We must tackle the root causes of the housing crisis

NFB urges Emma Reynolds, MP for Wolverhampton North East, and the Labour Party more generally to think about the root cause suppressing the supply of new homes.

Emma Reynolds, MP for Wolverhampton North East, has told the Labour Party that it needs a relentless focus on increasing the supply of homes.

Identifying five key policies, Reynolds recommends:

  • stopping Help to Buy.
  • lifting the local authority borrowing cap for housing and imposing a moratorium on Right to Buy until all the sold homes have been replaced and lift the local authority borrowing cap for housing.
  • stopping speculative development by shaking up the land market, helping small builders compete, and giving councils ‘use it or lose it’ powers.
  • giving private tenants better rights, longer tenancies and enforcing higher standards.
  • tackling homelessness by increasing local funding for mental health and addiction.

Reynolds went on to say that “There are no quick or simple solutions to the housing crisis. The next Labour government needs to focus all of its energy on solving the problems which are holding back the supply of new homes.

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) agrees that tenancy security is vital, proper funding for mental health is imperative, and the failure to replace council homes requires a rethink of Right to Buy.

However, we would urge the MP for Wolverhampton North East and the Labour Party more generally to think about the root cause suppressing the supply of new homes.

Small builders identify the planning system as the principal barrier to growth. A land market shakeup is welcome but, under the existing planning process, it would not bring about more homes.

Help to Buy, which aided 81% of first time buyers in 2017, needs to be more targeted and support a more diverse housing market. Often perceived by councils as delivering affordable housing, some small builders offer it on their developments to speed up planning applications.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “Right to Buy and Help to Buy require a rethink and increased funding is required to tackle the causes of rough sleeping. However, if you want to get more homes built, you need an efficient planning and plan-making process.

The planning process gets permissions into the hands of house builders and identifies where homes will be built. When it fails, so do our efforts to tackle the housing crisis.

Shared by National Fed of Builders.

EAN Content

Content shared by this account is either news shared free by third parties or sponsored (paid for) content from third parties. Please be advised that links to third party websites are not endorsed by Estate Agent Networking - Please do your own research before committing to any third party business promoted on our website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You May Also Enjoy

Letting Agent Talk

Letting Agency Owners: Are You the Bottleneck in Your Business?

As a letting agency owner, it’s easy to fall into the trap of wearing too many hats. But it’s not just exhaustion and burnout you need to worry about – it’s the impact it’s having on your bottom-line. Guest Blog By Sally Lawson – Agent Rainmaker “From managing client relationships and handling operations, to overseeing…
Read More
Breaking News

Latest developments in Renters’ Rights Bill: What landlords need to know

On the brink of becoming law, the Government last week rejected the majority of amendments put forward by the House of Lords, which would have mitigated the severity of some of the amendments. Property professionals, landlords and tenants are poised to navigate this once-in-a-generation overhaul of housing legislation.   Lucy Jones, Chief Operating Officer at…
Read More
Breaking News

What Will Commonhold Mean for Property Managers?

By Robert Poole, Director – Block Management, Glide Property Management, part of LRG The government’s ambition to end leasehold for most residential properties has put commonhold back into the spotlight. First introduced in 2002, commonhold offered a resident-led alternative to traditional leasehold ownership. However, legal and commercial complexity stalled adoption. Two decades later, policymakers are…
Read More
Breaking News

Think You Know Mortgages? These 5 Myths Could Be Costing You Money

When it comes to mortgages, most of us have had advice from family and friends. The trouble is, a lot of these so-called facts are myths, with many individuals missing out on better deals or opportunities, due to not doing their own due diligence. Emma Graham, Business Development Director at Hodge Bank, explained: “Mortgages are…
Read More
Breaking News

Just 17% of homes selling for more than £500k

The latest analysis by eXp UK has revealed that while just 17.4% of homes sold across England and Wales so far this year achieved a price of £500,000 or more, agents in London, the South East, and the East of England will face the greatest need to adapt should the Government press ahead with plans…
Read More
Breaking News

Estate agents back Rachel Reeves’ stamp duty shake-up but call for abolition without replacement tax

The latest research from GetAgent has revealed that the majority of estate agents in England are supportive of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ plans to overhaul property taxation by scrapping Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). However, 44% argue that the new levy should be focused only on higher-value homes, while 79% favour abolishing SDLT outright without introducing…
Read More