1st
Nov 2022
November 17th’s Autumn Budget could help fund private tenants which Gove the latest incumbent Housing Secretary implied in a recent TV interview.
During BBC TV’s interview, Gove told Laura Kuennsburg: “We know people in the private and social rented sectors are facing tough times. We’re looking to help them with targeted support for people who are in difficulties.”
However he failed to back this as a firm ‘given’ when he stated this decision is up to Jeremy Hunt to decide upon in his budget, but he did say that help for PRS renters who could be having to contend with rent increases is one of many proposals “on the table” for the Chancellor to ‘mull’ over’.
He said: “It is the government’s job to do everything it can to help people through difficult times."
Kuennsberg questioned Gove on his thoughts about the conditions of PRS ‘residences’ and the rather dire record of council’s naming and shaming rogue landlords on the government’s public database, as well as the low number court cases. He repeated the government’s past pledges of regulating the Decent Homes Standard included in the Renters Reform Bill although he failed to confirm any timescale for when the Bill would be passed.
Michael Gove did tell viewers the former Conservative government’s manifesto pledge of building 300,000 homes a year target will be followed , but held his hands up to the fact so far the number of newbuilds per year have not come anywhere near the target.
He also contradicted Lee Rowley’s statement (the junior housing minister during Truss’ reign) that the ‘top down’ housebuild targets would be scrapped but in spite of this Rowley remains in post under Rishi Sunak’s government.
When Gove stated the 300,000 newbuild target was reinstated he warned achieving it would be far from easy due to the difficult economic situation.
He said: "We need to be straight with people: the cost of materials has increased because of the problems with global supply chains and also a very tight labour market means that the capacity to build those homes at the rate we want is constrained.”
When asked about the previous PM’s past statements on housing targets, Gove said: “The top-down housing targets that… Liz was referring to are part of a broader and different calculation from the 300,000 in the manifesto. My view is that what we do need is a fair way of allocating housing need that takes account of changes in population.”
Richard Merrick of PIMS,said: “ The government apparent commitment for 300,000 newbuild homes a year is somewhat ‘pie in the sky’ as I have far more faith in Gove’s caveat of the target being ‘affected’ by economic circumstances.”
Richard adds:” Another factor that will also affect the supposed target is plans are being considered of stopping construction firms whilst developing housing sites from requesting permission to build on new sites in the same areas, because of the authorities’ ridiculous level and time of regulated ‘red tape’ procedures before permission is granted.”
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