The London School of Economics (LSE) in partnership with the Family Building Society have commissioned a report which examines the current state of housing policy in the UK, and calls on the Government to introduce integrated housing strategy.
According to the report, the housing crisis has been brought about by a failure of Governments to create a coherent strategy for the sector.
The report states that no assessment of the overall impact of proposed policy changes are usually considered by Government, which may lead, among many other things, to unintended consequences of less funding for new homes and more landlords leaving the buy-to-let sector.
LSE’s Christine Whitehead, Emeritus professor of housing economics, said: “If things are to improve housing policy must be far more strategic and more robust in the face of economic change.”
“Although this will be extremely difficult to achieve it must be attempted if housing is to get out of the current mess.”
Professor Tony Crook, Emeritus professor of town & regional planning at the University of Sheffield, added: “It is equally important to get some consistency between national policy on housing and regional and local policy on planning and land supply.
“Something that has not been easy but must be done better.”
This report is the first of a number that will be published in 2023, each offering solutions in areas of housing policy that can be improved and providing a coherent approach.
The report highlights broad areas of concern and as well as specific aspects of policy.
Some of the areas highlighted include: the way housing fundamentals of supply and demand operate and a concentration on new homes and a failure to implement measures to optimise the use of the existing housing stock.
Ben Everitt MP, chair of the housing market and housing delivery all party group, said: “There is an enormous housing problem to solve, and successive Governments, of all colours, have not got it right.
“It is complex, as this report shows. We are unravelling the different strands and the next stages are to develop policies that work in harmony. My APPG is a positive part of that effort.”
Mark Bogard, Family Building Society chief executive, concluded: “This report shows there needs to be a complete policy rethink if we are to build a world where not only can young people get on to the housing ladder, working, growing families can move and where older people are encouraged to downsize”.
