Columnist

We must act now to provide a home for all

600,000 people in the North East – 21 per cent of the population, and 30 per cent of children – are pushed into poverty after paying their housing costs, according to new research from the Northern Housing Consortium. 

The situation is made worse by higher-than-average numbers of people in the lowest income bracket living in the private rented sector.

In the North East, 24 per cent of people in the lowest income bracket live in the private rented sector, compared to an average of 18 per cent in England.

Those living in private rented homes pay more per week than people living in other tenures and are more likely to live in a worse quality home.

In the North East, 16 per cent of private rented sector homes do not meet decent homes standards.

The recent decision by the Government to refreeze Local Housing Allowance will see a further increase in poverty faced by those on lowest incomes in the private rented sector, as their housing benefits will not keep pace with rising rents.

To make sure everyone in the North has access to a good quality affordable home, the Government must:

• Announce a new long-term affordable homes programme, with social housing as the main tenure

• Unlock up to 320,000 homes in the North through a ten-year £4.2 billion programme to remediate all the North’s brownfield land

• Inject funds and regulate to rapidly improve the quality of all rented homes in the North

It’s clear housing costs are pushing people in the North East into poverty, and that thousands are struggling to afford their living costs.

There is a lack of social housing and, as a result, household budgets are squeezed and people are often forced to live in poor quality and insecure housing in the private rented sector.

The impact on the mental and physical health of those affected cannot be underestimated.

This situation is the result of successive housing policies and now we are calling on the Government to work together with the housing sector to put things right.

We’ve been pleased to see the new Government is prioritising housing, but more needs to be done.

It is vital action is taken to make sure everyone in the North has access to a good quality and safe home.

Tracy Harrison is chief executive of the Northern Housing Consortium 

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