The Green Party has branded the Housing Minister’s new housing
strategy [1] a “slap in the face” for people struggling to afford
the cost of their homes.
, Green Party co-leader,
said the Government should instead focus on:
- Setting up a Living Rent Commission to bring down rents
- Introducing a Land Value Tax to reduce property speculation
- Expand the use of community land trusts and co-operative home
ownership
- End tax breaks for buy-to-let investors and use the
money for social housing
Bartley said:
“The Housing Minister’s plans are a slap in the face for the
millions of people in this country desperate for bold plans to
reduce rents and make their housing affordable.
“People are living in desperate insecurity and we need to end our
narrow obsession with home ownership and meet people where they
are - by investing in social housing and improving the private
rented sector. Any plan to help renters which doesn’t have at its
heart a clear intention to reduce the amount tenants are paying
is doomed to failure.
“It is scandalous that many people are paying up to two-thirds of
their income on rent, and often living in sub-standard
accommodation. The Government should immediately set up a Living
Rent Commission to work out what rent is truly affordable and
take action to bring down costs for tenants.
“With Britain suffering such an acute housing crisis – and
with property developers earning such huge sums for simply
holding onto land – it’s also clear that idea such as a Land
Value Tax should be explored. Such a tax could reduce property
speculation, revitalise inner city areas and raise revenue –
there’s no excuse for failing to investigate it as an option.
“We need to start talking seriously about expanding the use
of community land trusts and co-operative home ownership. If the
Government wants to take the heat out of the housing market it
must end tax breaks for buy-to-let investors, and use the money
to create a new generation of social housing.
“Housing should not be a speculative commodity and we must move
beyond piecemeal tinkering with a broken market to ensure that
everyone has a place they can call home."
Notes:
-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38884601
