Policy for the future

1. Policy for the future Sarah Davis, CIH, July 2014

2. About today • Focus – future for social housing • Whole housing market –impacts on social housing • Current policies and issues arising • What do we want – shape of future policies • Indications of future policies • CIH’s work – what and why • What can we do

3. Current context

4. policies Austerity – continuing into next Parliament Public expenditure and welfare reducing HB still taking strain within constraints Use of guarantees, less grants Private and market solutions Home ownership still a major aim – inc. building up assets to tackle other public policy challenges Balance of demand and supply measures

5. Budget/ queen’s speech • Repayable fund to support small and medium developers • Repayable fund to support custom build • Ebbsfleet plus • Fund for regeneration – available to private developers • Cap on overall welfare spending • Changes to Section 106 • Locally led garden cities • Sale of high value govt land

6. Where we are now Numbers delivered: Private 109,370 completions 122,590 starts Help to buy almost 13,000 Affordable 42,830 (12/13) Social rent 17,580 Affordable rent 6,960

7. Impacts • Affordable rents impacts on poverty • Cost of living challenges: 46% from 2008 cpd 19% income • Changing population and costs • Asset based approaches to long term care and support

8. Election 2015

9. Direction of travel • Continued constraints on public spending: What and where? • Wider connections: not only housing policy, but welfare and economic policies

10. Your top 3 priorities for social housing?

11. The political context • Latest polling results – gap narrowing • Fighting election in post coalition environment • Different parties – different approach to policy formulation and consultation • Housing higher up agenda Consistently in top 10 for the year Opportunities and risks • Some agreements on challenges • Much less on solutions

12. Conservatives • Economy central plank – competency • ‘Hard working families’ • Further welfare reforms/ reductions • Focus on under 25s • Other groups?

13. Conservatives: housing • Housebuilding – planning/ stimulus for private development • Focus on numbers • Help to buy extension to 2020 • Further / ongoingguarantees • Private and market solutions • Funding to infrastructure rather than housing?

14. Lib Dems • Positioning as necessary partner • Building more homes – needs and welfare impacts • Security and standards in rental sector • Review of bedroom tax • Review of HRA borrowing – pooling rather than raising

15. Labour • Prepared to intervene where markets fail • Lyons commission – policies ready to deliver 200,000 homes pa w/in 5 years E.g. ‘use it or lose it’; new towns • No NPPF teaks but consistent methodology on needs assessment • Repeal bedroom tax

16. Labour PRS interventions: • 3 year tenancies • Rent formula • Ban on letting agency fees for signing tenancy

17. Challenges • Keeping housing central as election gets nearer • Manifestos and programme for government • Positioning with impacts for economy – part of the infrastructure • Housing crisis • With solutions

18. How to influence?

19. CIH ticking the box for housing • Influence pre election debate • Influence post election programme for government • Widespread understanding of positions • Member involvement in developing and promoting our positions • Discussions/ work with stakeholders

20. Policy positions: Key tests • Apply across whole housing market • Original, constructive and radical • Practical, deliverable and evidence based • Involve members; clearly understood by members and beyond

21. Addressing the supply crisis • Enough new homes built to meet need • All homes of good physical standard and environmentally sustainable • Supply takes account of our changing population and of local circumstances

22. Balancing affordability and welfare • A range of housing options available at different prices to cater for people with a range of incomes • Everyone is able to afford to live in a home and maintain a decent standard of living • The welfare system enables everyone to live in a home which is right for their needs

23. More than bricks and mortar • People are given the help that they need to find and sustain a suitable home • People are supported to live independent and healthy lives at home • People live in strong cohesive communities which enable them to achieve their full potential

24. Influencing and communicating Audiences Channels Ticking the box Collaboration – Homes for Britain Website – blogs, essays and polling Social media CIH member panel Conferences and events – Housing 2014 Regular liaison top 50 stakeholders • Members • Public opinion • Political parties • Key opinion formers • Senior decision makers

25. What can we do? • Your local priorities • Identifying key decision makers and targets • What opportunities you have locally Personally: What candidates are going to do: • To increase housebuilding locally? Nationally? • Tackle rent and house prices?

26. Campaigns/ activities • Tick the box for housing • SHOUTthe campaign for social housing Facebook and twitter @4socialhousing • Council homes chat Addressing the negative portrayal

27. Any questions? Sarah.davis@cih.org