Lords Starter Homes Amendments Give Government Headache

The report stage in the House of Lords saw peers strike several blows to government policy on Starter Homes. Two amendments, one and eight, were passed by the Lords as they looked to safeguard affordable housing against starter homes. Amendment one, passed with a 275-181 vote, was regarding the starter homes discount taper being 20 years instead of the government proposed eight. The second, amendment eight led by Lord Kerslake, seeks to allow local authorities to have discretion on starter homes numbers. Read more on 24dash.

MPs Reject Move To Help First Time Buyers

MPs have rejected an attempt to restrict a proportion of newly built homes to first time buyers in the Housing and Planning Bill. The Labour amendment, which would have allowed councils to impose planning obligations requiring a proportion of new housing for sale to be marketed to first time buyers, was rejected by 277 to 72. Another Labour amendment, which would have required the 20% Starter Home discount to remain permanently, instead of people being able to sell the property for the full market value after five years, also fell – by 301 to 194. The Labour amendments were rejected in the House of Commons, as the Housing and Planning Bill was debated at report stage. Read more on Inside Housing.

Housing Bill Signals End Of The Road For Affordable Housing

The government’s housing and planning bill has reached report stage, and has been debated in the Commons amid protests, and concern from social housing professionals. Some protesters blockaded the Policy Exchange and Localis thinktanks in protest over previous reports from the two organisations in support of a number of measures now being included in the housing bill, particularly the sale of housing stock that, according to the protesters, will force the poorest out of expensive areas like London and could herald “the end of any prospect of secure or affordable homes for ordinary people”. Other protestors planned to assemble outside parliament to voice their opposition to the bill and its effect on tenants. Housing experts across the country have expressed reservations and concerns about various aspects of the bill. Read more on the Guardian website.