Hounslow and Housing Policies

In the Hounslow Green Party we push for particular housing outcomes but we have to be aware where we are starting from. Is it possible to get from where we are to where we would like to be? Does local government have the power to move us to where we want to be or does this have to rely on central government and / or wider societal change?

Starting from where we are, we have a deeply flawed system:

  1. To buy a property in Hounslow is a large multiplier (about ten) of average salaries
  2. Market rent can be in the region of £2,000 /month for a typical home
  3. So called “affordable” can be £1,600 / month (80% of market rent) for a typical home which is not affordable for many
  4. Support is available for housing to £1,600 / month for a typical home (Housing Living Allowance) if eligible
  5. Social rent for typical council home at £600 / month if eligible and available
  6. There is not enough social rent / council housing available for all those that are eligible so there is a long waiting list
  7. Not enough people qualify for Housing Living Allowance so many are paying more than 30% of household take home pay on rent
  8. While council homes have been added to the stock in the last decade, as many have been sold with right to buy and demolished. Net no increase at all.

Hounslow Labour had two big promises for their current term 2022 to 2026:

  1. Build 1,000 more council homes
  2. Buy 1,000 social rent homes

This is along with a commitment in the London Plan to build over 7,000 homes in the borough of Hounslow in the same period.

While the overall target for building homes may be met, neither the council commitments for building or buying homes look like they will be met. And the buying social rent homes council commitment has been changed into Housing Living Allowance homes – not the same thing at all.

While the Hounslow Green Party do not have much power to influence things we campaign for:

  1. Support the Labour original proposal to build and buy 2,000 council homes
  2. Oppose Right to Buy
  3. Support refurbishment of buildings rather than demolish and rebuild
  4. Address empty homes
  5. Support a lower overall building target of 3,000 new homes over 2022 to 2026 as per the Hounslow Local Plan (2015) due to building’s carbon footprint
  6. Address under occupancy of housing as much as over occupation
  7. Keep home rent to 30% of household income

Tony Firkins
8 May 2025

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