The London mayor has announced plans to convert large numbers of private housing into council homes before the next decade.
Sadiq Khan says The Mayor’s Council Homes Acquisition Programme (CHAP) will provide councils with the funds to purchase homes from the private market.
The announcement aims to ease the crisis of social housing and temporary accommodation across the capital.
Over 170,000 Londoners are currently living in insecure temporary accommodation, including more than 83,000 children.
Many families are stuck in unsuitable bed and breakfast accommodation, with 1 in 23 children in London living without a secure place to call home.
Average monthly rent reached its highest in England between April 2022 and March 2023 at £825 per month, higher than at any other point in history, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Council homes are at the heart of my plan to boost housing in the capital.
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) November 17, 2023
My new Council Homes Acquisition Programme allows boroughs to move at pace to increase council homes in our city, with a goal for councils to buy 10,000 homes over the next decade.
All London boroughs will be able to bid for funding as part of the new programme and every home funded through CHAP must comply with the Decent Homes Standard and meet strict building safety standards.
Local authorities will be able to purchase a range of homes from the private market, including former council homes lost to previous Right to Buy schemes.
The programme is the most recent initiative from Khan who has already launched the Mayor’s Right to Buy-back scheme which saw over 1,200 homes acquired by councils.
Mayor Khan explained: “My new Council Homes Acquisition Programme will allow boroughs to move at pace to increase the number of council homes in our city, offering a lifeline for thousands of Londoners who are facing high housing costs.
“Bringing these homes into public ownership is a key part of my plan to build a better London for everyone – a city that is greener, fairer and more prosperous for all.”
Lewisham Mayor Damien Egan said: “Tackling the housing crisis is one of the biggest challenges facing councils in London.
“This funding will help address the desperate need for more social housing and temporary accommodation in our borough.”
Image credit: Flickr / Google creative commons
