Sadiq Khan’s plan to tackle London housing crisis unveiled

Sadiq Khan’s plan to tackle London housing crisis unveiled

0:02 AM, 20th November 2023, About 5 months ago 5

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The London Mayor has launched a new initiative to convert private housing into council homes.

Sadiq Khan aims to build an additional 10,000 council homes in the capital in the next decade.

London is experiencing a housing crisis with more than 170,000 Londoners currently living in insecure temporary accommodation.

Council housing at heart of plan

Mr Khan says all local authorities in London will be able to purchase a wide range of homes from the private market, including former council homes lost to Right to Buy.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’ve put council housing at the heart of my plan to boost homebuilding in the capital, and I’m proud that we’re now building more council homes in London than at any time since the 1970s – and more than the rest of the country combined.

“My new Council Homes Acquisition Programme (CHAP) will allow boroughs to move at pace to increase the number of council homes in our city, offering a lifeline for thousands of Londoners who are facing high housing costs, as the first part of my ambitious goal for councils to buy 10,000 homes over the next decade.”

The Mayor says all homes funded through CHAP must comply with the Decent Homes Standard and meet strict building safety standards.

Homes will also need to be within boroughs’ boundaries to ensure residents can stay rooted in their local communities.

Address social housing crisis

Mr Khan acknowledges the social housing crisis facing London with one in 23 children in the capital living in insecure B&Bs.

He said: “I will continue to take decisive steps to address the social housing crisis, stemming the tide of loss and replenishing London’s council house stock.

“Bringing these homes into public ownership is a key part of my plan to build a better London for everyone – a city that is greener, fairer and more prosperous for all.”


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Comments

Ray Guselli

14:18 PM, 20th November 2023, About 5 months ago

Less than 3 a day will go nowhere near to accommodate the needs of the capital.

The increase in Tower Hamlets alone is 22.1% between 2011-2021.

Wayne Hoban

19:04 PM, 20th November 2023, About 5 months ago

Build 10,000 homes over the next decade, so 1,000 a year, to house the 170,000 families in London. At least he has long term ambitions!!!

Arthur Oxford

10:00 AM, 21st November 2023, About 5 months ago

"Convert private housing into council homes"... you mean purchasing private homes.
I'm clearly missing something here. Where is the money coming from for this re-purchase scheme? 10,000 homes in London, at a ludicrously low estimate of £200k per property, would amount to £2000,000,000 and I would have thought that it would be at least double that! Looks like the Council Tax in London will be going up a little! This man is clearly unhinged!

Darren Peters

10:33 AM, 21st November 2023, About 5 months ago

... will be able to purchase a wide range of homes from the private market, including former council homes lost to Right to Buy.
The Mayor says all homes funded through CHAP must comply with the Decent Homes Standard and meet strict building safety standards.

That will be an interesting venn diagram - the intersection of Ex local authority properties in London conforming to modern safety standards.
Not sure how buying existing properties increases the number of homes available though.
Can't wait to see the bleating about how its central government's fault that they have no money to maintain all the homes they acquired given they spent all their money acquiring them

paul smith

21:14 PM, 25th November 2023, About 5 months ago

Homes for Lambeth [HfL] promised to build more than 1,000 homes by 2025 and start construction of 670 of them by the end of 2022, To date It has actually started work on just 65 homes.

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