The 2024 UK General Election is just around the corner, and housing remains a central issue for many voters. Each political party has laid out its vision for addressing the housing crisis, aiming to tackle everything from affordability and homeownership to energy efficiency and rental reforms. We’ve put together a concise guide to the housing policies proposed by the major parties to help you make an informed decision.
Conservative Party
Housing Supply
- Target: 1.6 million new homes in England over the next Parliament.
- Measures: Abolish EU nutrient neutrality rules, fast-track planning for urban brownfield sites, and support local builders by easing Section 106 burdens.
Homeownership
- Initiatives: Increase the Stamp Duty threshold for first-time buyers to £425,000 and introduce temporary Capital Gains Tax relief for landlords selling to existing tenants.
Energy Efficiency
- Investment: £6 billion over three years for home warmth improvements.
- Scheme: Energy efficiency vouchers for all households to install measures like solar panels.
Renters
- Reform: New tests for social housing allocation and a Renters Reform Bill to abolish Section 21 no-fault evictions, balanced by stronger grounds for landlords to evict tenants for anti-social behaviour.
Leasehold Reform
- Changes: Cap ground rents at £250, reduce to peppercorn, and make it easier to transition to commonhold.
Labour Party
Housing Supply
- Target: 1.5 million new homes over the next Parliament, including new towns.
- Measures: Update the National Policy Planning Framework, fund additional planning officers, and prioritise brownfield development.
Homeownership
- Initiatives: First-time buyers get priority on new homes and a mortgage guarantee scheme to help save for deposits.
Energy Efficiency
- Investment: £6.6 billion for home energy upgrades.
- Standards: Stricter energy efficiency standards for private rentals by 2030.
Renters
- Reform: Abolish Section 21 no-fault evictions, empower renters to challenge rent increases, and extend Awaab’s Law to the private sector.
Leasehold Reform
- Changes: Protect leaseholders from safety remediation costs and implement Law Commission proposals for leasehold enfranchisement.
Liberal Democrats
Housing Supply
- Target: 380,000 new homes a year, including 150,000 social homes.
- Measures: Create new garden cities, reform the Land Compensation Act, and properly fund local planning departments.
Homeownership
- Initiatives: Powers for local authorities to control second homes and short-term lets.
Energy Efficiency
- Programme: Home Energy Upgrade with free insulation and heat pumps for low-income households.
- Standards: Zero-carbon standard for all new buildings.
Renters
- Reform: Ban no-fault evictions, make three-year tenancies the default, and create a national register of licensed landlords.
Leasehold Reform
- Changes: Abolish residential leaseholds, cap ground rents, and remove dangerous cladding at no cost to leaseholders.
Green Party
Housing Supply
- Charter: Right Homes, Right Place, Right Price.
- Measures: Spread small developments, ensure new homes meet Passivhaus standards, and require extra investment in local services.
Energy Efficiency
- Investment: £42 billion over five years for home insulation and low-carbon heating systems.
- Programme: Local-authority-led street-by-street retrofitting.
Renters
- Target: 150,000 new social homes a year.
- Measures: Rent controls, end to no-fault evictions, and a tenants’ right to demand energy efficiency improvements.
Leasehold Reform
- Changes: Community right to buy and end to individual right to buy to keep social homes local.
Reform Party
Housing Supply
- Measures: Fast-track planning and tax incentives for brownfield development and innovation in construction.
Renters
- Reform: Reverse Section 24 tax changes for landlords and abolish the Renters Reform Bill, focusing instead on existing monitoring and enforcement processes.
Leasehold Reform
- Changes: Ensure transparency in leasehold charges and make it easier to extend leases and buy freeholds.
Conclusion
The upcoming UK General Election presents voters with a range of housing policies from various parties, each aiming to address different aspects of the housing crisis. Whether your priority is homeownership, rental reforms, energy efficiency, or leasehold changes, it’s important to consider these proposals and how they align with your needs and values. By understanding the key points of each party’s housing manifesto, you can make an informed choice that supports your vision for the future of housing in the UK.
