The UK is one of the wealthiest European countries, but has the highest level of homelessness in Europe. Shelter recorded 271,000 people homeless in 2022. A survey of housing stock in 2021 identified that 23% of private rented housing did not meet the basic Decent Homes Standard set by the Government. At a time when all households are under pressure with rising fuel costs only 1% of UK homes are heated by heat pumps compared to 40% or more in Scandinavia, and in 2022 only 60,000 were installed in Britain compared to 600,000 in France. Housing is expensive to buy, with the average cost of a property in England 8.2 x the average income. Rents for private tenants are out of control in some parts of the country. Edinburgh City has declared a housing crisis.
Social rented homes offer the most security and affordability, however numbers have declined. Two million properties were sold under Right to Buy and these have not all been replaced. The private rented sector now accounts for 19% of homes and it is growing but demand exceeds supply.
An independent review of housing in Cumbria said retrofitting old housing is perceived as difficult due to the costs. As in other parts of the country land prices are high and development projects get held up in planning and over agreements with developers. In some of our villages, particularly in the National Park and on the coast, potential rental properties are eaten up by Airbnb and second homes.
These are just some of the issues with housing in the UK today.
The current Government’s response is disappointing. There are no meaningful plans for improvements. Not only this, literally billions are spent each year on ineffective temporary measures.
So how has it got into this state? At the heart of it, quoting the Green Party, is that housing is treated as a form of speculative investment. New homes are at the mercy of commercial market forces and the major development companies. Why would a private developer build small energy-efficient units or renovate old buildings – or indeed do anything innovative – when they can make more profit from traditional developments? Maximising rental income is an "acceptable" business practice.
This approach overlooks the needs and aspirations of people and local communities. It won’t change unless forced to. A Conservative Government will support the status quo, the developers, landlords and investors. It will do the minimum to address supply because scarcity adds to value. It won’t address second homes when 25% of MPs have one. The Labour Party has joined the housing debate by publishing their own proposals. These would provide some improvements but they don’t go far enough.
The Green Party has a holistic approach to housing and tangible proposals for real improvements – Right Homes, Right Place, Right Price. We need more Green voices where they can really be heard to give housing a chance at a rosier future.
Jane Hall
Published in Local Newspapers
