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Whatever Theresa May says, social housing is still the victim of a focus on homeownership

Theresa May set out her housing legacy this week and warned that social housing had previously been a “victim of the single-minded drive for homeownership”. Despite correctly identifying the problem, she failed to change this, writes Martin Hilditch

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Theresa May at Housing 2019 (picture: Guzelian)
Theresa May at Housing 2019 (picture: Guzelian)
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Despite identifying the problem, Theresa May hasn’t stopped social housing from being the victim of a “single-minded focus on homeownership” writes @MartinHilditch #ukhousing

Why social housing is still the victim of a focus on homeownership, by @MartinHilditch #ukhousing

“If we are to judge Ms May by her own words, then her legacy is ultimately one of failure.” @MartinHilditch gives Inside Housing’s reaction to @TheresaMay’s speech at #CIHhousing #ukhousing

Just weeks before the end of her time as prime minister, Theresa May attempted to set out her housing legacy at the Housing 2019 conference this week.

Her speech largely attempted to put clear water between her own approach to housing and that of predecessor David Cameron, while setting up some basic principles that she thinks her successor needs to follow.

One of the most striking statements came in the section of her speech that focused on social housing. This is a tenure that she warned has been “a victim of the single-minded drive for homeownership”.

Well, Inside Housing couldn’t agree more with that last statement. However, if we are to judge Ms May by her own words, then her legacy is ultimately one of failure.


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Clearly, there have been a number of positives – although many of these were effectively overturning policies pushed by Mr Cameron, a man who pretty much took a wrecking ball approach to social rent.

Truly, he was a disaster for people living on low incomes, who, we should remember, have been the real victims of the assault on social housing.

But yes, it is good news that councils haven’t been forced to sell off high-value homes and that plans to force through fixed-term tenancies were dropped. Another positive is the additional financial freedoms handed to councils last year to enable them to build more homes. Although, clearly there was a demand among delegates at the conference for more action, with TV presenter and architect George Clarke receiving rapturous applause in his session when he called on government to fund 100,000 council homes a year and to suspend the Right to Buy.

So, yes, progress has been made but these have been baby steps. Our survey of the 50 biggest developing housing associations this week reveals quite how far there is to go.

The number of social rented properties being delivered by these big players did increase between 2017/18 and 2018/19 – but this was still lower than the numbers built for market sale, for example.

At the end of the day, this is down to policy decisions made centrally. The fact that Scotland’s Wheatley Group is the UK’s top builder of homes for social rent hammers homes the impact that a different approach could have.

We’ll be looking further into this in weeks to come.

In years to come, we might remember Ms May for having made a number of moves in the right direction when it comes to the building of homes for social rent – but if we ever have cause to look back at her tenure as halcyon days for their delivery, then we really are in trouble.

Martin Hilditch, editor, Inside Housing

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Whatever Theresa May says, social housing is still the victim of a focus on homeownership Editor Martin Hilditch gives Inside Housing’s verdict to the prime minister’s speech

Your Housing 2019 tweets: a selection of tweets from the conference

Theresa May believes in a change of direction – but will Johnson or Hunt pay any attention? Jules Birch gives his take on Theresa May’s speech to Housing 2019

Watch Theresa May’s speech: a video of the prime minister’s speech to Housing 2019 in full

Dispatches from Housing 2019 – Wednesday The key takeaways from day two of the conference and exhibition

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Housing Heroes 2019 winners announced Find out the 17 winners and 14 commendations at the ceremony on Monday ahead of the conference and exhibition

In full: Terrie Alafat’s opening address to Housing 2019 The full text of the speech given by the chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing to open Housing 2019

What will the Hackitt Review changes mean for you? Conference speaker Debbie Larner writes for Inside Housing about building safety

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The latest news headlines from the conference:

Next PM will be committed to social housing, says Brokenshire

Homes England strategic partners to get £1bn cash boost

John Healey blasts May's housing record

Don't wait for Hackitt legislation to push ahead with building safety, says MHCLG official

Theresa May: ‘social housing a victim of drive for homeownership’

‘No-deal Brexit an opportunity for housing’, claim sector figures

Banks’ appetite to lend threatens offsite take-up, warns major landlord

Minister: funding allocations should be based on joint-agency working

Sector warned that fire safety costs could eat up HRA cap windfall

Theresa May to give speech at Housing 2019 conference

Regulator ‘found no breaches’ following Dispatches programme on Sanctuary

No funding for removal of combustible balconies, says Malthouse

MHCLG housing supply chief: affordable housing grant increase ‘on the table’ for Spending Review

‘We have got to do the right thing’ on affordable housing, says land director of Homes England

Council boss warns against local authority ‘can’t do’ attitude towards housebuilding

Terrie Alafat says Spending Review must ‘make a real difference’

Sector needs £146bn from government over a decade to end housing crisis, says NHF

Savills housing sector survey: building homes more important than existing stock to housing leaders

Morning Briefing: thousands descend on Manchester for Housing 2019

 

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