Labour must do two things to tackle Britain's housing crisis, says property expert Jonathan Rolande
![Estate agent sold house](https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/estate-agent-sold-house.png?id=43278960&width=1200&height=800&quality=90&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0)
Britain is facing a housing crisis
PA
Britain is facing a housing crisis
It's more than a week since Labour swept to power and when it comes to housing, make no mistake, the task ahead of them is huge.
There are too few houses, too few new builds, a growing population, high prices, high rents, housing insecurity, homelessness, a huge benefits bill, badly maintained social housing, RAAC, cladding and leasehold - where should they begin?
I think there are two key areas. The first, and the biggie, is supply. The 300,000 target has been missed for so long that we now need a 400,000+ target. New homes will help stem the insatiable demand from buyers.
Prioritising owner-occupiers over investors has a downside – developers may be less willing to build for a smaller pool of buyers but I believe it’s a risk worth taking.
An expert shared two things the new Government can do
GETTYStart with Council Brownfield, then grey, then get that new town built and fast – we need 1,000 new homes a day, seven days a week, just to keep up.
Second let's talk tenants. Love it or hate it, the Renters Reform Bill will be toughened up and pushed through Parliament quickly. I’m not a fan of it, but the uncertainty it has caused is worse than its effect.
It's a case of the medicine being worse than the disease if ever there was one, but on the assumption, it's happening, let's just get it over with.
Placate beleaguered landlords with an EPC-busting tax break incentivising them to upgrade insulation and heating systems – landlords will benefit as will their tenants living in currently cold, draughty, inefficient homes.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
I sincerely hope that for now at least, they do not waste time, money and resources on regulations in the property sales market that will stifle it.
These buyer inducements increase the amount of money in the system which will push up prices or more landlord bashing with tax hikes or rent control.
Jonathan Rolande is the founder of House Buy Fast www.housebuyfast.co.uk