LGA responds to Shelter housing commission

Responding to the launch of a social housing commission by Shelter, Cllr Martin Tett, the LGA’s Housing spokesman, said:

“Councils are supportive of any initiative that seeks to genuinely improve social housing for families and would be keen to see a greater local government representation play a part in the commission.

“However it is important the work proceeds on the basis of good evidence. According to the Government’s latest English Housing Survey, the vast majority of social renters – 81 per cent – were satisfied with their accommodation. Social housing is twice as likely to meet the decent homes standard as the private rented sector.

“But councils need to have the financial tools to invest in the quality of their housing stock. The Government needs to use the upcoming final Local Government Finance Settlement to accept the calls of both the LGA and the cross-party Treasury Select Committee, and completely scrap the cap on the amount councils can borrow to invest in new and existing homes.”