Labour’s promises for social housing

With our new government, there have been promises to deliver the biggest boost in affordable housing by providing local authorities and housing associations with the stability they need for the long term. This stability aims to enable significant investments in affordable, social, and council housing stock on a larger scale, addressing the pressing housing crisis that has affected many communities.

Key promises from the government

1. Prioritising new social rented homes:

   • The government has pledged to prioritise the construction of new social rented homes. This initiative is crucial as it aims to provide affordable housing options to low-income families who have been struggling with high rent prices in the private sector.
   • Additionally, there will be a review of the right-to-buy discounts to protect existing social housing stock. This measure is intended to prevent the depletion of available social housing units and ensure that more families can benefit from these affordable housing options.

2. Abolishing 'no fault' evictions

   • To enhance tenant security, the government plans to abolish 'no fault' evictions. This change will provide renters with greater stability and peace of mind, knowing that they cannot be evicted without a valid reason. It aims to create a fairer rental market and reduce the stress and uncertainty that many tenants currently face.

3. Extending 'Awaab's Law' into the private sector

   • 'Awaab's Law,' named after a tragic case highlighting severe housing conditions, will be extended into the private sector. This law seeks to raise housing standards, ensuring that private rentals are safe, clean, and habitable. By enforcing higher standards, the government hopes to protect tenants from substandard living conditions and unscrupulous landlords.

4. Ending homelessness

   • A comprehensive cross-government strategy will be developed to tackle homelessness. The government will work closely with mayors and local councils to implement effective solutions and provide necessary support to those affected by homelessness. This strategy aims to address the root causes of homelessness and ensure that everyone has access to safe and stable housing.

5. Building 1.5 million homes

   • The ambitious goal of constructing 1.5 million homes over the next parliamentary period has been set. This large-scale construction effort is intended to meet the growing demand for housing and alleviate the housing shortage. It represents a significant investment in the country's infrastructure and a commitment to improving living conditions for all citizens.

The role of technology and innovation

While the provision of new homes is required and welcomed within the sector, the government needs to be cognisant of the need to adequately fund retrofit projects. Advances in innovative technology must be at the forefront of these efforts. Retrofitting existing homes with modern, energy-efficient solutions can significantly reduce environmental impact and improve living standards.

At Waterstons, we are committed to supporting social housing organisations in several key areas:

• Enabling secure infrastructure: Ensuring that the technological infrastructure of social housing organisations is robust and secure against cyberattacks.
• Optimising data for decision making: Working alongside sector peers to ensure that data is effectively utilised to enhance customer experiences and streamline processes.
• Driving service improvements and customer excellence: Focusing on innovative solutions that lead to more efficient and effective service delivery, ultimately benefiting the residents.

Lesley Buckels, Sector Principal for Social Housing at Waterstons, emphasises the importance of these initiatives: "For Waterstons, we will continue to support social housing organisations in enabling secure infrastructure, protecting against and responding to cyberattacks, and working alongside sector peers to ensure data is optimised for the customer and decision making, and to support the need for streamlined, effective and efficient processes, ultimately driving service improvements and customer excellence."

By combining government support, technological innovation, and collaborative efforts within the sector, we can work towards a future where affordable, high-quality housing is accessible to all.

Get in touch with Andrew at andrew.buckels@waterstons.com