Shelter responds to Liberal Democrats Manifesto commitments on housing

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “In every part of this country the housing emergency is ruining lives, so we're pleased to see a commitment to tackling the crisis and building social homes in the Liberal Democrat’s manifesto. 

“Successive government failure to build genuinely affordable social homes has resulted in rocketing rents, rising evictions and record homelessness. In the last decade alone, we’ve lost more than a quarter of a million social homes, so we welcome the Liberal Democrat’s ambition to build 150,000 a year. Building social homes with rents tied to local incomes is the only way to solve homelessness. But we also need robust reform for private renting to make it secure and affordable.  

“Decisive action to address the housing emergency is long overdue. All political parties should commit to building genuinely affordable social homes - we need at least 90,000 a year for ten years to clear waiting lists and eradicate homelessness.” 

ENDS