The number of new social housing lets in Ashfield has fallen by a third over the last decade, new figures show.
Housing charities and homelessness Crises levelled accusations of “political negligence” at the Government and asked how many more “shameful records” it must break before addressing the acute shortage of housing.
A “desperate need to build more homes” exists, particularly for inexpensive social housing, according to the research tank Institute for Public Policy Research.
A “British homes for British workers” programme, as proposed by Housing Minister Michael Gove, calls for applicants to establish a ten-year connection to the United Kingdom and a two-year relationship to the community where the social housing they need is located.
A bill that would prohibit high incomes from obtaining social housing is also being consulted on by Mr. Gove; the income threshold has not yet been established.
According to data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Ashfield saw 597 new social housing units made available to renters in 2022–2023.
This represents a 31% decrease in the quantity of new social lets offered over the previous ten years, up from 546 in 2021–2022.
The amount of new social housing lets offered in England decreased by 6%, from 267,000 to 252,000, marking the lowest level seen in the previous ten years, excepting 2020–21.
This includes social rent as well as all social housing, which is divided into low and moderate rent categories. Whereas the latter is established by the government, goes to local governments and registered providers, and is far less than the private market, the former requires tenants to pay 80% of the property’s market value.
“How many more shameful records must we hit before the Westminster Government takes the urgent action needed to tackle the chronic rise in homelessness and a sheer lack of housing?” stated Matt Downie, CEO of Crisis.
“This political negligence cannot continue,” he continued. The Westminster Government needs to construct more social housing if we’re going to address the growing council housing waiting lists and the record number of people stuck in hostels and B&Bs. We possess the ability to remedy this, but only if we act with the necessary vigour.”
According to Luke Murphy, associate director of the IPPR, in order to address the housing problem, the government needs to make investments in and change the planning system as well as the “dysfunctional land market”.
In the meanwhile, during the past ten years, there has been a sharp decline in the quantity of new social rents in England, or the most inexpensive ones.
It fell by 7% to 209,000 in 2022–2023 and is currently 40% less than it was a decade ago.
In Ashfield, the number decreased by 33% in the same time frame, with 561 supplied the previous year.
“Since 2010, we’ve delivered over 696,000 affordable homes, including 172,000 for social rent,” a DLUHC spokesman stated. “Last year saw the highest levels of housing delivery on record with a 17% increase in starts compared to the year before.”
“However, we know we need to build more affordable homes, which is why we’re investing £11.5 billion to deliver more of the affordable, quality homes this country needs.”
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