Lib Dems urged to reject social homes sell off

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government, Communities, Local Government

Controversial proposals to sell off higher value social homes looks set to split the Coalition as the Liberal Democrats will be formally asked to reject the idea on Wednesday at the Party’s annual conference.

Liberal Democrats in Southwark – angered by the Labour council’s support for the policy – have secured the motion, backed by deputy leader Simon Hughes, which slams the recent Policy Exchange report which put forward the proposals.

David Cameron’s favourite think tank wants a mandatory obligation on councils and housing associations to sell off the 22% of social homes – 816,000 properties – above the median value in their areas when they become vacant (some 28,500) a year. The sales could fund up to 170,000 new homes a year with the £4.5bn raised, it says. This, it argues, could reduce waiting lists by between 250,000 to 600,000 households in five years.

However, opponents argue such a move would concentrate social housing in cheaper areas, breaking up mixed communities.

The paper drew a lukewarm response from No 10 – but the former housing minister Grant Shapps said it was “blindingly obvious” that local authorities should seek to sell properties worth “millions” in order to use their resources “more efficiently”.

The amendment will be debated as part of the wider motion proposed by the party’s Housing Working Group after being given the green light by conference organisers. It calls on Lib Dem ministers to press the Government to “reaffirm its preference for mixed communities comprising social and private housing”.

Lib Dem politicians from around the country will now be asked to support the motion, which will be debated on Wednesday in the main conference hall – shortly before the closing speech by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg.

Chair of Bermondsey & Old Southwark Liberal Democrats Dr Ben Johnson said: “People in Southwark don’t want our council homes to be sold off to the highest bidder when there is such a high level of need in the borough for a decent, affordable home.

“These policies amount to social segregation of the worst kind.  We are shocked that the Labour leader of Southwark council supports the sale of potentially thousands of council homes in wealthy areas.  We think that’s wrong, and we will be asking Lib Dem MPs and ministers to back us on the issue.”