Shapps Clashes with Shelter Chief Over Affordable Rent Plans

Housing minister Grant Shapps has clashed with Shelter chief executive Campbell Robb over Government plans to charge higher rents for new social housing tenants. Speaking on BBC 2's The Daily Politics show Mr Shapps said: "What we're going to do is build at least 150,000 social houses over the next four years. I can reveal that the interest in doing that through the new Affordable Rent scheme has been very positive so far." The Affordable Rent model will see housing associations able to charge up to 80% of the market rate on new homes and a proportion of their existing ones. Mr Robb implied that 80% of the market rate in London was not going to be affordable. Mr Shapps said: "It's up to 80%. Notting Hill Housing Association for example has said that they plan to use 60%. They are a central example in an area that might be expensive." Read more on 24dash.