Committees

Minister quizzed on social and affordable rented housing

5 June 2020

The Housing, Communities and Local Government examines the Government's assessment of need for social and affordable rented housing, and its strategy to increase provision.

Witnesses

Monday 8 June, virtual meeting

At 2.30pm

  • Tom Copley AM, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, Greater London Authority
  • Nick Walkley, Chief Executive, Homes England

Ay 3.15pm

  • Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP, Minister for Housing, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
  • Tracey Waltho, Director General, Housing and Building Safe, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Housing supply requirements

A thorough analysis in 2018 of housing supply requirements in England found that 90,000 new social rent homes needed to be built every year to meet demand. However, in 2019, only 6,200 were built.

The impact of a low supply of new buildings is exacerbated by the impact of Right to Buy, which removes housing from the sector. Councils have argued replacement properties are difficult to provide due to restrictions on the use of Right to Buy receipts.

Purpose of the session

The session will examine the Government's assessment of need for social and affordable rented housing, and its strategy to increase provision.

The Committee will also consider the likely impact of the Government's new Affordable Homes Programme, announced at the Budget, on the ability of housing providers to build more homes, and the proportion of rented homes versus low-cost ownership homes in the overall affordable housing mix.

Further information

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