Chancellor outlines Labour’s housing vision and hints at no-fault eviction ban

The Chancellor has unveiled mandatory housebuilding targets and hinted at Labour’s upcoming plans for the private rented sector.

In her first speech as Chancellor, Rachel Reeves announced a reform of the planning system and reiterated Labour’s pledge to ban no-fault evictions.

Ms Reeves also confirmed she will set a date for the Autumn Budget before the summer recess.

1.5 million homes target

The Chancellor revealed plans to build 1.5 million homes in the next five years, including ones for social rent. To hit this target, the government needs to build 300,000 homes a year.

An ITV reporter asked Ms Reeves about Labour’s ambitious housing targets, pointing out it hasn’t been seen in the UK since the 1950s.

The Chancellor says 14,000 new homes will be spread across England and stressed the need to ramp up construction.

She said: “We can’t build overnight, but that’s why we have set out today the initial steps that we are going to take to unlock private sector investments to build those homes.”

Labour hints at plans for the private rented sector and social housing

When asked by Channel 4 News about Labour’s social housing plan, the Chancellor stressed the importance of social housing and pledged to ban no-fault evictions.

She said: “Affordable housing, including social rent, is a key part of our goal to build 1.5 million homes.

“For those in the private rented sector, we are also going to reform the rules around that so that we will finally get rid of no-fault evictions to help those who are not fortunate enough to own their own home or have access to social housing.”

In response to a question from The Guardian about energy efficiency targets for social housing, Ms Reeves mentioned that more details would be announced by Energy and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner in due course.

The answer cannot always be no

The Chancellor also criticised “the red tape that has stalled too many projects” and promised to reform the national planning policy framework to deliver infrastructure.

The Chancellor confirmed that Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner will write to local councils and planning authorities to review green belt boundaries to meet housing targets.

Ms Reeves gave more details on Labour’s plan: “First of all, it will still be in the first instance up to local communities and local authorities to decide where housing is built.

“But we will bring back those mandatory housing targets so the answer cannot always be no. It will be up to local communities to decide where the housing is built but it has to be built.”

Nathan Emerson, chief executive officer of Propertymark says more detail is needed on how the plans will work in practice.

He said: “Fine details about reform to the National Policy Planning Framework must be mapped out and open to full stakeholder scrutiny.

“It’s crucial there is transparency on how they intend to meet their ambitious target of building 1.5 million new homes by the end of its term in government, which in reality would mean having a large housing estate built every day before the next general election.

“Whilst we support more homes being constructed, there needs to be careful consideration on background infrastructure to ensure we are making the best use of available land, ideally prioritising a brownfield-first approach.”

Will apply to local authorities

Ms Reeves was also asked about leaseholders and whether the party would hold Labour councils, who are freeholders of council flats, to the same rules as private freeholders.

She said: “Yes of course that will apply for local authorities as much as it does for private sector landlords.”

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