Tim Farron attacks Government’s Housing Reforms

Last night Tim Farron gave a passionate attack against the Government’s housing reforms, saying:

“If we believe that aspiration is right and that the right to own one’s home is good and something to work towards, we should be allowing a like-for-like replacement of homes sold off in advance. If we want to destroy social housing, we should do what the Government are doing.”

Sign our petition against the sell-off of affordable homes:

http://change.libdems.org.uk/housing

You can read Tim’s full speech here – http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm160112/debtext/160112-0004.htm

‘Help to Rent’ scheme getting young workers a home

The Liberal Democrats announced plans today for a new Help to Rent scheme targeting support at young working adults who still live with their parents but want to move out and rent their own place.

Research shows that around two million young working adults – sometimes dubbed the ‘boomerang generation’ or ‘clipped wing generation’ – still live with their parents despite being in paid work. Rising rental costs mean they can’t afford the cash needed for a tenancy deposit or the one-to-two month’s rent expected in advance by some landlords unless they have financial help from their parents or friends. The knock-on effect of having young working adults in the family home can also lead to parents having to upsize or delay the downsizing of family homes to accommodate older children, thereby reducing the availability of family homes.

Under the ‘Help to Rent’ scheme, young working people in England will be able to borrow up to £1,500 (£2,000 in London) from the Government to go towards their tenancy deposit. To be eligible, tenants would need to be between 18-30 years old, in paid employment and not be home owners or seeking social housing tenancy. Loans could be paid over one or two years and once paid off, could be used for future rental properties.

Launching the innovative Help to Rent scheme, Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg said:

“Increasingly we see young people stuck in the family home as they can’t afford the upfront costs of a deposit to rent a property despite having a paid job.

“It’s simply unfair that thousands of hard-working young people still have to live in the same bedroom they lived in when children.

“When you get your own job, you want to stand on your own two feet, have your own space, and not have to rely on the bank of mum and dad.

“Our Help to Rent scheme removes this barrier to young people’s independence, providing access to up to £2,000 towards their tenancy deposit so they can fly the nest and rent their own space.”

Help to Rent adds to the suite of Liberal Democrat housing proposals aimed at young people, including a ‘Rent to Own’ scheme to help first-time buyers get on the property ladder by renting their way to ownership, and proposals to build 300,000 new homes a year.

Overcrowded housing reveals Labour’s failure

Commenting on today’s report by Lloyds TSB Insurance which reveals the number of families living in overcrowded homes has hit a record high, Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister, Sarah Teather said: “The news that a record number of families are trapped in overcrowded housing is yet more devastating evidence of Labour’s failure on social housing.

“We urgently need to build new family-sized homes, and get a grip on the number of properties sitting empty and unused.”

Shelter report highlights Labour failure on housing

“Housing costs are making the elderly more isolated and keeping families apart,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister.

Commenting on today’s report by Shelter, which reveals the impact unaffordable housing is having on families, Sarah Teather said:

“This report highlights Labour’s failure to provide affordable housing and get a grip on the housing crisis.

“It is appalling that housing costs are making the elderly more isolated and keeping families apart.

“Allowing thousands of houses across the country to sit empty is nothing short of a scandal. The cost of bringing these homes back into use is just a fraction of the cost of building, yet the Government is sitting idly by while they fall into disrepair.”

Bring empty homes back into use

The Liberal Democrats today set out plans to bring a quarter of a million empty homes back into use, making homes available for people who need them and creating 65,000 jobs. There are over 760,000 empty properties across England which are no longer used as homes but can be brought back into use with some investment. People who own these homes will get a grant or a cheap loan to renovate them so they can be used: grants if the home is for social housing, loans for private use.

The plans form part of the economic stimulus package outlined as a core principle of the Liberal Democrat election manifesto. In the first year of the new Parliament, the party would redirect over £3.6bn of spending to create jobs and build up Britain’s infrastructure. In the following years this money will be redirected to other Lib Dem spending priorities and reducing the structural deficit.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg today launched the plans with Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable and Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister, Sarah Teather. Visiting the College of North West London, they met students on construction and engineering courses who would benefit from these new plans.

Commenting, Nick Clegg said: “Allowing thousands of houses to sit empty when millions of families have been waiting years for a home is nothing short of a scandal. These plans are a clear example of where Liberal Democrat priorities lie: creating jobs and providing more family homes.

“The cost of bringing these homes back into use is just a fraction of the cost of building new ones, yet the Government is sitting idly by while they fall into disrepair.

“This is one element of our economic stimulus package that will generate jobs and help Britain on its way to building a fair, sustainable economy.”