Nationwide Foundation Calls on New Government to Reform UK’s Housing System
With a new government in Westminster, the Nationwide Foundation is calling for bold action to tackle the nation’s housing crisis. The charitable foundation, dedicated to funding groundbreaking research, innovation, and campaigning in housing, is challenging the new Government to end decades of piecemeal housing policies and create a long-term strategy to increase the supply of genuinely affordable homes, transform the private rented sector, support community-led housing, and ensure health promotion is central to housing policy.
According to the foundation, a decent and affordable home is the foundation for life, work, and wellbeing, but housing data consistently reveals the devastating realities faced by millions of people across the UK. More than 130,000 children live in temporary accommodation, one in five privately rented homes in the UK fall short of basic safety and decency standards, and one in 182 people are now homeless.
To address these issues, the Nationwide Foundation has released a document titled “Decent and affordable homes for all: five proposals for a fairer housing system,” outlining five proposals for the new government. These recommendations, developed through decades of research and experience, have the collective potential to overhaul the current failing system.
The five proposals include reimagining the housing system with a long-term vision, increasing the supply of genuinely affordable homes, transforming the private rented sector to better protect tenants, supporting the growth of community-led housing to diversify the housing market and deliver more homes at affordable prices, and placing tackling health inequalities at the heart of housing policy.
The document also contains further tactical solutions for the government to consider, such as supporting the conversion of private rented sector properties to social or genuinely affordable rented homes and replacing ‘affordable rent’ with income-linked ‘living rent.’
Kate Markey, the Nationwide Foundation’s CEO, said, “Millions of people are living in unsafe, insecure, unaffordable homes – or in some cases without a home at all. This impacts childhoods and family life, our communities, and the wider economy. Successive UK governments have failed to address issues within the housing systemically, leaving the UK housing sector in crisis. It’s now time for bold, systemic action and urgent change; there is no time to waste.”
The Nationwide Foundation is urging the new government and all political parties to collaborate in establishing a long-term strategy for housing. This vision is also at the core of the ‘Homes for All’ campaign, launched by the Nationwide Foundation in April this year, alongside the Church of England. Supported by over 30 housing organizations, including the National Housing Federation, the Chartered Institute for Housing, and Crisis, ‘Homes for All’ aims to create a safe, secure, affordable, and quality place for everyone to live.
The document covers all three of the Nationwide Foundation’s program areas: backing community-led housing, nurturing ideas to change the housing system, and transforming the private rented sector. More information about the Nationwide Foundation and the ‘Homes for All’ campaign can be found on their respective websites.
Contact:
Amy Kuczynski (Communications Manager, Nationwide Foundation) – amy.kuczynski@nationwidefoundation.org.uk – 07385 110245
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.