CIH responds to government announcement on additional investment for affordable homes and action to improve standards in supported housing
WASHINGTON, D.C. – RealEstateRama – The government has announced £350 million in new funding to “get Britain building”, alongside plans to drive up standards and tackle rogue landlords in supported housing.
Up to 2,800 extra homes will be built through a £300 million boost to the Affordable Homes Programme, with half of these homes for social rent, and over 250 more council homes through a £50 million boost to the Local Authority Housing Fund to provide homes for those in need of better-quality temporary accommodation.
Further changes will also be set out shortly to help the most vulnerable in society, with a crackdown on exploitative behaviour by a minority of rogue and criminal supported housing landlords, as promised under the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act.
For more information see: Thousands to benefit from the security of a safe home – GOV.UK
Welcoming the announcement CEO Gavin Smart said
“The housing crisis is one of the biggest challenges facing the country, and we know that increasing the supply of truly affordable homes is key to tackling homelessness, easing pressure on local authorities, and driving economic growth. This additional investment into affordable housing is therefore very welcome and will help support the delivery of much-needed affordable homes ahead of a new Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) at the forthcoming Spending Review. The confirmation that 50 per cent of the additional investment in the AHP will be used to support building new homes at social rent is particularly welcome as these are the most affordable and needed. Expanding the Local Housing Fund will help local authorities respond to the huge rise in the need for temporary accommodation which has put huge pressure on council funds and made life very difficult for some of the most vulnerable. Going forward, we hope the government will use the next fiscal update to confirm sustained, long-term investment to meet the scale of demand and ensure everyone has access to a safe, secure, and affordable home.
“?We also welcome confirmation of action to implement the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act. It is right that the government moves to clamp down on a small minority of exploitative supported housing landlords who are providing unacceptable poor homes to vulnerable people. We look forward to seeing more details and working with government, housing providers, and local authorities to ensure these commitments translate into real change on the ground.”
CIH called for additional investment in affordable housing and action to bolster supported housing provision in its recent submission to the Spending Review: CIH submission to the 2025 Spending Review: Investing in housing to unlock growth and opportunity
