A positive vision for social housing

Conference notes that:

I. Millions of Londoners are struggling to find affordable, safe, good quality housing. But the number of social rented homes in London is decreasing.

II. Too many social homes are in disrepair, with damp and black mould a particular
concern.

III. A positive vision for managing social housing well and treating tenants with dignity is desperately needed.

IV. There are around 717,000 social rented homes in London, with ownership split between councils and housing associations, who own approximately 56% and 44% respectively.

V. Whilst councils have the responsibility for maintaining the social homes which they own, they are often under-resourced.

VI. The disgraced Conservative government has consistently cut funding for local government. And Labour councils are failing woefully to build enough affordable homes.

VII. The Liberal Democrats have an ambitious national house building target of 380,000 homes per year with an equally ambitious social housing target of 150,000 per year.

Conference believes:

1. Safe, secure, and affordable housing is fundamental for a fair society. It provides the freedom for individuals to live their best life and make the most out of their goals and talents.

2. The Conservatives have abandoned Londoners seeking affordable homes. They are more interested in lining the pockets of big property developers than helping Londoners get on the property ladder.

3. Communities are disappearing all over London as council homes are replaced by unaffordable properties.

4. A fair housing system needs proper funding, which the Conservative government is failing to provide. But councils and housing associations must also do better to improve housing management and tenants’ lives.

5. People living in council homes have the right to safe, quality accommodation, free from damp and mould. Conservative and Labour administrations across London are failing council tenants through poor repairs and maintenance, and terrible customer service.

6. The government should also permanently extend the 100% retention of Right to Buy receipts so Councils can build more Council homes.

7. Homes, existing and yet to be built, should be as environmentally-friendly as possible; therefore saving residents money on energy bills and reducing energy waste from our homes.

Conference calls for:

A. The development of a positive liberal housing offer for Londoners, focused on building genuinely affordable homes and guaranteeing minimum service levels for Council and all social tenants.

B. The Mayor of London to establish a London-wide housing working group to fulfil this objective and consider options to contribute to national policy development.

C. The strengthening and re-establishment of tenants and residents associations, empowering them to take decisions about their estates.

D. New measures to ensure private developers meet affordable housing targets, and not shy away from taking enforcement action where necessary.

E. The creation of a central government grant for local councils, which would be apportioned based on their need to maintain and retrofit properties.

F. A Tenant and Leaseholder Charter to be put into legislation which guarantees the right to timely repairs of properties and communal areas, requiring councils and local housing associations to review their current stock and invest in these homes to ensure that residents are not exposed to mould and damp; have excellent safety measures and that repairs are carried out promptly.

G. The establishment of an appropriate independent body for London, so that tenants and leaseholders can refer housing issues to an external adjudicator.

H. Council leaseholders to be allowed to arrange sinking funds to put aside money for future works, as private leaseholders are able to do.

I. Councils and housing associations to commit to using funds from their housing revenue accounts and from central government to invest in bringing existing council homes up to a good standard, including, retrofitting properties in order to reduce energy bills and protect the environment.

J. The Mayor of London to lobby the government to amend the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1985 so that Major Works (Section 20) Notices are delivered a minimum of three months before work is proposed to start, so that those affected are consulted with sufficient time to put in place appropriate arrangements.