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Next PM will be committed to social housing, says Brokenshire
James Brokenshire has insisted that the next Conservative leader will be committed to delivering social housing.
Communities secretary Mr Brokenshire made the comments while appearing at the Housing 2019 conference today, where he made a host of announcements and policy confirmations.
In a Q&A following his address, he said: “I think whoever becomes the next leader of my party and ultimately the next prime minister will have that same commitment on social housing. I think it’s because it matters so much.
“And yes, as a Conservative I think that we do need more council homes. And that’s why I was so keen to see that we got the [Housing Revenue Account (HRA)] cap lifted.
“That we actually see that sense of investment into social housing, affordable homes through the funding that we’ve got through our £9bn Affordable Homes Programme.
“But also why things like these long-term arrangements, the £2bn of long-term funding through to 2028/29 actually, I think, underline our long-term commitment.”
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He added: “I am confident that that sense of commitment and some of that structure and ambition that we do have for the sector is very firmly there – and yes, I am confident that will endure.”
Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt are in contention to become the next Conservative leader and prime minister, with the former seen as the most likely victor. The winner will be revealed on 22 July.
Mr Johnson was heavily critical of social housing during a speech to the Conservative party conference in October.
In today’s address, Mr Brokenshire observed that the months ahead “will undoubtedly bring some big changes” including “a new government and maybe even a new housing secretary”.
The money, which was unveiled by Theresa May in September, will be available from 2024 to 2029 and will be split equally between London and the rest of England.
And he revealed that the government will “support” the development of 19 new garden villages across the country, with a combined potential to deliver 73,000 homes.
Policy announcements and confirmations in James Brokenshire’s speech
- Ground rents on new leases to be reduced to £0
- All new houses to be sold on a freehold basis unless there are exceptional circumstances
- Homes England will renegotiate Help to Buy contracts with developers to rule out the selling of new leasehold houses, except in exceptional circumstances
- Time limit of 15 working days and a maximum fee of £200 when leaseholders are selling
- Inviting proposals on ways to transfer deposits between landlords when moving
- Extra funding for 19 new garden villages with 73,554 homes
- Consultation on redress for purchasers of new build homes and the New Homes Ombudsman launched today
- Bidding opened for £2bn of long-term strategic partnerships funding
The cabinet secretary also confirmed plans to ban leaseholds on almost all new houses and reduce ground rents to zero, while Help to Buy contracts with developers will be renegotiated to enforce the new rules.
He also launched a consultation on proposals for a New Homes Ombudsman and a call for evidence on plans to help private tenants “passport” deposits between tenancies to prevent them having to save up twice.
Mr Brokenshire predicted that the abolition of the HRA borrowing cap for councils will be “transformational”, and added that he wants “innovation to see how we can get better partnerships between councils, housing associations – indeed the private sector, too – to unlock sites”.
Answering a question about Right to Buy receipts, he emphasised his commitment to the policy, but added that the government needs “to reflect in a thoughtful way as to what can be done to support councils” to use the money.
A consultation on Right to Buy receipts consultations closed in October, and councils are still awaiting the government’s response.
