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NHF tells Barwell sector can handle PRS burden
WHITE PAPER: The National Housing Federation has written to housing minister Gavin Barwell to push housing associations’ case as developers of privately rented homes.
In a letter signed by David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation (NHF) – as well as the chief executives of organisations including L&Q, Places for People, Clarion, Genesis and Orbit – the body promises to shoulder the burden of building “thousands” of homes for market rent over the coming years.
The letter, which has been sent ahead of the publication of the government’s Housing White Paper, says housing associations “have the scale and experience which allows [them] to deliver repairs and maintenance efficiently and professionally”.
It comes as the early detail trailed about the White Paper, due to be published in full this afternoon, set out the government’s ambition to boost the development of build-to-rent homes in the UK.
The letter says: “We already provide over 50,000 homes for market rent. We are investing many millions over the coming years to grow our offer and build thousands of new homes for market rent. We hope to drive up standards and transform the private rented sector.
“We look forward to the White Paper and working with the government to deliver on this ambition and secure a better future for all renters.”
The letter also highlights four key parts of the current housing market which the NHF would look to address. These include offering renters a greater choice and security, offering tenancies of up to five years, offering more flexible tenancies, and driving up standards in the private rented sector.
