Rayner discussing rent convergence and urges landlords to restart building

She explained how she is pushing her colleagues in cabinet for rent convergence among other policy levers to help the sector contribute to the government’s 1.5 million new homes target.

“It’s such a tall order for us to do [the target], every single one of those things has to happen,” Ms Rayner said. She added: “The cabinet knows that as well. I’ve been very clear, because this target is kind of on my head.

“It’s not like a pick and mix, like you do in bidding normally, where they say you can have your rent convergence but you’re not having your CPI+1 [Consumer Price Index plus 1%]. No, you don’t understand. This is not me doing an opening gambit… I have to have all of the things working at the same time.”

Ms Rayner also addressed housing associations’ call for access to more government building safety funding.

“We’ll be coming forward in the next couple of weeks with our remediation acceleration plan, which will talk about how we’re trying to work to speed up remediation… and of course we’ve got the Spending Review coming up as well,” she said.

“There’s a lot of things that are going to happen between now and March that hopefully will show you that we mean business and will support you in accessing funding to make sure that buildings are safe.”

Ms Rayner’s speech coincided with the launch of a new consultation on Right to Buy reforms designed to stem the loss of council housing.

She said: “The taxpayer is being ripped off in two ways [by Right to Buy] because we don’t replace the stock, so we’re giving too much of a discount… and we’re also having to pay again to put people in accommodation that costs way too much through housing allowance.”

However, her government is committed to the policy even though it had been completely abolished in Scotland and Wales. “Some people will be disappointed that I’m not ending Right to Buy, but I think this is striking the right balance,” she added.

Summarising the new government’s approach to social housing, Ms Rayner said: “No longer will social housing be seen as an afterthought, or worse, actively discouraged… affordable housebuilding is the beating heart of our housing plans.”

She also recounted her personal experience growing up in a council home in Stockport.

“We didn’t have a lot, but we had a safe and secure council home,” she said. “And later when I needed a home to raise my son, I was given my own council home. I haven’t got to where I am today in spite of coming from a council house but because of it.”

“We must remove the shackles of stigma that is too often associated with social housing,” Ms Rayner added.