Our/Your Voice is More Important than ever!
With a new Government announcing plans for many of our own key demands you might think we could afford to relax a bit. But now is definitely NOT the time to take our collective feet (or should we say voices) off the pedal (megaphone).
There’s so much to be said about how, and how soon, the Labour Government will implement its pledges. We’ll have more to say about these in the weeks’ ahead, but in the meantime, here are some of our initial thoughts following a discussion this week.
A big increase in housebuilding
The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, aims to build 1.5 million new homes in the next five years, and will set targets for local authorities to produce affordable homes in line with housing need in each region.
That’s great, but we have two immediate questions. What does the Government mean by affordable? We hope they will not inherit the last Government’s definition, that is, up to 80% of market rents which renters know from experience is not affordable.
Even more importantly, if targets relate only to those most in need, will we risk new social housing estates offering homes only to the most vulnerable and/or disadvantaged? Fairer Housing will be arguing strongly about the importance of mixed communities – the last thing we want are ghettos which segregate the most vulnerable from the rest of society.
A new Renters’ Rights Bill
While Labour’s wish to restore security of tenure for private renters is very welcome, we really hope that they will not attempt merely to dust off the fated Conservative Renters (Reform) bill which sought to replace the notorious s.21 ‘no fault’ ground for possession with other ways landlords could evict tenants who have done nothing wrong. Fairer Housing will be watching progress carefully and will continue to argue for a guarantee that rented homes should be safe and decent, as a pre-condition for letting. Increasing renters’ rights is fine, but tenants shouldn’t have to fight against landlords who exploit the housing shortage by renting properties that make tenants and their children ill. Tenants should be able to expect a decent home from the day they move in.
We’ll also be holding the Government to account on their pledge to allow us to Take Back our Streets; we need safe homes in safe neighbourhoods.
Watch this space for further updates, and if you have concerns about how the Government’s housing pledges will work out in practice, do get in touch. Fairer Housing = YOUR VOICE!