Labour councillors condemn right-wing think tank's social housing sell-off plans

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Local Government

Labour councillors in Westminster have condemned a right-wing think tank report that recommends selling off social housing.

Councillors claim that the selling off of properties in expensive areas - as recommended by the Policy Exchange report - could lead to the loss of 12,000 Westminster council homes.

The think-tank's report advises selling off social housing as it becomes vacant, a move it claims will create funds that could be used to build "80,000-170,000" new social homes a year.

The Labour councillors say that the clearance of social rented homes from the centre of London will deprive thousands of hard working local families of a decent home.

They also claim that such a move will hit the West End economy by forcing many low-paid workers in West End business and services to either leave their jobs or commute long distances to get to work.

The councillors have said that Westminster City Council has already sold 9,135 (45%) of its 21,243 council flats under the Right to Buy legislation and through Shirley Porter’s illegal ‘Designated Sales’ policies of the 1980s and 1990s.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group, said: "The sale of over 9,000 Westminster Council flats over the past 30 years is directly responsible for the current housing crisis so what makes the Policy Exchange think that selling another 12,000 council flats is going to make things easier for Westminster residents in housing need?

"On the contrary, these proposals will make life more difficult for thousands of hard working West End families and will simply hand over property and profits to buy-to-let landlords. West End businesses will lose out, too, as more of their lower paid staff will find it more difficult to find somewhere to live near their work at a price they can afford.

"We need a massive building programme of new homes at social rents right across London and an end to the current sell-off of more council property. Westminster's housing stock of homes for those on low incomes has been almost halved over the last 30 years. And now the Conservatives want to sell off what is left! No wonder there is a housing crisis of epic proportions. The sooner this Government is booted out the better."