In very candid comments, Yvonne Gagen, Leader of West Lancashire Council told the BBC that “I feel that we are going to be on a collision course with Labour”. She will not have uttered these words lightly. She was clearly exasperated by an increased target for her authority of 605 homes a year as compared … Continue reading Central government housing targets “unrealistic” and “divorced from need”
Category: Council Housing
Government rent consultation: NO to above inflation rent increases
The government is consulting on a rent policy of 5 years or more of above inflation rent increases of a maximum of CPI+1%, for council and housing association tenants. We explain below why we are opposed to this proposal. The premise of the consultation document seems to be that above inflation rent increases for five … Continue reading Government rent consultation: NO to above inflation rent increases
Differences in the government over housing policy?
“A senior Whitehall official said (to the Financial Times) there was growing pressure inside the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for ministers to accept that hitting the 1.5 million home target was unattainable in this parliament.” S/he added “Everyone can see that any serious line-by-line analysis of how you could reach that target … Continue reading Differences in the government over housing policy?
Council Housing remains the key to resolving the housing crisis
Labour Campaign for Council Housing AGM News of the government's Housing Strategy and funding for its Affordable Homes Programme is expected at the Spring Spending Review. How can pressure be built for social rent council housing to be the first housing priority? Annual General Meeting, by Zoom, December 1st, 2 p.m. Guest speaker Bell Ribeiro-Addy … Continue reading Council Housing remains the key to resolving the housing crisis
Time to abolish Right to Buy
Changes to RTB are better than the status quo but it's time to abolish it. The government has introduced a Statutory Instrument in Parliament to cut the discount for tenants when they buy a home through Right to Buy. Discounts were increased by the Tories in 2012. Maximum discounts are currently £136,400 in London and … Continue reading Time to abolish Right to Buy
‘I feel like I’m not human’: tenants speak out as housing campaign puts its case to councillors
Housing Action Teeside put the case for building Council Housing to Stockton Council. A committee heard how tenants felt let down, lied to, ignored and trapped for years in dilapidated homes sometimes 'unfit for human habitation' Tenants who have spent years waiting for housing or to solve damp and mould issues took up placards to … Continue reading ‘I feel like I’m not human’: tenants speak out as housing campaign puts its case to councillors
Time to end the charade of “affordable housing”
In a letter to the Chair of Homes England, Matthew Pennycook, Minister of State (Housing, Communities & Local Government) has outlined the government's “immediate priorities”. One of them is for Homes England to maximise the number of social rent homes “delivered through the allocation of remaining Affordable Homes Programme funding”. However, the letter gives no … Continue reading Time to end the charade of “affordable housing”
Broxtowe Council Labour Group affiliates to Labour Campaign for Council Housing
Broxtowe opposed transfer of their council housing stock and have more than 4,000 council homes. Broxtowe Council Labour Group has affiliated to the Labour Campaign for Council Housing. Cabinet member for Housing, Vanessa Smith explains why. “We believe firmly in the importance of council housing and support the work of LCfCH to secure safe, decent … Continue reading Broxtowe Council Labour Group affiliates to Labour Campaign for Council Housing
Social rent council homes the key to resolving the housing crisis
A survey of councils by Inside Housing to find the biggest 50 council builders shows some telling statistics. 305 councils across England, Wales and Scotland responded to our survey. Between them they completed 10,794 homes in 2023/24. This is a combined total of direct building in the Housing Revenue Account and private council owned companies. … Continue reading Social rent council homes the key to resolving the housing crisis
Council housing in Stockton’s future
"Housing Action Teesside is a tenants’ union and housing campaign representing hundreds of tenants across Teesside, in both social and private rented housing. Our organisation is united around the belief that the housing crisis was created by political choices over many decades which put private profit ahead of people’s needs, and the commitment to organise … Continue reading Council housing in Stockton’s future
Labour Campaign for Council Housing 