1.67 The Government believes social housing is an important element in fostering community cohesion and supporting households in housing need. The number of social rented properties fell between 1997 and 2009. The result has been rising housing waiting lists combined with growing numbers of workless households trapped in dependency on subsidised housing. In the 1970s, 11 per cent of households in social housing had no earner, by 2003-04, this had risen to 69 per cent.

1.68 The Government wants to make social housing more responsive, flexible and fair so that more people can access social housing in ways that better reflect their needs. In future, social housing will more effectively reflect individual needs and changing circumstances. Social landlords will be able to offer a growing proportion of new social tenants new intermediate rental contracts that are more flexible, at rent levels between current market and social rents.

The terms of existing social tenancies and their rent levels remain unchanged. This is fair to households and reduces costs for taxpayers.

1.69 Taken together with continuing, but more modest, capital investment in social housing, this will allow the Government to deliver up to 150,000 new affordable homes over the Spending Review period.

From the Comprehensive Spending Review, page 29.

Posted by James Bartholomew • Indexed in Housing • Reform

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