In an update today, the government said thousands more people would “be able to benefit from the security and safety of… high-quality homes”.
Around 2,800 extra homes will be built through the £300m boost to the Affordable Homes Programme, with half of them being for social rent.
Approximately 250 more council homes will be built through a £50m boost to the Local Authority Housing Fund to “provide homes for those in need of better-quality temporary accommodation”.
The boost is in addition to the £500m investment from the Budget to build around 5,000 homes and backs the programme’s £11.5bn that aims to build up to 130,000 homes by 2026. It also builds on the £450m offered to 150 local councils to “ease pressure on homelessness services, reduce spending on unsuitable B&B accommodation, and provide safe and sustainable housing”.
The government said this support will help “deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, turning the tide against the unacceptable housing crisis in this country”.
Shawbrook is the specialist mortgage sector’s ‘best kept secret’ – Sard
Sponsored by Shawbrook Bank
There will also be a “crackdown on exploitative behaviour by rogue and criminal supported housing landlords”.
The government said select landlords are claiming uncapped housing benefit but offering “squalid homes” for the “most vulnerable”.
It said it would introduce a new licensing scheme, tougher standards and the ability to stop housing benefit going to rogue landlords as part of a plan due to be unveiled next week.
Angela Rayner, deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, said: “For so many families, and their children, the security and safety of a home of their own remains firmly out of reach – and, instead, they have to live in temporary accommodation, including in B&Bs.
“This is unacceptable and is the result of the housing crisis we are facing head-on. That’s why we’re driving forward on our plans to ensure a better future for everyone who needs a safe home, building on our plans to drive up living standards and build 1.5 million homes through our Plan for Change.”
Kate Henderson, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said: “Today’s funding announcement demonstrates that the government recognises that boosting funding for new affordable homes, particularly those for social rent, is essential to meeting its ambitious housing targets and commitment to building a generation of new social homes.
“Housing associations share the government’s housing ambitions and we welcome this top-up to the Affordable Homes Programme. The funding announced today – in addition to the funding announced in the autumn – will help maintain momentum in the delivery of much needed social and affordable housing ahead of the new Affordable Homes Programme being announced at the Spending Review.
“Housing associations are facing a number of financial challenges due to decades of funding cuts. Alongside this vital funding injection, we hope to see a package of supportive measures at the upcoming Spending Review to enable the sector to build the homes our country needs.”
