Next UK Government must prioritise housing crisis or future generations will face rental hell says Jonathan Rolande
Millions of people are losing hope of buying a home
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Whoever is resident in 10 Downing Street after July’s election they will have a host of issues to address but housing should be near the very top of the to-do list.
We are seeing the impact the housing crisis is having—locals priced out of areas near their family and friends, adult children still living with parents, and the ages people choose to have children and how many. It is a sad fact that not only do millions of young people now not see a way they will ever be able to buy their own home, but increasingly many do not see a way they will ever even be able to afford to rent.
It is a demographic time bomb politicians must wake up to.
With Michael Gove now out of government whatever the election result, we have lost the most aware and vocal Conservative. The person who called out the housing situation for what it is. He wasn’t afraid to take on developers too. They benefit from short supply and rising prices.
The housing crisis should be a top priority for the next government
PAIf re-elected, who in the Conservative Party can bring about the changes that even Mr Gove was unable to accomplish?
Of course, at least at the time of writing this – a week is a long time in politics and in an election period so is a day – it is likely we shall see the removal vans in SW1 as the Sunak’s make way for the Starmer family.
What will a Labour government, quite possibly with a large majority do to tackle the crisis?
Options will be limited, finances are tight. The problem has been years in the making and the solutions will not be popular.
What options are available to the winner of the 2024 vote?
The solutions will need to be very bold, anything less is simply leaving the problem for the next generation.
Bold moves should include:
·300,000+ new homes were built by the private sector to keep pace with demand, at least 100,000 more than have been built in recent years. We need to turbocharge housebuilding
·Embark on a new town scheme to build mass housing where it is needed, encouraging investment away from over-crowded London and the South East
·Deprivatise housing. Allow councils to borrow to build homes for those on benefits, which would end the madness of councils paying £14bn a year in benefits to private landlords to outsource the problem of a lack of housing.
·Add a levy to second homeowners to bring in additional revenue and discourage under-use.
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Future generations will be unable to rent if the housing crisis continues
PA·Slash Stamp Duty for downsizers to free up much-needed bedroom space in large family homes.
·Offer meaningful tax breaks to landlords who insulate their tenant’s home. The poorest in society often live in the most energy-intensive properties, costing money and causing emissions unnecessarily.
Any Prime Minister who delivers on the above might just find they won't have to move house themselves in five years' time
For more information visit jonathanrolande.co.uk