Political reporter Sam Francis reported that the government in England is implementing measures to restrict the amount of benefits rogue landlords can receive for substandard properties. This announcement accompanies a £300 million investment to construct more affordable housing, with a projected 2,800 new homes to be completed within the next year. As part of this initiative, councils will also receive £50 million to add 250 homes, aiming to alleviate families from inadequate temporary housing options such as Bed and Breakfasts.
The government plans to unveil further actions to crack down on exploitative behavior by rogue landlords, which includes a new licensing scheme, tougher standards, and the ability to prevent housing benefit from being directed to such landlords. These efforts align with Labour’s pledge to build 1.5 million homes throughout the Parliament, despite concerns about a shortage of skilled workers posing a challenge to realize these ambitions.
The Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) in the UK is set to receive a boost of £300 million, supplementing the current funding for building affordable housing in England. Launched by the Conservatives in 2021, the AHP requires at least half of the constructed homes to be rented at a discount to council tenants. While welcomed as a promising start by housing charity Shelter, there are calls for more ambitious investments to address the housing crisis in England, with estimates suggesting a need for at least 90,000 social rent homes to be built annually for a decade to meet demand.
David Thomas, the head of Barratt Redrow, voiced concerns about the challenges facing the government in achieving its housing goals and emphasized the necessity for revolutionary changes in the housing market. The Local Government Association (LGA) also stressed the importance of providing councils with adequate resources to address housing needs. As the government prepares to reveal a replacement for the AHP in the upcoming Spending Review, stakeholders advocate for sustained momentum and increased focus on social and affordable housing solutions
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