3rd Report: Building more social housing
Select Committee
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
HC 173
27 July 2020
Government response
Building more social housing: Government response to the Select Committee Report · published 14 Oct 2020
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
2
Recommendation
Rejected
Para 23
We believe rents are only affordable when they do not exceed one third of household...
Recommendation
We believe rents are only affordable when they do not exceed one third of household income. There are numerous ways to define this income and other related factors and the Government should identify its preferred method, in consultation with the …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to identify a preferred national definition of affordability linked to local incomes, stating it does not prescribe such a definition and that affordability is better understood at a local level through existing frameworks.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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7
Recommendation
Rejected
Para 53
There is compelling evidence that England needs at least 90,000 net additional social rent homes...
Recommendation
There is compelling evidence that England needs at least 90,000 net additional social rent homes a year. We recommend that the Government publishes annual net addition targets for the following tenures: social rent, affordable rent, intermediate rent and affordable homeownership. …
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Government Response Summary
The government explicitly states that it does not place a specific figure on the annual number of affordable houses which need to be built. It reaffirms commitment to increasing supply and building the right homes, supported by the new £11.5bn Affordable Homes Programme.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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8
Conclusion
Rejected
Para 54
It is disappointing that the Government does not have a published plan on social housing,...
Conclusion
It is disappointing that the Government does not have a published plan on social housing, nor has its own assessment of social housing need. We regard an estimate of need to be essential to calculating how much investment the Government …
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Government Response Summary
The government does not commit to producing a published plan or its own assessment of social housing need, stating that it does not place a specific figure on the number of affordable houses needed annually, but is committed to increasing supply through existing programmes.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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22
Conclusion
Rejected
Para 131
The purpose of Right to Buy is to introduce a route into homeownership, and not...
Conclusion
The purpose of Right to Buy is to introduce a route into homeownership, and not reduce the number of social homes or to supplement the private rented sector.
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the implication that Right to Buy should not lead to homes supplementing the private rented sector, stating that tenants who have bought their homes should have the same freedoms as other homeowners, including letting their property.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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23
Recommendation
Rejected
Para 132
We recommend that, in line with the five year period which covers discount repayment, the...
Recommendation
We recommend that, in line with the five year period which covers discount repayment, the Government prevents Right to Buy homes being privately let within five years of purchase. This will require legislating to implement a covenant against letting for …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejected the recommendation, stating that Right to Buy tenants should have the same freedoms as other homeowners, including the ability to let their properties.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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