Last week the government published how it plans to deliver social housing for Generation Rent. The green paper is a step towards delivering more social homes but it is only a small step, compared with the huge and immediate need for more genuinely affordable homes.
Key messages:
- The green paper is a step towards delivering more social homes but it is only a small step, compared with the huge and immediate need for more genuinely affordable homes.
- The Government must go beyond the limited measures announced so far, scrap the housing borrowing cap, and enable all councils, across the country, to borrow to build once more. This would trigger the renaissance in council house-building which will help people to access genuinely affordable housing.
- We have long called for reforms to Right to Buy in order to allow councils to build more homes, and there are some positive signs in the consultation. But we must go much further so that councils can deliver the affordable homes that our residents need and deserve, including allowing councils to set discounts locally and to keep 100 per cent of receipts from homes sold.
- It is good that the Government has listened to our concerns and dropped plans to force the sale of council homes. We have worked hard to demonstrate the need to scrap this policy which would have forced councils to sell off large numbers of the homes desperately needed by low-income families in our communities
- We look forward to engaging with the Government, councils and partners in responding to the green paper, building on the local good practice in tenant engagement and empowerment.
Lib Dem response
Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP has today criticised the Government’s delayed social housing green paper for “tinkering at the edges”. Wera added:
“James Brokenshire has announced a “new deal” for social housing but it is glaringly obvious that this is not a good one.
“With no actual funding to deliver more homes for social rent, it is clear the Tories plan to continue tinkering at the edges with consultations and now league tables.
“Social housing is a vital part of solving the housing crisis. That is why Liberal Democrats are calling for the Government to lift the borrowing cap entirely and put forward an ambitious programme for delivering thousands of new homes for social rent.”
LGA Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Howard Sykes, said: “It’s a complete damp squib! There is no money for local councils to build new homes and councils will continue to lose its stock year after year through Right to Buy. The Government has missed yet another opportunity to address the housing crisis – which leaves me wondering does it even want to?”