Labour Party Conference: Key takeaways on housing
NRLA Campaigns and Policy Director, Chris Norris was at the Labour Party Conference this week, with housing issues taking centre stage. He reflects on the key conversations and the major themes emerging from the new government.
When I first attended a Labour Party Conference, Tony Blair was Prime Minister, and the anthem of the time was that 'things could only get better'. In some ways, Keir Starmer’s Labour echoes those more centrist years.
The mood at this year’s conference seemed to be less about immediate optimism, as one might expect from a new government, but more about tempered expectations; marked more by realism than euphoria.
For all the celebration, there was also a strong acknowledgment of the challenges ahead.
A focus on social housing
While there was overwhelming interest in the housing sector, and fringe events featuring key figures including Secretary of State, Angela Rayner, and Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook were significantly oversubscribed, the spotlight this year was mostly on social housing.
Angela Rayner made Labour’s position on housing crystal clear: social housing is the key to solving the housing crisis, reinforcing the party's preference for public sector solutions over the private rented sector.
While there’s no doubt that Labour sees investment in social housing as key, the practicalities of financing and delivering it remain a challenge.
At an event hosted by Paragon Bank and the Social Market Foundation, Nigel Terrington, CEO of Paragon Mortgages highlighted the immense costs involved, pointing out that replacing just one percent of the private rented sector (PRS) with social housing would cost an estimated £16 billion.
A daunting figure, especially in today’s economic climate.
The continuing role of the PRS
While the PRS formed part of discussions, there were no major new announcements on housing, likely because the Renters’ Rights Bill has only recently entered Parliament.
The Secretary of State did, however, reference the Bill in her speech, reiterating the Government’s commitment to ending of section 21 'for good'. The forthcoming ban was also mentioned by the Prime Minister in his speech, gaining a standing ovation.
Nevertheless, despite Labour’s strong focus on social housing, there was an acknowledgment, particularly among newer MPs, that private landlords play a crucial role in the housing market, with a growing recognition that the PRS is essential for meeting the country’s housing needs.
There also seems to be an understanding that rent controls are not a solution, and that increasing housing supply is the priority. While social housing is likely to be the focus, there seem to be no concrete solutions on how it should be financed.
The path ahead for housing
Away from the conference floor is where delegates can usually get a better understanding of where politicians and ministers really stand and a feel for the mood of the party on certain issues. This is where the value of attending conference as an organisation is found.
It tends to be at fringe meetings, in corridors, increasingly in queues and stairwells that policy makers are more likely to speak off the record. It’s also where you learn what the rest of the party thinks, from ordinary delegates, through council members, and this year lots of newly elected backbench MPs.
Labour may be placing its bets on social housing, but as this year's conference made clear, there is still room for dialogue. The NRLA and private landlords have a role to play in shaping the future of housing policy, particularly as new MPs and backbenchers express a more nuanced understanding of the value of the PRS.
More information
- Our Renters' Rights Bill hub is your comprehensive resource for navigating reforms proposed under the new Bill.
- The NRLA's annual Landlord Conference, being held on November 6 will offer a unique opportunity for property professionals to find out more about the Bill - and the changes we can expect to see from the new government - from expert industry speakers. Tickets for the event, which will be held at Birmingham's NEC, are selling fast, so to find out more and book your place, click here.
