Not enough focus on affordability – housing professionals say in poll

More than 110 housing professionals responded to our latest member opinion poll which focused on the upcoming General Election.

Though 60 per cent of those who took part either strongly agreed or agreed that housing has got the attention it deserves just 25 per cent thought there had been enough focus on truly affordable housing in the manifestos of political parties.

The poll also asked members which of the three main political parties policies they thought were the most important to solve the housing crisis.

On all three manifestos the pledge to build new homes was ranked the most important policy.

Elsewhere on the Conservative manifesto members ranked greater flexibility for organisations to build new homes and improved security for private tenants as the most important policies.

Of Labour’s proposed policies members said a proposal to suspend the right to buy – allowing councils to reinstate if they have a plan to ensure all homes sold are replaced – and the reinstatement of housing benefit for under 21s were both important.

On the Liberal Democrat manifesto members also ranked the reinstatement of housing benefit for under 21s as important and they also said the proposal to increase the local housing allowance in line with average rents was important.

Melanie Rees, head of policy at the Chartered Institute of Housing, said: “The results underline the importance our members attach to increasing the supply of new homes generally and new affordable homes in particular.

“Along with pressing for a commitment to reduce homelessness and review the overall impact of welfare policy, we will be calling on whichever party forms the government on 9 June to build more of the homes that people really can afford.

Kindly shared by CIH