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London will lose half a million social homes under Tories, says Sadiq Khan London will lose half a million social homes under Tories, says Sadiq Khan
(35 minutes later)
More than half a million affordable homes in London could be removed from the capital’s housing stock by the government’s housing policies, London mayoral hopeful Sadiq Khan has said, adding that the city faces a “housing catastrophe”.More than half a million affordable homes in London could be removed from the capital’s housing stock by the government’s housing policies, London mayoral hopeful Sadiq Khan has said, adding that the city faces a “housing catastrophe”.
Research by Khan’s office suggests that 573,753 social homes in London could be eligible to be sold off under government plans to extend the right to buy to housing association tenants and to force local authorities to sell off their most valuable council homes to fund replacements.Research by Khan’s office suggests that 573,753 social homes in London could be eligible to be sold off under government plans to extend the right to buy to housing association tenants and to force local authorities to sell off their most valuable council homes to fund replacements.
The government’s housing bill, which will be voted on this parliament, is expected to offer discounts worth up to £102,700 in London and £77,000 in the rest of England to people renting from housing associations who want to buy their homes. The policy would not apply in Scotland or Wales, where right to buy is being abolished.The government’s housing bill, which will be voted on this parliament, is expected to offer discounts worth up to £102,700 in London and £77,000 in the rest of England to people renting from housing associations who want to buy their homes. The policy would not apply in Scotland or Wales, where right to buy is being abolished.
The policy would be partly funded by requiring councils to sell the top third of their most valuable council homes from their remaining stock.The policy would be partly funded by requiring councils to sell the top third of their most valuable council homes from their remaining stock.
Related: Right-to-buy battle looms in LordsRelated: Right-to-buy battle looms in Lords
Khan, who has been Labour MP for Tooting since 2005, said the housing bill would, combined with the new lower benefits cap, “lead to the social cleansing of the capital”.Khan, who has been Labour MP for Tooting since 2005, said the housing bill would, combined with the new lower benefits cap, “lead to the social cleansing of the capital”.
“In many parts of London, there will be little provision of homes for modest rent which are so important for swaths of ordinary people who could never afford to buy or rent privately in those areas,” he said. “It will literally change the character of London’s communities.”“In many parts of London, there will be little provision of homes for modest rent which are so important for swaths of ordinary people who could never afford to buy or rent privately in those areas,” he said. “It will literally change the character of London’s communities.”
“Those of us who believe in social housing as a public good must do everything in our power to resist an ideological onslaught that puts more than half a million affordable homes to rent at risk in our magnificent city.”“Those of us who believe in social housing as a public good must do everything in our power to resist an ideological onslaught that puts more than half a million affordable homes to rent at risk in our magnificent city.”
Khan’s team calculated that, if each London borough was forced to sell off the top third of its most expensive stock, then approximately 135,462 council homes in London would be at risk. Adding this figure to the 438,291 housing association homes in London produces their 573,753 figure.Khan’s team calculated that, if each London borough was forced to sell off the top third of its most expensive stock, then approximately 135,462 council homes in London would be at risk. Adding this figure to the 438,291 housing association homes in London produces their 573,753 figure.
According to the research, the London boroughs set to lose the most homes are Lambeth (34,109), Southwark (32,026) and Tower Hamlets (37,674). In total 10 boroughs could each lose more than 20,000 affordable homes to rent.According to the research, the London boroughs set to lose the most homes are Lambeth (34,109), Southwark (32,026) and Tower Hamlets (37,674). In total 10 boroughs could each lose more than 20,000 affordable homes to rent.
Khan, a former communities minister, will put forward an amendment to the bill to protect the provision of social housing by making it the law that no council home or housing association property can be sold off under right to buy before a like-for-like replacement home has been built nearby first. An online petition backing the amendment has attracted more than 15,500 signatures.Khan, a former communities minister, will put forward an amendment to the bill to protect the provision of social housing by making it the law that no council home or housing association property can be sold off under right to buy before a like-for-like replacement home has been built nearby first. An online petition backing the amendment has attracted more than 15,500 signatures.
According to the housing charity Shelter, since December 2011 one social home has been build for every eight that have been sold off, though the Department for Communities and Local Government claims that local authorities are delivering one for one replacements under the reinvigoration of the Right to Buy scheme for council tenants in 2012. According to the housing charity Shelter, since December 2011 one social home has been built for every eight that have been sold off, though the Department for Communities and Local Government claims that local authorities are delivering one-for-one replacements under the reinvigoration of the right-to-buy scheme for council tenants in 2012.
Housing minister Brandon Lewis said that more council housing had been built since 2010 than in the previous 13 years. “However, it is important that councils make the best use of their assets and manage their housing stock as efficiently as possible,” he said. “So it is right that as high value council homes become empty they should be sold to fund new affordable housebuilding in the same area.”Housing minister Brandon Lewis said that more council housing had been built since 2010 than in the previous 13 years. “However, it is important that councils make the best use of their assets and manage their housing stock as efficiently as possible,” he said. “So it is right that as high value council homes become empty they should be sold to fund new affordable housebuilding in the same area.”
Related: Why the right to buy council homes is all wrongRelated: Why the right to buy council homes is all wrong
According to data from the ONS, the 15 least affordable areas for private renting in the UK are all London boroughs, with tenants in those such as Newham and Brent having to spend 65% of their pay for the average private flat.According to data from the ONS, the 15 least affordable areas for private renting in the UK are all London boroughs, with tenants in those such as Newham and Brent having to spend 65% of their pay for the average private flat.
House prices in the borough of Westminster are now 24 times local salaries, compared to 12 times in 2002. The boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham and Camden also have a house-price multiple above 20 times local incomes.House prices in the borough of Westminster are now 24 times local salaries, compared to 12 times in 2002. The boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham and Camden also have a house-price multiple above 20 times local incomes.
The leader of a flagship London Tory council, Westminster, told the Evening Standard last week that the extension of the right to buy scheme could strip the capital of “huge swaths of social housing”. Philippa Roe said associations were likely to use money from the sale of London homes to build a greater number of properties outside the capital. The Tory leader of Westminster council told the Evening Standard last week that the extension of the right to buy scheme could strip the capital of “huge swaths of social housing”. Philippa Roe said associations were likely to use money from the sale of London homes to build a greater number of properties outside the capital.