Review Could Relax Requirements for Social Housing

The Government is considering lending publicly owned land to developers and relaxing council requirements for social housing in a bid to entice institutional investment in the private rented sector. The details are expected to be published in Adrian Montague's review – due in the next few weeks - of the barriers to investment in private rented homes. Under the plans, the Government and councils would loan developers and housing associations land they own with the state repaid once developments were sold to institutional investors such as pension funds.  Social housing requirements – through section 106s – would also be relaxed. Instead, an agreement would be in place that the rented homes could not be sold privately for a minimum period.  Through the Government's Affordable Rent programme - which charges higher rents for social housing - the Coalition has moved away from a higher capital grant regime in favour of supporting people through personal subsidy i.e. housing benefit.  Read more on 24dash.