Affordable housing ‘should be biggest priority for politicians’ - survey

Published by Ross Macmillan for 24dash.com in Housing

The majority of people think affordable housing should be the biggest priority for politicians, a survey by Housing Voice reveals.

A total of 52% of people surveyed think affordable housing should be at the top of the political agenda with a further 33% saying it should be given at least the same importance as health and education.

Geoff Fimister, Social Policy Officer at Citizens Advice, said: “More than 1,000 people have taken part in the Housing Voice survey in our waiting rooms.

“What the results show is that more than 50% have had difficulty paying their rent or mortgage and 85% think it should be given a higher priority by politicians. “

Housing Voice – an alliance established to champion the need for affordable homes - has recently launched an inquiry into the affordable homes crisis.

It will hold events around the country to hear the “voices” of those who are struggling to secure affordable housing and gather evidence on the solutions to the current crisis.

Lord Larry Whitty, the Chair of Housing Voice and of the Inquiry, said: “We want to hear from individuals who can’t afford, or are struggling to afford, decent home as well as organizations with experience of trying to address these issues – everyone from homebuilders to tenants, trade unions to charities, local authorities and private businesses."

The Housing Voice independent inquiry will hold its second hearing in Manchester on Friday.

Lord Whitty said: “We know there is a huge affordability gap between average house prices, which at £157,500 across the North West, North East and Yorkshire are a huge eight times higher than average earnings. We also know new home delivery is well short of this region's growth in new households.

“With only 25,000 new homes built in 2010/2011 down from 50,000 in 2007/08 it is no surprise that the north has higher than the national average on council waiting lists (600,000 households). More worrying still is that latest statistics show just 2,700 affordable homes were completed in the north in the six months from April to September 2011 and only 12 were started.”

Mr Fimister added: “We have welcomed this independent initiative because unless the voices of ordinary people are raised Citizens Advice are fearful this vitally important issue will not get the attention from national politicians and policy makers that it needs and deserves.”