Right to Buy and “common ownership” are mutually exclusive

“...the idea of a home for life handed on in common ownership to future generations is an idea worth fighting for.” Lisa Nandy What is Labour's position on Right to Buy? Inside Housing reports from the Labour Party conference that “...Ms (Lisa) Nandy was asked at a fringe event where Labour stood on the policy … Continue reading Right to Buy and “common ownership” are mutually exclusive

The government should end “affordable rent”and Right to Buy

This is a letter to Michael Gove in response to his speech at a Shelter in which he said that he would look at ways to produce more social rent homes. These comments are welcome but if you seriously want to see a big increase in the building of social rent homes then it is … Continue reading The government should end “affordable rent”and Right to Buy

New Labour’s culpability for the housing crisis

“At the end of New Labour's 13 years in government there were 655,000 less 'social homes' than when they were first elected.” Keir Starmer recently told Labour members that they should be proud of what the Blair government achieved. What did it achieve in relation to housing? If you examine New Labour's record there is … Continue reading New Labour’s culpability for the housing crisis

The real obstacle to council house building is the absence of government grant

Martin Wicks says that the key to a large scale council house building programme is central government grant, not borrowing. Ever since Right to Buy was introduced the number of council homes has plummeted. The current government has provided little funding for councils to build homes through their housing revenue accounts. Since 2010 the number … Continue reading The real obstacle to council house building is the absence of government grant