Social housing providers on Tuesday urged the new Labour Government to use its first 100 days in office to transform prospects for tenants across London after “14 years of inaction and chaos”.
Writing to Sir Keir Starmer, the G15 group representing London’s largest not-for-profit housing associations urged the adoption of three priority actions which it said were “simple, cost-effective, and can be delivered without additional expense to the Government”.
G15 chair Fiona Fletcher-Smith called on the new PM to give tenants long-term certainty about their rents; allow her members to access a post-Grenfell building safety fund; and to provide more energy efficient homes by revamping a decarbonisation fund for social housing.
“Your first 100 days in office are crucial to demonstrate your intention,” she said.
“Immediate action is needed to tackle the housing crisis that has plagued our country for too long. As the G15… we are ready to work with your new government to address the severe challenges that have been exacerbated by 14 years of inaction and chaos.”
The G15 had already been pressing outgoing Conservative ministers to allow housing associations to set rents over multiple years, rather than every 12 months. It says that would let them access longer term funding on financial markets and confer greater certainty for tenants.
“This is essential for building the affordable and social housing that London - and the rest of the UK - desperately needs to maintain its economic vitality and diversity,” Ms Fletcher-Smith said.
Sir Keir has appointed Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to take the lead on delivering Labour’s manifesto promise to build 1.5 million new houses in the next five years.
At her first news conference on Monday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said Ms Rayner “will take an interventionist approach to make sure that we have got the housing mix that our country needs, that our people need”.
Ms Reeves confirmed plans to free up planning restrictions and force local councils to build more homes, stressing: “We are not going to let people off the hook, we want affordable housing and we want housing for social rent as well.”
Sir Keir was on Tuesday meeting Sadiq Khan and other regional leaders. The London Mayor said he was looking forward to “constant obstacles not being put in my way” on affordable housing after the Conservatives were ousted.
Members of the G15, which provides more than 214,000 socially rented homes in London, have relied more heavily on private borrowing to finance new developments since the Tories cut funding in 2010.
But Ms Reeves has made clear to both lobbyists and the likes of Mr Khan that money will remain tight.
