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Sadiq Khan has published his housing strategy for London, following months of consultation on a draft edition released in September.
The mayor published the 264-page strategy today, including as expected measures to require resident ballots before any estate demolitions funded by City Hall.
The new document restates much of the housing policy Mr Khan has announced during his tenure, including an overall target of 65,000 homes per year based on local targets.
In the introduction to the document, Mr Khan said: “Six months ago, I asked Londoners to have their say on my plans for housing. More than 2,000 of you responded. Your feedback has helped me make this final strategy even stronger.
“Alongside what I am doing as mayor, this strategy also outlines the role I want housing associations, councils, institutional investors, small builders, and community organisations to play.
“This strategy is clear that, if we are to see a true step change in tackling the housing crisis, national government needs to play its part too. Reform of national land assembly rules could transform my plans to bring forward more land for housing. With more powers and resources, City Hall, councils, and housing associations could go much further in building social rented and other genuinely affordable homes.”
Sian Berry, Green Party member and chair of the London Assembly Housing Committee, criticised the strategy for continuing to include a definition of affordable housing which includes homes rented at 80% of market rates.
She said: “We have deep concerns about the genuine affordability of many of the housing programmes the mayor is supporting.
“The strategy has continued to include the government’s definition of ‘affordable’, at up to 80% of market rent, so we will continue to closely monitor how many council homes and homes at social levels of rent appear on the ground.”
Last week Mr Khan announced a new programme of grant-funded council housing for rents at target rent levels, which are benchmarked at rates above average social rents but well below previous affordable rented products.
Councils will be able to bid for grant at rates of up to £100,000 per unit to build the new homes.
Picture: Getty
Social rent: The amount of social rent a person pays depends on the location and size of the property, and is set according to a complex formula, but it is typically set at between 50% and 60% of market rent.
Affordable rent: Introduced by the coalition government in 2011, ‘affordable’ rent can be up to 80% of market rent, although many associations have been charging lower than this.
London Affordable Rent: A tenure introduced by Sadiq Khan that is lower than national affordable rent and based on target rent levels towards which social rents are gradually being raised. This makes it higher than average social rents in the capital, but in line with the rent that would likely be charged if a new social rent unit was built and set according to the same formula.
London Living Rent: A rental product aimed at middle-income Londoners introduced by Sadiq Khan, with rents set at one-third of average local earnings.
Target rent: A social rent level calculated by the government, which council and housing associations should use to move their social rents to over time.