You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Housing leaders call for input into social housing green paper
Housing leaders have welcomed the government’s green paper on social housing, but said providers must be given a chance to have their say.
Chan Kataria, chief executive of EMH, said: “I think it’s absolutely right that [Sajid Javid] should talk to residents, tenants and communities as well but he must also speak to housing associations and local authorities and providers generally, because to get a complete picture we need all sides involved in this process.”
In response to Mr Javid’s announcement yesterday morning, David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said the government needs to provide funding for social rented housing while the green paper is ongoing.
Mr Kataria said: “The green paper is going to be a lengthy process, I imagine, but the housing crisis is here now and I certainly support the call for more funding for social housing, rather than affordable housing which as you know is 80% of market rent.”
Bruce Moore, chief executive of Housing & Care 21, said the green paper was “quite a positive idea” but added there is a “danger” it will look at “what’s wrong – we should also look at what’s good in what we’ve got”.
READ MORE
Mr Moore added: “One of the things we miss is we don’t have enough of a dialogue [about social housing] so to have more of a public discourse on this sort of thing is good.”
Nicholas Harris, chief executive of Stonewater, said: “With a focus on both quality and quantity promised in the green paper, we believe there is much that can be done to improve both the speed and extent of developments but it will take some fresh thinking and innovative, collaborative working across many stakeholders.”
Terrie Alafat, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing, said: “The time is right for a fundamental review of social housing so it’s encouraging to hear Sajid Javid’s commitment today.
“As well as putting the needs of tenants at its heart, this review must address the crucial issue of government funding for genuinely affordable housing.”
David Montague, chief executive of L&Q, said the green paper was “brilliant news”.
He added: “Longer term, we need a more considered reflection on the purpose of social housing. It’s long overdue but it is brilliant to hear from the mouth of a Conservative politician a commitment to embrace social housing and to make it something that we can all be proud of.”
