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Boris Johnson housing pledge

ended 09. June 2022

“I know, as we're on the naughty step, let's make some housing policy announcement or other. That will move things on from the confidence vote and keep everyone happy. The public, forgive them their sins, are mad for bricks and mortar.” That, arguably, is the thought process of some party apparatchik inside Number 10, probably yesterday. And so, in Lancashire, Boris will today announce a major housing policy, which is likely to include an expansion of Right to Buy to include housing associations and may give people who are paying for rent via housing benefit extra support to secure mortgages from banks. We don't know the full details until the speech but by all means drop your thoughts down on what has been leaked so far, or wait until everything has been announced, Or, if you like, drop down some thoughts now and then edit later. We're easy.

6 responses from the Newspage community

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Edward Checkley
Managing Director at Advias
This policy would go against sensible lending practices, considering housing benefit is typically awarded to assist with rental payments if unemployed or on a low income and to households with less than £16,000 of savings. With the cost of living crisis already affecting lower-income households, how can saddling them with debt be responsible?
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Rhys Schofield
Brand Director at Peak Mortgages and Protection
As ever, we can expect the government to make some headline grabbing announcement but with no detail on how to get there. Therefore, brokers can expect six months of being asked questions about something they have no information about.
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Graham Cox
Director at Bridging Hub
This is the last desperate throw of the dice from our sorry excuse of a PM. It's like he's learnt nothing. Right to buy is a disaster. Local authorities have no incentive to replace sold off properties, knowing they'll be sold for a large discount a few years later. The result: increased homelessness, incredibly expensive and often poor quality private rental accommodation, and a skyrocketing housing benefit bill. Still, as long as it appeals to his core voter base.
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Paul Neal
Mortgages & Equity Release Advisor at First Choice Financial Services
Right to buy will never leave the government make to much money from it. The easiest way to help those wanting a mortgage is look at the costs of living, being down that and mortgages become more affordable it’s not rocket surgery.
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Joshua Gerstler
Chartered Financial Planner at The Orchard Practice
"I am very supportive of trying to increase home ownership. I believe it improves communities as people take more pride in their own home. However, I am against schemes that artificially inflate house prices as this makes it more expensive for everyone. If house prices need to be cheaper so that more people can afford to buy, let the market come to its natural price based on supply and demand. And I am against schemes that give one buyer an advantage over another."
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Joe Garner
Founder & Managing Director at Joe Garner Consulting
Better late than never! Extending Help to Buy is absolutely the right thing to do, whilst it should have been extended or replaced months ago, at least the right decision has been made eventually. It is imperative that we maintain an avenue for first time homebuyers to take that first step on the property ladder or subject them to years of rising unaffordable rents and a cycle of trying to save a deposit whilst meeting the rental payments which are invariably more expensive than mortgage payments. Help to Buy maintains demand for new build housing development which has the double edged benefit of continuing to regenerate and expand old, cold houses and frogotten brownfield sites.