The Autumn Statement on November 17 may contain financial measures to help private renters, the Housing Secretary has hinted.

“We know people in the private and social rented sectors are facing tough times. We’re looking to help them with targeted support for people who are in difficulties” Michael Gove told Laura Kuennsberg on BBC TV.

Gove made no firm commitment, saying that was a job for Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, but he said that assistance for private tenants faced with higher rents was one of a number of initiatives “on the table” for Hunt and himself to consider.

“It is the government’s job to do everything it can to help people through difficult times.”

When questioned on the conditions of properties in the private rented sector, and on the apparently poor record of rogue landlords being prosecuted, Gove reiterated past commitments that the government would enforce a Decent Homes Standard via the Renters Reform Bill – although no timings or deadlines were set out. 

The Housing Secretary also reinstated the former Conservative manifesto pledge of building 300,000 homes a year, although he conceded totals so far fell far short of this.

He also contradicted junior housing minister Lee Rowley who said during the brief Liz Truss premiership that ‘top down’ house building targets were to be ended; Rowley remains in post in the current Rishi Sunak government, too, but Gove insisted the 300,000 target was back. But he also warned meeting the target would be “difficult” due to the economic circumstances. 

“We need to be straight with people: the cost of materials has increased because of the problems with global supply chains and also a very tight labour market means that the capacity to build those homes at the rate we want is constrained” he said.

Asked about Truss’s past comments on housing targets, Gove stated: “The top-down housing targets that… Liz was referring to are part of a broader and different calculation from the 300,000 in the manifesto. My view is that what we do need is a fair way of allocating housing need that takes account of changes in population.”