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Morning Briefing: rent control ‘to form key part of Khan 2020 bid’
Reaction to Sadiq Khan’s rent control plans, and the rest of the day’s housing news
In the news
Sadiq Khan’s announcement that he is working up proposals for a rent control model in the capital has captured attention.
The Guardian says the plans will be “the key plank” of the mayor’s re-election bid in 2020. He told the paper he has been “frustrated” by the lack of powers to help private renters.
Over on the New Statesman’s CityMetric site, political correspondent Stephen Bush warns that while popular, backing the policy is a “gamble” for Mr Khan. And surprisingly enough, groups representing private landlords have come out against it.
You can read our coverage of the announcement here. It is worth emphasising that Mr Khan has no power to actually introduce this policy, and would need the backing of central government.
On Twitter, Shaun Bailey, his rival for office in 2020, said: “Sadiq, mate, this isn’t a good look. If you were building the homes you promised in 2016 you wouldn’t have to make another promise you know you can’t keep in 2020. Because, as you said in 2016: ‘I have no plans to introduce rent controls, nor the powers to do so’.”
Sadiq, mate, this isn’t a good look.
— Shaun Bailey AM (@ShaunBaileyUK) January 23, 2019
If you were building the homes you promised in 2016 you wouldn’t have to make another promise you know you can’t keep in 2020.
Because, as you said in 2016:
“I have no plans to
introduce rent controls, nor the powers to do so.” 25/05/16
Elsewhere, the BBC covers a report from academics at the University of Glasgow that says Scotland is falling 7,000 homes a year behind the level it needs to build to keep up with demand. A total of 25,000 are needed and 18,000 are being delivered, the report says.
In local news, the Evesham Journal reports on a couple left for months with no hot water by Rooftop Housing Association. Their heating system was “unrepairable”, the association said, but apologised for thinking they had access to an electrical shower.
A spokesperson told the paper: “We were under the impression that the property had an electric shower that was providing hot water. We were wrong.
“There is no excuse for leaving our tenant without hot water for this extended period, and where we have got things wrong, we admit it and we learn from it.”
Local south London newspaper News Shopper reports on a decision by Greenwich Council not to sell land on its estate to small-homes developer Pocket. Instead, it may build council housing on the site.
On the BBC, there is a report about a 600-home development in Scotland receiving approval from the Court of Session after it was rejected by government.
For those after something from a bit further afield, The Guardian has a long read about housing market racism in the USA.
And if anyone needs a reminder that the Brexit-related uncertainty isn’t deterring everyone, the Financial Times reports on billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin buying a London home for £95m.
On social media
In an unusually self-involved move, I am going to break the fourth wall to bring you one of my own Tweets, which pointed out a surprising stat about temporary accommodation in east London, and has triggered some interesting debate:
A fairly shocking housing stat I’ve come across as background to a feature:
— Peter Apps (@PeteApps)
There are 7,515 children in temporary accommodation within the 36km² which makes up Newham, east London.
This compares to 4,920 across the 40,000km² which makes up the entire north of England.A fairly shocking housing stat I've come across as background to a feature:
— Peter Apps (@PeteApps) January 23, 2019
There are 7,515 children in temporary accommodation within the 36km² which makes up Newham, east London.
This compares to 4,920 across the 40,000km² which makes up the entire north of England.
The replies include some important insight into the issue of temporary housing:
Just awful for child development- the young are the future for our country., difficult to do homework or study for GCSE / A levels, they can be forgiven for deciding not to bother with the hassle. A future engineer, scientist, doctor or nurse.
— Da Melz! (@melz_thename)Just awful for child development- the young are the future for our country., difficult to do homework or study for GCSE / A levels, they can be forgiven for deciding not to bother with the hassle. A future engineer, scientist, doctor or nurse.
— Da Melz! (@melz_thename) January 23, 2019
I think it is one of the great injustices of our time. I was just talking to a friend about how difficult it is for her toddler to adjust to moving house - once from one comfortable settled home to another. I can’t even imagine how the level of instability in temp affects kids.
— Jess McCabe (@jester)I think it is one of the great injustices of our time. I was just talking to a friend about how difficult it is for her toddler to adjust to moving house - once from one comfortable settled home to another. I can’t even imagine how the level of instability in temp affects kids.
— Jess McCabe (@jester) January 23, 2019
Agree 100% Jess. One mum last week had been moved eight times to 8 different boroughs in 3 years. She was distraught, disorientated and defeated.
— The Magpie Project (@magpieprojectuk)
And for the children this is devastating. We see withdrawal, delayed speech, anxiety and the effects of trauma in our little ones.Agree 100% Jess. One mum last week had been moved eight times to 8 different boroughs in 3 years. She was distraught, disorientated and defeated.
— The Magpie Project (@magpieprojectuk) January 23, 2019
And for the children this is devastating. We see withdrawal, delayed speech, anxiety and the effects of trauma in our little ones.
For some time Newham has been using temporary accommodation out of borough, whilst inner London boroughs have been using temporary accommodation in Newham. It has created all sorts of dislocation issues. It should be poss to get Newham’s in borough/ out borough stats and compare?
— Gill Hay (@fghays22)For some time Newham has been using temporary accommodation out of borough, whilst inner London boroughs have been using temporary accommodation in Newham. It has created all sorts of dislocation issues. It should be poss to get Newham's in borough/ out borough stats and compare?
— Gill Hay (@fghays22) January 23, 2019
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