There is a new ruling party in town and to say they have an uphill battle in front of them would be an understatement. After 14 years of Conservative rule, Keir Stamer’s Labour Party is now sitting pretty in parliament with a comfortable majority. For the social housing sector, this potentially means some serious changes on the horizon.
Starmer has already laid out a comprehensive strategy aimed at tackling the acute shortage of affordable homes, alleviating homelessness and reforming the planning system to facilitate large-scale housebuilding.
Today, we will be taking a closer look at what these policies entail and how they could impact the social housing sector both over the next five years and beyond.
A Massive Boost to Social Housing
One of Labour’s cornerstone promises is to build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years, a significant portion of which will be social and affordable housing. This would mark the largest increase in social housing in a generation. The party plans to prioritise building social rented homes, responding to calls from housing charities such as Shelter, which estimates that 90,000 affordable social homes are needed annually to meet demand.
Comprehensive Planning Reforms
Labour intends to overhaul the planning system to accelerate the delivery of new homes. This includes introducing mandatory housing targets for local councils and streamlining planning processes. The party also aims to empower local authorities and mayors with greater planning powers and control over housing investments.
Protecting and Expanding Social Housing Stock
To safeguard the existing social housing stock, Labour plans to review and potentially to reverse the increased Right to Buy discounts introduced in 2012. This move is designed to prevent the depletion of social housing as existing units are sold off without adequate replacement. Additionally, Labour intends to implement stronger planning obligations to ensure new developments include a higher proportion of affordable homes.
Ending Homelessness
Labour’s housing policy also focuses on ending homelessness through a cross-government strategy. This approach would involve coordinated efforts between central government, local councils and mayors to provide sustainable housing solutions for those in need. The strategy draws on lessons from previous Labour governments, which successfully reduced homelessness significantly during their tenure.
Supporting First-Time Buyers and Renters
Beyond social housing, Labour aims to help first-time buyers through a comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme, making homeownership more accessible. For renters, Labour pledges to ban Section 21 “no-fault” evictions immediately and introduce measures to challenge unreasonable rent increases. This is part of a broader effort to provide renters with greater security and stability.
Implications for ECCO and Its Clients
The anticipated increase in social housing stock means more opportunities to partner with local authorities and housing associations to implement technology which enhances support services for tenants.
The focus on ending homelessness aligns with ECCO’s mission, potentially leading to new collaborations aimed at delivering comprehensive support to those transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing.
Overall, a Labour government promises a transformative approach to social housing, with extensive building projects, systemic reforms and targeted support measures which could significantly benefit the sector and the vulnerable populations it serves.
By leveraging these changes, we believe ECCO can play a crucial role in the successful implementation of Labour’s housing policies, ensuring that technology and data are effectively used to enhance service delivery and improve outcomes for individuals in social housing.