Lord Adebowale – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Adebowale on 2015-10-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the statement by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 12 October (HL Deb, cols 36–40) on the right to buy, whether (1) there will be a timeframe within which housing associations are expected to build extra homes, and (2) there will be a minimum guarantee of rented accommodation built to support individuals suffering from ongoing health issues.

Baroness Williams of Trafford

The National Housing Federation voluntary agreement states that housing associations and the Government share a mutual objective to ensure that replacement homes are delivered as quickly as possible.

Whilst aiming for replacement within two years, the default position is that housing associations will have flexibility to replace homes within a three year period. The Housing and Planning Bill will also seek to introduce clauses that will speed up the planning system so that new homes can be delivered quicker.

Under the agreement, housing associations may exercise discretion not to sell properties provided through supported housing as defined by Part V of the Housing Act 1985.