Joining with over 100 of England's council landlords to call for the new government to save council homes

3 September 2024

Today, at an event held in Westminster, over 100 council landlords, will jointly publish five solutions for the government to 'secure the future of England's council housing'. They warn that England's council housing system is broken and that urgent action is needed for the government to deliver its housing promises. 

Earlier this year, 20 of the largest council landlords published an interim summary of their recommendations. Significant traction, including an urgent meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister, has led to over 80 more councils backing their recommendations and signing the final report, including New Forest District Council.

This more detailed report, led by Southwark Council with contributions from housing policy experts, sets out a full roadmap to renew the country's council housing over the next decade and critical policy changes for the realisation of the new government's social housing ambitions.

The solutions set out in the report would support the district council's housing priorities in the New Forest, which include the aim of improving the energy efficiency of over 3,200 council houses by 2030.

Councillor Jill Cleary, leader, said:

"I am proud that New Forest District Council is one of the signatories on this important housing report being presented to the new government. By joining together with other council landlords, we are highlighting the importance of providing suitable and sustainable council housing that meets the needs of our residents. Housing is one of the priorities set out in our Corporate Plan 2024 - 2028 and the solutions detailed in this report would support us to keep building the council homes our community needs."

The five solutions set out detailed and practical recommendations to the new government:

1. A new fair and sustainable HRA model - including an urgent £644 million one-off rescue injection, and long-term, certain rent and debt agreements
2. Reforms to unsustainable Right to Buy policies
3. Removing red tape on existing funding
4. A new, long-term Green and Decent Homes Programme
5. Urgent action to restart stalled building projects, avoiding the loss of construction sector capacity and a market downturn

They make up a plan for a 'decade of renewal', with local authorities and central government working together to get 'Housing Revenue Accounts' (HRAs) back on stable foundations, bring all homes up to modern and green standards, and deliver the next generation of council homes.

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