alistair smyth external affairs manager – south east national housing federation homes for britain...
TRANSCRIPT
Alistair SmythExternal Affairs Manager – South East
National Housing Federation
Homes for Britain
Homes for Britain| SEHF
5th February 2015
What we’ll cover today
• Introductions• The housing crisis• The Homes for Britain campaign• A bit on politics
Who we are
• The National Housing Federation is the voice of affordable housing in England. We believe that everyone should have the home they need at a price they can afford.
• That’s why we represent the work of housing associations and campaign for better housing. Our members provide two and a half million homes for more than five million people.
Broken Market, Broken Dreams
Home Truths 2014/15
Decades in the making…
…now we’re paying for it
… and so are “mum and dad”
Pressure on the private rented sector
And young people are losing out
The South East
Average house prices 2013 (£)
Average household earnings 2013 (£)
Ratio of house prices to income
Income for 80% mortgage (£)
Average private sector rents (£ p/m)
England 251,879 26,520 9.5 57,572 720
South East 292,301 28,969 10.1 66,812 864
West Sussex
281,859 26,848 10.5 64,425 815
Crawley 219,278 25,870 8.5 50,121 870
Homes for Britain
Do you remember this picture?
A single, clear message
THAT ALL POLITICAL PARTIES COMMIT TO:
A different approach
Create the political space
Articulate our unique offer
Secure policy commitments
Housing was not an election issue for most people in 2010
DefenceHousing
IraqPublic transport/ roads
AfghanistanProtect nat env./climate change
PenionsBenefits
Care for older peopleCrime/ law and order
UnemploymentTaxation
Asylum and immigrationEducation/ schools
HealthcareManaging the economy
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%3%3%3%3%
5%5%5%
7%7%
8%11%
12%14%
23%26%
32%
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Where’s housing in the political debate?
Housing - 11
Who will win?
• Not keen on central house building targets
• 100,000 discounted homes built with S.106 exemptions
• They want to look credible on PRS and LCHO
• Cuts to housing benefits for 18-21yo and overall benefit freeze
• Lowering the overall benefit cap to £23k
The political parties and housing
• Positive about social housing, particularly council homes
• Build 200,000 homes per year by 2020
• Also very interested in PRS and LCHO
• Cap rent increases in the PRS
• The “benefits to bricks” holy grail
• Treasury team very reticent
The political parties and housing
• Most ambitious target and commitment to capital investment – build 300,000 homes per year
• A long term plan
• Garden cities
• Bringing forward unused public sector sites
The political parties and housing
