The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Council Housing has shared that they are calling for more evidence from the Council Housing sector (including, and importantly, tenants and residents), before publishing its report. Attached, you’ll find the original call for evidence from July, as well as a draft introduction for the LTF submission, by one of our member representatives.
About this call for evidence: The chair of the APPG, Matt Western, has explained that they ‘want to find out what impact decades-long underinvestment in council housing is having in local communities and identify the obstacles that are preventing councils from investing in new and existing council housing’.
QUESTIONS
- How important is council housing, in addressing local/general housing need?
- Does your area still have directly-owned council housing? If not, do you think new/acquired council homes are needed? Please say why.
- If your area has council housing, what condition is it in, what investment is needed, and what is stopping that investment?
- What is your experience of stock transfer, PFI, ALMO, SPVs or other alternative mechanisms to build and manage council (or former council) housing?
- What do you think we need to do to secure a new generation of good-quality council homes?
You are welcome to share your thoughts and responses, or ask any questions, by sending an email to sarah@londontenants.org. Deadline for sending evidence to be included in LTF response in Sunday, 3rd December 2023.
Whether or not you want to share your thoughts as part of our response, we encourage all council housing tenants and residents to submit a response. While the APPG report will not be policy, it may influence it. You can make a submission by emailing jamie.sweeney@parliament.uk. The deadline has been extended into the new year, but you should send in your statements as early as possible.
Download draft LTF response here
Download original call for evidence letter from MP Matt Western here