Deputy Prime Minister speech at Social Housing Conference
The Deputy Prime Minister delivered the closing speech at the Social Housing Annual Conference in London
It is an absolute pleasure to be closing this year바카라 사이트™s Social Housing Conference.
And thank you for having me here to speak, but more importantly I want to thank each and everyone of you for the work that you do in this sector, it바카라 사이트™s incredibly important work.
And I want to start with a personal message as well, because this government바카라 사이트™s mission to drive more social housing is a personal mission of mine too. I want to say loud and clear that no longer will social housing be seen as an after-thought, or worse actively discouraged.
Under this government, affordable housebuilding is the beating heart of our housing plans. We have promised the biggest increase to social and affordable housing and, yes, that also includes council housing too!
It starts by going net positive because we want to build more social homes than we lose. This matters. For the 1.2 million households on the waiting list for a safe and secure home. For the 150,000 children stuck in unsuitable temporary accommodation.
And for our local councils who are forced to shell out more and more to house those in need.
When I stood at the despatch box in the summer saying that I wanted to see a council housing revolution 바카라 사이트“ I meant it. And when I say that I want to work with you, in partnership with you, to achieve our shared aims - Â I mean that too. And I hope that you바카라 사이트™ve seen from my actions so far today that I mean business.
Well this is no easy task. I know what an incredibly tough few years it has been. Not enough homes have been built. Soaring mortgages. A generation has been locked out of home ownership. And renters facing crippling hikes in rent in damp and mouldy homes.
I also recognise the strain put on social housing sector. Rent settlements that have been chopped and changed. Investment too low, and for far too long. A disinterest in building homes for social rent. Councils obstructed from taking the steps that they need to take to build the secure homes for their communities. And too many homes sold and not being replaced.
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And in the first few months of this [Political content removed] government at every turn we바카라 사이트™ve made it clear that we won바카라 사이트™t accept it. We are ready to turn the dial up to fulfil our mission for more affordable homes.
And as I said, this is personal for me. Because I know that a secure, affordable home is not a luxury or simply nice to have. It바카라 사이트™s the foundation on which everything else is built. When I was growing up, we didn바카라 사이트™t have a lot, but we had a safe and secure council home. And later when I needed a home to raise my son I was given my own council home.
I haven바카라 사이트™t got to where I am today in spite of coming from a council house, but because of it. Because of that security, because of that home that I바카라 사이트™m standing here today as Deputy Prime Minister. And I say that loud and proud. Because we must remove the shackles of stigma that is too often associated with social housing.
And I have skin in the game. And I know that this is also true for many of you here today. So, I want to thank you all for everything you do to provide the decent, secure, affordable homes that people in our country need.
And that바카라 사이트™s why our commitment to delivering 1.5 million homes also includes a commitment to the biggest increase to social and affordable housing for a generation. Not just because it바카라 사이트™s nice to have, but because history tells us that we바카라 사이트™ll only reach our overall goal by building lots more affordable homes.
And in my first weeks in office, I published the proposals for an updated National Planning policy Framework. And I look forward to confirming our concrete plans after the consultation, in the weeks ahead.
And at the same time, I set out our first steps for affordable homes. Announcing immediate flexibilities for councils when using Right to Buy receipts. And confirming £450 million to flow to local authorities to house some of the most vulnerable in society. Showing that this government won바카라 사이트™t just talk the talk. But we바카라 사이트™re ready to walk the walk.
But at times, this also means making hard decisions. Like confronting the reality that the changes made to Right to Buy over the past decade have not only made our housing crisis worse.Â
I stand here today as someone who got on the housing ladder through Right to Buy. And I바카라 사이트™m proud of the opportunities this gave me. And I want others to benefit from it too. This is why this government remains committed to the scheme.
But I also know the opportunities that I got from my first council home were equally important. And wrong-headed reforms have meant we바카라 사이트™ve lost social homes faster than we can replace them. Snatching away life chances at a huge cost to families, to taxpayers, and to the communities. And this must change.
