Government failing to make progress on housing

Halfway through the parliamentary term, the coalition Government is failing to fix Britain’s broken housing market, Shelter said today.

The third Housing Report released by the National Housing Federation, Shelter and the Chartered Institute of Housing says that overcrowding, homelessness, housing costs and affordability in the private rental market are all getting worse.

In other areas including housing supply, planning and homeownership, the report concludes the Government has made ‘no progress’. Despite a stream of initiatives to get the housing market moving, house building remains at a historic low.

The report is published on the same day that the Government’s house building figures showed a nine per cent fall in housing starts over the past year. 

The three organisations behind the report are asking the Government to switch its focus from policy-making to delivery, ensuring that more affordable homes are built. 

Shelter’s Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, said: ‘The Government’s commitment to get Britain building is welcome – but so far it simply isn’t delivering the new homes we need.’ 

‘Young people and families find it impossible to get a home of their own, no matter how hard they work and save. The longer this continues, the bigger the problem for future generations.’ 

David Orr, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, said: ‘It’s been a year since the Government promised to 'Get Britain Building' again. We’ve had the words and the policies but not the delivery.’ 

Mr Orr continued:

‘Millions of families are struggling with rising rents or are priced out of the housing market. We’re running out of time and must address the causes of rising costs, not just the symptoms.

Grainia Long, Chief Executive at the Chartered Institute of Housing, said: ‘The case for investing in housing is accepted by the Government. But funding and policy are only part of the story.’

‘Unless this translates into new homes, we won’t be able to house the five million extra households predicted for the next two decades. Our housing system is in crisis.’