Eastbourne Labour Party Eastbourne Labour Party
There is a huge short fall of affordable housing in Eastbourne. 2017 figures show 808 people were on the council housing waiting list but only 50 affordable houses were built.
Low income families are suffering from the failure of successive governments to build enough social housing and unscrupulous landlords are taking advantage by renting out poor housing for profit. 1.4 million households are now living in rented accommodation. Analysis of official figures shows that 90% of those on low incomes in England are being put at risk by harmful living conditions such as mould, overcrowding, poor heating, no hot water and outstanding repairs. On top of the unacceptable living conditions, they are being pushed further into poverty and possible eviction by rents they cannot afford:-
- Nearly 30% are living in non-decent homes
- 10% are living in overcrowded properties
- 85% are in “after housing cost poverty
With few routes out, people are trapped where they would once have had the chance of moving into council homes at genuinely affordable rents.
Labour believes in SECURE HOMES FOR ALL. “Home is at the heart of all of our lives. It’s the foundation on which we raise our families, the bedrock for our dreams and aspirations. But for too many people, the housing pressures they face are getting worse not better. Britain has a housing crisis – a crisis of supply and a crisis of affordability” (Labour Party Manifesto 2017).
Labour in government will end insecurity for private renters by introducing:-
- Controls on rent rises e.g. a national cap on rent rises
- More secure tenancies e.g. new three-year tenancies will be the norm
- Landlord licensing
- New consumer rights for renters e.g. empowering tenants to call time on bad landlords if their rented homes are sub-standard.
- Ban letting agency fees for tenants
- introduce new legal minimum standards to ensure properties are fit for human habitation
https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/labour-manifesto-2017.pdf