And that is why today we have launched a consultation on further reforms to Right to Buy. Building on the reforms announced at the Budget - giving councils 100% of their Right to Buy receipts, so that you can quickly replace homes that have been sold. And reversing the Tories damaging and ill-thought-through discounts brought in in 2012.
My principles are clear. There should a social home to rent for people who need it. There should be a home to buy at an affordable price for people who want it. We need a fairer and more sustainable scheme that delivers value for the taxpayers
Yes, long-term Council tenants should have the chance to own their own home at a reasonable price. But we must also ensure that social homes remain there for those who need them too.
That is why I also confirmed today that this government has also decided not to extend Right to Buy to housing association homes.
All of us have a stake in making sure we get the Right to Buy back on track, so it meets the needs of their generation and the aspirations of tenants to come.
And when I say we all have a stake in this mission 바카라 사이트“ I mean it. Because that includes government too. 바카라 사이트 isn바카라 사이트™t a by-stander. We need to lead from the front as an active state.
That바카라 사이트™s why as well as setting out first steps to protect council housing, at the Budget we also provided you with the investment and certainty that you needed to build more homes. Including an injection of £500 million for the Affordable Housing Programme next year. To deliver up to 5,000 new homes. We바카라 사이트™ve also helped councils borrow cheaply from the Public Works Loan Board until 2025-26.
And there will be more to come. I바카라 사이트™m committed to working with my good friend, the Chancellor, to secure more investment during next year바카라 사이트™s spending review.
This government will always have your back. But with that support must also come responsibility. Responsibility for ensuring that all homes are safe and warm and decent.
And that residents are treated with the respect that they deserve, with problems quickly resolved.
A lot of councils and social housing landlords already do a great job for their tenants.
So, we want to bring the whole of the sector up to this standard.
We바카라 사이트™ll clamp down on mouldy homes by bringing in Awaab바카라 사이트™s Law into the social rented sector. And we바카라 사이트™re committed to consulting on and implementing the Decent Homes Standard. To end the scandal of people living in unacceptable conditions.
It was social housing and the support of a strong community that I was raised in, was the making of me. And now that I can make this available to others I am determined that we seize this with both hands.
You said that more money was needed for affordable homes. So, we바카라 사이트™ve injected more cash, as quick as we can. You said that there isn바카라 사이트™t enough certainty about rental income. So, we바카라 사이트™ve set out a long-term settlement, and we want your views on it. And you said that Right to Buy means that we lose those units faster than we can build. So, we바카라 사이트™ve reduced the discounts, secured your receipts, and are asking how can we go further - to protect the new homes you바카라 사이트™ll build.
And we want to end the scandal of homes being unfit to live in, and ensure tenants in this country have their voices heard. But I can바카라 사이트™t do this without you.
So today, I am asking you to work with me. In partnership. To deliver on our shared ambitions. And you know what a difference we can make.
I need you to restart your development programmes. To make the most of the new funding and flexibilities that we바카라 사이트™re offering. To be ambitious with your local plans and regeneration partnerships. To support more people in acute housing need. And to get those children out of cramped and insecure temporary accommodation.
I need you to step up. And I know it바카라 사이트™s difficult. And I want to help. I waited eight years for this opportunity to serve and to give back, so tell me what more I can do to help you. And I promise that I will work with you to deliver.
Let me finish by saying how much I appreciate all your efforts. Councils, housing associations and investors have been left picking up the pieces of years of failure.
But there is hope. By working together in a new spirit of partnership, we can and will unleash a new generation of social housing.
We can turn this hope into a national asset on which we바카라 사이트™ll build better lives. That바카라 사이트™s the change that [Political content removed] were elected to deliver. And it바카라 사이트™s the change that you want to deliver.
So, let바카라 사이트™s go on with it together.
Thank you.