Housing shortages and high rents.

house building essex colchester

Zac Goldsmith the Conservative London mayoral candidate has reportedly said London needs to see housebuilding at a level  last seen in the 1930s,  he claims that the current housing shortage is a “social crisis.” He has vowed to double house-building in the capital, pledging to ensure homes are built at a rate of 50,000 a year by 2020.

He reportedly said: “We know this is the number one concern for Londoners and we know it is the number one concern for businesses.

“We know the only solution is to massively ramp up the number of homes we are building to help close the gap between what we need and what we are currently building and that means around 50,000 homes a year, it means going back to the 1930s levels of housebuilding which will require monumental effort but we also know that is possible.

“We have vast amounts of publically owned land brownfield land which is not being used which could be used and we need to unlock that land,  both through transport extensions but also by prizing it away from public bodies that has to be the absolute emphasis.

The Labour candidate Sadiq Khan has reportedly pledged to build  a minimum of 80,000 new homes a year.

At the same time as London experiences a shortage of housing the Green Party leader, Natalie Bennett is demanding greater protection for people living in private rented accommodation,  that would include the creation of a Living Rent Commission by the government. Housing shortages and high rents go hand in hand, both these issues need to be addressed simaltaneously by the Government and the London Mayor.

 

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

small house bird box
Breaking News

UK First Time Buyers better off than many other global nations

Is it really that bad being a first-time buyer? UK better off than many other global nations when it comes to affordability The latest market analysis from Yopa, the full-service estate agents, reveals that first-time buyers (FTBs) in the UK may be paying 63% more to get a foot on the property ladder than they…
Read More
new build homes colchester essex
Breaking News

Building Safety Regulator Reform

The Government has announced reforms to the Building Safety Regulator, including leadership, process and investment. The changes are hoped to deliver 1.5 million homes. The reforms pave the way for creation of a single construction safety regulator, as recommended by the Grenfell Tower enquiry. David Smith, property litigation partner at London law firm Spector Constant…
Read More
Breaking News

New anti-money laundering rules now in effect: what landlords need to know

New anti-money laundering (AML) rules came into effect this month, marking a significant change for landlords and the lettings industry as a whole. The new rules mean financial sanctions checks are now required for all lettings, regardless of how much rent is charged. Here, Steve Bond, managing director of residential lettings for Beresfords, explains what…
Read More
Breaking News

What landlords need to know about the upcoming Renters Rights Bill

The government’s long-awaited Renters Rights Bill is one of the most significant overhauls of the private rental sector in decades. While it has not yet received royal assent, the legislation is expected to come into effect late this year, or early in 2026. With the bill moving closer to becoming law, Steven Bond, managing director…
Read More
Breaking News

Mortgage approvals bounce back in May

The latest figures show that: – Mortgage approvals on house purchases for May sat at 63,032 up 3.9% from 60,656 in April. The monthly increase seen in May marks the end of four months of previous decline, with approval levels having fallen each month since January of this year. Approvals are also 2.5% higher than…
Read More
Breaking News

Money and Credit – May 2025

Key points: Net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals increased by £2.8 billion to £2.1 billion in May, following a large decrease in net borrowing of £13.8 billion to -£0.8 billion in April. Net mortgage approvals for house purchases increased by 2,400 to 63,000 in May. Approvals for remortgaging also increased by 6,200 to 41,500…
Read More