London Councils calls for proposed government housing agencies to support local authorities

The core function of the government's proposed new homes agency and the new social housing regulator must be to support local authorities in promoting well-being and improving the quality of life for residents.

That's the call from London Councils in its response to the Communities and Local Government consultation paper 'Delivering Housing and Regeneration'.

The consultation paper explains and invites comment on government proposals for a new homes agency, and a new social housing regulator based on recommendations outlined by Professor Martin Cave earlier this year.

In its response, London Councils stresses how housing plays a crucial role in people's lives: it not only helps to shape their physical environment, but is also fundamental to their ability to lead healthy, safe, successful and happy lives.

Through their strategic housing role, local authorities are already leading the way in shaping the places where people live - by delivering new homes, improving existing housing or working to regenerate areas to provide cleaner, safer neighbourhoods.

London Councils argues that the new homes agency's core objectives must be to support this work and help councils deliver improvements for their communities. One way to ensure a close working relationship would be to require the new agency to work with councils' priorities in local area agreements (LAAs).

However, there are concerns that the consultation paper places too much emphasis on new supply. London Councils believes that increasing the supply of new homes is vital in meeting new demand - but argues that this should not come at the expense of improving existing housing stock.

Even if the government delivers on its ambitious proposals to increase the new supply of housing, it will still only represent 1 per cent of existing housing stock. Investment in existing housing to meet decent homes targets is therefore crucial.

London Councils has also called on the government to ensure that the proposed social housing regulator works closely with local authorities to help them ensure decent standards across the housing sector.

Local authorities should be able to directly trigger regulatory intervention where social housing landlords are performing poorly at a local level, whether it's on core housing management activities, or wider issues that affect whole communities, such as anti-social behaviour. 
 
London Councils housing executive member Councillor Jamie Carswell said:

"The core function of both of these agencies must be to improve housing quality in local neighbourhoods, and life chances for the people who live there.  The agencies must support the work of local authorities to deliver the homes and housing services their communities need. The proposals show promise but could do with strengthening in several areas.

New supply is of course vital, but we must not neglect existing communities. Local authorities have a duty to ensure the existing housing stock is of a decent standard, and the new homes agency must explicitly support this."

The full response is available from the London Councils website: www.londoncouncils.gov.uk

For the full Communities and Local Government consultation paper, Delivering Housing and Regeneration: Communities England and the future of social housing regulation, please visit:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/ Opens in a new window

deliveringhousingregeneration Opens in a new window

For press enquiries please contact: Chris Hogwood on 020 7934 9757
Chris.hogwood@londoncouncils.gov.uk  Fax 020 7934 9777

For non-media enquiries contact: London Councils,
59½ Southwark Street, London SE1 0AL  Tel 020 7934 9999 www.londoncouncils.gov.uk

London Councils is committed to fighting for more resources for London and getting the best possible deal for London's 33 councils. We develop policy, lobby government and others, and run a range of services designed to make life better for Londoners.