In light of soaring rents, the ‘Airbnb effect’, and the upcoming general election, the UK’s housing crisis is back in the spotlight. Solving this issue is imperative, and governments have previously been unable to get a grip on the situation. The current government’s levelling up bill is seen as a missed chance to implement planning reforms that could have made more affordable housing available. So, what is the solution to this growing problem?
One potential solution is to utilise long-term empty homes, as the number of these homes has increased in the UK. The government recorded 261,189 long-term vacant properties in 2023, a number that has risen by 12,000 from the previous year. Wales and Scotland have established national empty homes strategies to combat this issue, but England has not. A new national empty homes programme is necessary, according to Rebecca Moore, director of Action on Empty Homes, and the government should offer funding and incentives to bring these homes back into circulation. This would also create employment opportunities and deliver green retrofit benefits.
Second homes have become problematic in the UK’s housing market, with landlords moving towards short-term holiday lets instead of longer-term leases. The so-called ‘Airbnbification’ of towns has resulted in increasing housing and rental prices, gentrification, and displacement. To address this issue, Bath and the Scottish government are considering proposals that could potentially double council tax on second homes. Edinburgh has already begun implementing regulations on Airbnb, following in the footsteps of other cities such as Amsterdam and Barcelona.
Building more homes is also a potential solution to the crisis. It is challenging to achieve, as many successive governments have proven. More funding needs to be directed to planning departments that have suffered from budget cuts. Additionally, housing charities have called for the Section 106 planning agreement to be strengthened, requiring builders to include social housing in their developments. The UK government has attempted to ease the construction of new homes through its levelling up bill. Some have suggested turning vacant retail units into dwellings, which would benefit both the town and potentially older or disabled individuals. It would keep them closer to facilities, such as public transport, and increases footfall in town centres.
The UK’s housing crisis is a multi-faceted problem that requires a collaborative approach to solve. The government, planning departments and housing charities must work together to develop and implement solutions that allow for affordable and accessible housing for all
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