Labour’s manifesto release last week revealed their bold plan to tackle the housing crisis in the UK, here are the main policies:
- 5 million new homes built by reforming the National Policy Planning Framework, including mandatory housing targets and increasing the role of regional authorities. A Golden Rule established for developers, ensuring local communities have input into housebuilding.
- Highest number of social rent homes built since the 1970s, supporting councils and housing associations to raise their capacity to deliver affordable housing.
- Insulation of 5 million homes to increase energy efficiency and thermal comfort, tackling fuel poverty through the Warm Homes programme.
- First time buyers to be prioritised for new developments to increase the rate of home ownership, especially amongst younger people. A permanent mortgage guarantee scheme and a deposit guarantee scheme introduced, and Reform of the planning system to include requirements that new homes be more affordable to local people.
- Reduce the on-going burden on the taxpayer caused by the housing crisis, by building new social rent homes. Temporary accommodation built to reduce the huge costs to councils and improve housing standards to reduce the burden on the NHS.
- End Section 21 no fault evictions and introduce a Renters’ Charter to ensure leaseholder’s get a fair deal and families cannot be forced out of their homes for unfair reasons. A Decent Homes repairs standard introduced to reduce additional costs to leaseholders, and a ban on landlords refusing to rent to those with children or receiving benefits. Longer notice periods for eviction required and a clamp down on criminal landlords by introducing a national landlords register.
- A cross-governmental Ending Homelessness Unit established, to address the homelessness crisis.
The full manifesto and more information can be found here: Labour Manifesto 2024
