Solving the crisis

Do you remember that housing was the top issue in the London Mayoral Election campaign? All the candidates had plans to provide more homes, especially affordable homes, in the capital. Because, obviously, we need them.

Our sons and daughters are crying out for help with their housing. Those in social housing know their chance of being housed when they need to move out of the family home are very slim, as a lack of available affordable housing means most homes are going to those in the most severe need.

“We are ready and willing to help, and if we work together I believe the housing crisis in London can be solved.”

Those hoping to own their own home look at the prices of even the most modest flat and find the maths impossible. First-time buyer homes in London now average £385,000 – nearly 14 times the average salary of a first-time buyer. It’s no wonder that 82% of 20-to-45-year-olds in London say they never expect to buy.

So our young people are finding the only place to go – if they really can’t stay with mum and dad any longer – is shared flats in the private rented sector. Many of these are expensive, insecure, not self-contained, and fraught with danger or worry, even if it is “only” other people stealing your food or playing music late at night. ‘Couch surfing’ is just a modern word for homeless.

Young people haven’t roared yet. But they did (being British) use their votes in the election to drive the housing shortage and the shocking price of homes up the political agenda. And the politicians did listen. But while all candidates supported a stonking figure of new homes needed, to date I don’t think any had a plan to achieve it.

Sadiq Khan was elected in part by young people who are desperate for better housing options than a shared room in an insecure, chilly hovel. They want secure affordable rent, and the chance to become a homeowner. The only choices the government are offering today are the Starter Home Initiative, which is out of the reach of all except the highest earners, and hopefully shared ownership. Housing associations must do our best to make shared ownership affordable, but it’s hard with low grant levels and ever-increasing land prices.

Many young people have given up all hope of ever having their own home, but we need to make sure they keep their expectations high and keep putting pressure on the new mayor to solve this crisis. Sadiq, you need to act – and act fast. We know you really want to tackle this. You understand the issues, but we can’t wait much longer for action.

At Notting Hill we support your pledge to increase the number of genuinely affordable homes. We want to help. But it won’t be possible for us to achieve it alone. So here are our suggestions:

• London has the resources to meet the housing needs of its population, but we will have to redistribute wealth from the state and the private sector in order to do this
• Providing subsidy – from taxes, or in the form of grants or free land – is the only way to reduce the price of production and therefore make new housing genuinely affordable
• The planning system is changing – and mainly not in a good way. You need to challenge this and ensure something like Section 106 and a requirement for lower rent housing survives. Starter Homes are great for some, but we must ensure other forms of affordable housing remain in London
• There are three main groups that can get more homes built in London: the public sector, the private sector and housing associations. The mayor, without fear or favour, needs to help us to work together. Between us we have the land, the people, the political leadership, the entrepreneurial drive, the planning powers and the motivation to get the job done – but none of us can act alone
• A sensible relationship with TfL to ensure that housing growth is enabled through investment in infrastructure
• Stop attacking foreign investors – if they are building homes and providing jobs, then we want and need them in our city
• Establish a deputy mayor for youth, with a special emphasis on housing our young workers who contribute so much, earn so little, and live in unacceptable conditions

Sadiq, we are ready and willing to help, and if we work together I believe the housing crisis in London can be solved.

Kate Davies, chief executive, Notting Hill Housing Trust