Landlords should be put on notice that they must bring their properties up to a decent standard or have these homes banned from the market by 2025.
This is one of a number of proposals put forward today in a new report on the London market.
The report says that all boroughs should be allowed to set up their own licensing schemes, and be able to use the fees to increase enforcement activity.
The London Housing Commission, which issued the report, argues that London needs a “radical devolution” deal if it is to solve its housing crisis.
In return for greater powers over borrowing, property taxes and planning, the Mayor and boroughs would have to make a joint commitment to deliver significantly higher numbers of new homes.”
The report says that London should be able to retain a substantial portion of Stamp Duty Land Tax money, to fund the building of new homes.
Lord Kerslake, chairman of the London Housing Commission, said: “London is facing a housing crisis of unprecedented proportions brought about by a chronic under-supply of new housing. It needs urgently to be building far more houses of all types and tenures.”
Jeremy Blackburn, head of policy at the RICS, said: “There is no doubt that London faces a housing crisis. As we have always said, the solution relies on all parts of the housing sector ‘firing on all cylinders’ to deliver all kinds of new homes from Government-funded social housing to private new builds.
“Critically, new and replacement social homes must have protection from Right to Buy in London.”
He added: “Though we agree with the London Housing Commission that poor quality homes and rogue landlords need to be addressed, the introduction of individual licensing schemes for each borough would place additional regulatory burdens on landlords and local authorities.
“They would also penalise those that are providing a good service, creating a fractured regulatory framework and hindering institutional investment in the private rented sector.”
Lord Kerslake, chairman of the London Housing Commission, said: “London is facing a housing crisis of unprecedented proportions brought about by a chronic under-supply of new housing. It needs urgently to be building far more houses of all types and tenures
So what’s the answer? License landlords. That should sort it all out . AAAAH
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More political rubbish and self interest from the London Housing Commission. The Government has been architects of the housing failure due to massive migration causing significant surplus demand which has not been able to be kept up with. The right to buy scheme could have been a massive driver for the development of more social housing if ALL income from right to buy had been directed into new build social housing and the right to buy had only a small discount of say no more than 10 -12%. In fact using public brownfield sites they could have probably built 1.5-2 new units for each one sold.
Licensing is NOT the answer, the last time I looked at income raised by an east London Council against the number of enforcement actions meant each action cost circa £30,000. If there were sufficient new build social housing it would firstly drive down rents using market forces and also drive up housing standards. It is the mere pressure caused by Government of allowing excess demand (without increasing supply of social housing) that has driven down standards and forced many to rent sub standard accommodation. The overwhelming majority of landlords are not rogues but where you allow excess demand there will always be the “Black Marketeers” that will take advantage and make hay whilst the sun shines on them. Adding costs by all this extra “Blue Tape (was red tape until Cameron got in)” will drive up rents for a small improvement in standards. However, emptying beds in sheds, overcrowding and the like does not PROVIDE THE MUCH NEEDED new social accommodation and indeed will drive investment away whilst pushing more people onto the street.
It is time for common sense NOT MORE schemes that will not solve the root cause of the problems. Stay in the EU and taking in ever increasing migrants will make matters worse unless Government can signifcantly invest in new social housing WHICH THEY CAN’T! At least the RICS seems to make some sense.
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