also be made to give up their land banks; I'm sure lots of people would like the oppurtunity to purchase some land and build their own house. They would certainly do a better job.

Rob, Hull, UK

These building companies will survive by cutting profit margins and selling to housing associations and local authorities as happened in previous downturns. The Directors always find a way through troubled times; lets face it they have the most to lose.

john, milton keynes,

I am an idiot and I knew this was coming. Didn't they ?
Or is it that as long as they lined their personal pockets they did't give a damn.

John Smith, London, UK

During the so called 'good times' Builders, Tradesmen and Suppliers never believe that the situation will ever change. However history tells us that it does, and they all get caught out time and time again.

Brian Hill, Bristol,

Sounds like another bonus time for top brass again. The shareholder being cannon fodder for these useless execs.
Phil

Phillip Pickervance, Denton, UK

The very companies that have thrown cash out the window due to their irresponsible investments in the (sub prime) housing market are to pour more money into the housing sector just as the outloook for building is dire. I guess these guys have more money than sense or is it funny money yet again.

Colin Smith , Hadleigh, Suffolk

Tradespeople have always had an indifference towards the British Public.
We've always been seen to be 'mugs' to be taken advantage of, laughed at to our faces while being fleeced and/or conned out of our money.
Well now the shoe is on the other foot and we don't give a damn about these people!.

David Diggins, Derby., England.

What do you expect when some trade operatives have been 'earning' up to £100,000 a year. Tales are common of teams of kitchen fitters 'not getting out of bed' for less than £300 per day each. These guys used to turn up for work on a push bike - now it's more likely to be a posh 4x4. Happy days!!

Nick, Warrington, UK

What total incompetence and arrogance

The housing bubble was obviously going to burst at some point and for them to be so heavily invested in such problematic areas such as Spain, America and the UK is totally shocking

Richard, Ipswich,

We are only about 6 months out of the biggest housing boom since records began. How can all these building companies be so nearly bankrupt? Did they expect the boom to last forever? It beggars belief.

Joseph Wright, Seattle, US