Angela Rayner, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced that another £350 million is being made available to increase the number of affordable and social homes and ease council housing pressures.
£300 million will go to creating 2,800 extra homes through the Affordable Homes Programme, half of which will be for social rent, while £50 million will enable the building of over 250 more council homes through the Local Authority Housing Fund.
The government also promise ‘imminent’ changes to crack down on exploitative behaviour by rogue and criminal landlords, who are costing the taxpayer by claiming uncapped housing benefit in return for providing squalid homes for the most vulnerable, leaving them without the care or support they need.
The minister said: ‘For so many families, and their children, the security and safety of a home of their own remains firmly out of reach – and instead they have to live in temporary accommodation, including in B&Bs.
‘This is unacceptable and is the result of the housing crisis we are facing head on. That’s why we’re driving forward on our plans to ensure a better future for everyone who needs a safe home, building on our plans to drive up living standards and build 1.5 million homes through our Plan for Change.’
Speaking to the press, she was asked if she felt 250 more council homes was sufficient, ‘We think the measures we’re taking will unlock thousands more council and social homes as part of that programme. We want to help councils who want to build those homes.
‘We see 160,000 children in temporary accommodation, and the cost of that on local authorities is significant, as well as the impact on children’s life chances.’
Responding to the announcement, Cllr Adam Hug, housing spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: ‘It is positive that the Government has acted on our call to increase funding for the Affordable Homes Programme and Local Authority Housing Fund.
‘We have long made the case for councils to be empowered to build more affordable, good quality homes quickly and at scale. This announcement will boost councils’ ability to build desperately needed affordable housing for local communities.
‘Councils stand ready to work with the Government to increase affordable housing to help people on council housing waiting lists and record numbers stuck in temporary accommodation.
‘We urge the Government to seize the opportunity of the upcoming Spending Review to ensure local government is equipped with the necessary resources to help deliver the homes communities need.’