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: Labour government
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?
Tell the government NO to above inflation rent increases
The government is consulting on the introduction of a new rent policy from April 2026. It runs until 11.45 p.m. On December 23rd. The government is consulting on rent policy for council and housing association homes for 2025/26. It is proposing that a rent formula of a maximum of CPI+1% for 5 years be introduced, … Continue reading Tell the government NO to above inflation rent increases
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
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”
Fire safety and evacuation plans for residents with disabilities
Below we reproduce a Parliamentary statement by Rushanara Ali on fire safety plans for residents with disabilities. First, are Peter Apps' comments in relation to the news. Peter has written the definitive account of Grenfell Tower, Show me the bodies – how we let Grenfell happen. The introduction of Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans was one … Continue reading Fire safety and evacuation plans for residents with disabilities
Labour should end above inflation rent increases
Media Release August 21st 2024 The Labour Campaign for Council Housing notes with alarm the report in the Financial Times that Rachel Reeves is proposing to continue with the Tory government rent formula of CPI+1%; that is 10 years of above inflation rent increases for council and housing association tenants. The idea that this will … Continue reading Labour should end above inflation rent increases
Labour Campaign for Council Housing 