In a significant announcement, Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer confirmed the extension of Awaab’s Law, which mandates strict timescales for urgent repairs, into the private rental sector. Starmer delivered this news during a speech at the Chartered Institute of Housing, emphasizing the critical need for high-quality housing across all tenures.
Speaking at the institute’s presidential dinner, Starmer highlighted the pressing issue of homelessness, pointing out that a record number of 140,000 children are currently without a permanent home, with 1.6 million living in substandard conditions marked by freezing temperatures, mould-infested walls, and leaking ceilings. He stressed the societal cost of children being unable to fulfil their potential due to the lack of a stable home.
Starmer not only pledged to extend Awaab’s Law but also committed to the construction of 1.5 million homes, averaging 300,000 per year, over the course of a full Labour term. This ambitious plan includes the establishment of new towns and a priority system for first-time buyers to have ‘first dibs’ on new builds in their respective areas. Additionally, he proposed the implementation of a government-backed mortgage guarantee scheme.
Addressing the urgency of the housing crisis, Starmer stated, “We want to get Britain building because we know that the homes of today are the homes of tomorrow. We can’t build a future for our country unless we build the homes that make it possible for people to think about the future.”
Starmer concluded by expressing his vision for a country where every individual has a safe and secure place to call home, free from the constant struggle of paying rent each month, allowing for better long-term planning and the ability to save for a deposit.