Propertymark unveils its housing plan for the next London mayor

London’s next mayor will face huge pressure to address the capital’s housing crisis, according to Propertymark.

Today, voters will cast their votes for the next mayor and 25 Assembly members in a city with a population of more than nine million, and the highest house prices and rents in the country.

The organisation says the next mayor needs to leverage their powers to tackle the shortage of housing and make the city more affordable.

Housing plan for London

Propertymark’s housing plan for London includes key priorities for the next four years to help address the capital’s housing crisis. They include:

• Encouraging employers to support renters through financial aid such as interest-free loans, aiding recruitment and staff retention
• Supporting homeowners and landlords with energy efficiency improvements to help reduce bills and achieve zero-carbon goals
• Speeding up planning permission and building on public land to increase housing supply
• Enhancing collaboration between local authorities and property professionals to improve standards and compliance
• Granting the Mayor greater powers and devolution to address London’s unique housing challenges.

Stricter enforcement of short-term let regulations

While acknowledging the success of the private rental sector (PRS), Propertymark is also stressing the need for stricter enforcement of short-term let regulations.

It also believes the introduction of a PRS database and Property Portal as part of the Renters (Reform) Bill should end the need for property licensing.

Propertymark says the Mayor of London should lead the way and exempt landlords from paying licence fees – if they use qualified and regulated letting agents.

With London facing a chronic under-delivery of new homes, Propertymark urges the next mayor to prioritise housing solutions.

It also says the winning candidate should work with stakeholders to ensure Londoners have access to safe, affordable housing.

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