Joint research by Zoopla and Ipsos has revealed that just a quarter of voters agree with the statement that ‘the political parties pay a lot of attention to housing’.
According to the research, which investigated voters’ housing priorities for an incoming Government, 50% disagreed with the statement that ‘there isn’t much Governments can do to encourage the building of new homes’.
A fifth (21%) strongly disagreed, demonstrating a belief that Governments can make a positive difference to rates of home-building.
The main political party manifestos target 300,000 or more homes a year in England, but this has not been reached for over 40 years, but the numbers have been increasing.
In 2023, home building – measured by net additions to supply – fell 65,000 homes short of the 300,000 mark.
Public opinion was divided about how to fund the building of more affordable housing.
Just over two-fifths (41%) supported the idea that increased Government borrowing should be used to fund this.
However, only 26% were willing to see taxes rise to pay for this, raising the question of how and who should support the funding of future home building at a time when the costs of building have been rising but house prices have stalled.
Voters also cared about homelessness and rough sleeping, which ranked as the second priority for the next Government, chosen by 41%.
This was followed by 39% who selected a reduction in the number of empty homes.
The highest priority for the rental market was managing the pace of rental growth in the private sector which was chosen by 33%.
This was followed by giving renters in the private rented sector (PRS) more rights, for example in relation to evictions and rent rises (21%).
Support for first-time buyers featured joint fourth in the list of priorities at 33%, despite this group being the focus of several housing pledges by political parties.
Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said: “British voters have high expectations from a new Government on housing. The overarching response is ‘build more homes, but other things matter too’.
“People’s experiences and priorities vary based on their position in the market.
“Renters want more focus on their priorities including raising housing benefit levels and managing the pace of rental growth, while also improving rights and protections.
“Rent reforms are on the agenda for all parties but managing rental inflation is best achieved by growing supply through new home building as measures to control rents can reduce new investment.”
He continued: “It is clear voters are well aware of the pressures on the housing market with reducing homelessness and rough sleeping and doing more to reduce empty and under-utilised homes in the top three priorities.
“Building more homes has the potential to start addressing many of the priorities identified in our survey with Ipsos.
“We have been getting closer to the 300,000 homes a year level but breaking through will require need a big political push to deliver the homes the nation needs across all housing tenures.”
Ben Marshall, research director at Ipsos, added: “Our survey with Zoopla provides the public’s perspective on the next Government’s housing in-tray and how full it is!
“Expanding Britain’s housing supply is among top priorities, as is more efficient use of existing stock and tackling homelessness.
“This is driven by deeply-held worries – most people think finding a home to settle down in has become harder (something the Prime Minister recognised earlier in the election campaign) and that we are not keeping up with meeting the country’s housing needs.
“But the survey also finds a sense that the governments can affect change and facilitate an increase in the supply of new homes.”
