Sadiq Khan’s plan to tackle London housing crisis unveiled

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.”