The Government has been accused of failing to deliver on its promise to control rents in the private rented sector.
The National Housing Federation, Shelter and the Chartered Institute of Housing has launched a new report to assess how the Coalition is doing in relation to various pledges it has made.
These include boosting housing supply, tackling homelessness and improving affordability in the private rented sector.
The Housing Report, which the authors plan to update over the course of the Parliament, uses a traffic light system – green for progress, amber for no progress and red for deterioration.
In the first edition, the Government receives four red lights: on housing supply, homelessness, help with housing costs and affordability of the private rented sector.
It gets three amber lights, on planning, evictions and home ownership.
There are just two green lights, for initiatives on empty homes and improved mobility within the social sector.
David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said: “It is clear from the first edition of the report that much more needs to be done in order to resolve this country’s dire housing crisis.
“With the number of new homes being built at a record low and more people reliant on housing benefit to find a place to live, it is time for ministers to show their words will be backed up by actions and results.
“The housing crisis should be treated as a top political priority to prevent an already desperate situation becoming even more grim for the millions of people in need of a home.”
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Comments
The rents are rising very sharply in London due an influx of students and other young people starting internships and jobs at this of the year. Traditionally, the curve begins to flatten in November.
The situation could be more difficult next year with the Olympics.
It is suggested that a new housing initiative is launched which would, among other things, speed up the completion of existing housing developments and encourage the start of new developments.