...but not like this

Giving people fixed term social housing tenancies and moving them on if their circumstances improve is a concept stirring up much debate.

It’s entirely valid to ask if it’s right for every tenant to pay the same low social housing rent, even if some people’s circumstances have improved. But forcing more affluent tenants out of social housing will only slightly increase the number of affordable homes available to let and does nothing to increase the supply of affordable homes. Those of us dealing with the 1.8 million people waiting for social housing need bigger, quicker solutions today.

Economically diverse neighbourhoods are the key to thriving, self-sustaining communities. Working, aspirational households provide important role models for their less affluent neighbours. Force them out of estates and we risk creating ghettos of workless poor, with little incentive to better their situation for fear of losing their home.

If the government is serious about solving our housing crisis, encouraging people to work hard and reducing central government red tape, reform is needed. Instead of pushing working households out of social housing, we should make the most of their success.

Housing providers are often closest to our tenants. We have local knowledge about what people can and cannot afford. Restoring the right of housing associations to set rents would enable a more flexible rent charging system. The better way would be to allow housing associations and councils to set a higher intermediate or market rent to tenants whose circumstances have improved. This would bring in more rent, which could be used to build more affordable homes. It would give better off tenants the choice of moving on or paying a higher but fairer rent, and maintain mixed communities.

Mick Sweeney is chief executive of One Housing Group