Anybody who has ever come canvassing in City and East (Tower Hamlets, Newham, Barking and Dagenham, and City of London) discovers one thing almost immediately: the acute shortage in housing and how this shortage affects almost every other aspect in these boroughs. Almost every resident raises housing. Whether it is a lack of social housing or unaffordable ‘affordable’ homes, we are suffering from a chronic shortage in housing. As Sadiq Khan has described it himself, this May’s mayoral elections will be a referendum on housing in our city. Before I describe what a Labour mayor and a Labour London assembly will do to address this chronic shortage, allow me to briefly summarise what a Tory mayor has been doing for the last eight years.
Boris Johnson inherited a housing crisis in 2008. As he steps down in two months, he is leaving a housing crisis. Each year, our city needs 49,000 new homes to meet the needs of our growing communities. First, Johnson’s annual City Hall target is 7,000 homes fewer than that need at 42,000. Second, in 2014-15 the mayor only built 18,260 homes, less than half of his own target. On top of this catastrophic failure, the mayor has asked developers for a measly percentage of affordable homes which leaves at least three-quarters of new homes as unaffordable. In a city where the median house now costs 12 times the median London income, that is totally unacceptable.
So how does this housing crisis play into other problems our city is facing? Let’s think about health for a second. Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity, has reported a range of health issues which arise directly from poor housing: ‘Children living in bad housing are more likely to suffer from poorer general health, respiratory health problems and asthma – with children living in private rented housing more likely to have poorer general health and wheezing problems … Working-age adults living in bad housing are disproportionately at greater risk of poorer general health, low mental wellbeing and respiratory problems including asthma and breathlessness.’ In City and East, we have large pockets of deprived neighbourhoods where poor housing and poor health are widespread. This is how poor housing and overcrowding can affect a child’s education and then, consequently, that child’s future prospects. If those future prospects are limited, that child is more likely to turn to crime. The consequences of one poor and overcrowded house on a child’s future are limitless. And not in a good way either.
So what is a Labour mayor with a Labour London assembly team promising 8.5 million Londoners to deal with the housing crisis? First, we will set up a new team at City Hall dedicated to fast-tracking the building of genuinely affordable homes to rent and buy. Second, we will set a target for 50 per cent of all new homes in London to be genuinely affordable, and use mayoral powers and land to stop ‘buy-to-leave’ and to give ‘first dibs’ to first-time buyers and local tenants. Third, we will ensure that every penny of City Hall’s affordable homes budget is utilised in a structured and expedient way as Johnson has failed to invest £40m. Fourth, we will bring forward more land owned by public bodies like Transport for London and use City Hall’s new homes team to develop that land. This will enable more homes to be built where they are needed, rather than where developers think they can make the most money. Fifth, we will create a new form of affordable housing, with rent based on a third of average local income, not market rates. A new form of tenure, more affordable, and giving Londoners the chance to save for a deposit. Sixth, we will establish a London-wide not-for-profit lettings agency to promote longer-term, stable tenancies for responsible tenants and good landlords across London. And finally, a Labour mayor and Labour GLA team will support the expansion of borough-wide landlord licensing schemes. The scheme in Newham has worked very well in improving housing standards and is continuously working to help tenants. If other councils think their residents will benefit from such schemes, we will support them.
As we edge closer to the election, it is important Londoners know what is at stake for them and their children. Do we want a repeat of the last eight years or do we want a mayor and GLA team made up of ordinary Londoners fighting for ordinary Londoners in City Hall?
———————————
Unmesh Desai is candidate for City and East on the London assembly. He tweets @UnmeshDesai
———————————
———————————
Join us campaigning for Sadiq Khan and Unmesh Desai this weekend and help London get a Labour mayor.
Sunday 6 March 2016
City and East: Campaigning with Unmesh Desai