Affordable housing crisis to hit four million

Millions of working people will no longer be able to afford appropriate housing by 2024, new research published by the Local Government Association (LGA) warns.

The combination of economic uncertainty and growing demand for affordable homes is leading to a deepening housing crisis, with the LGA calling for ‘a renaissance in house building by councils must be at the heart’ of policy change.

Analysis from the Learning and Work Institute for the LGA projects says that the likely demand of affordable homes for working age people will range from 2.25 million to 3.07 million, compared with 2.87 million in 2011.

The LGA has suggested that the government: borrow to invest in housing, as it does for other projects; keep 100 per cent of the receipts from properties sold through Right to Buy to build new homes; and combine Right to Buy receipts with other funding, to use receipts to build through housing companies, and to count the value of council land in building replacements.

Cllr Peter Box, LGA housing spokesman, said: “Our analysis shows that millions of people studying hard and succeeding in work will also no longer be able to find an affordable and decent place to live.

"The private sector clearly has an important role to play but the reality is that it cannot build the homes we need on its own, and will likely be further restricted by uncertainties in the months and years ahead. Councils want to get on with the job of building the new homes that people in their areas desperately need.

"If we are to stand any chance of solving our housing crisis, councils must be able to replace sold homes and reinvest in building more of the genuine affordable homes our communities desperately need now more than ever."