When pollsters ask about the top priorities for voters it is always a slight surprise to elected politicians. I have always sensed a slight gap between the policy analysis and voters feeling. They are not always on the same page. But as a politician I used to monitor them closely. Not so we we would always follow the trends, but so we could understand what people were feeling at a particular time. The numbers vary enormously from one year to the next and could depend on the ferocity of newspaper headlines even for a short time.
But one policy area that I have always thought got ignored has been housing. It is in the “too difficult box” for so many decision makers. We know many of the answers but they upset scores of voters - ie building more homes!
There are a number of housing policies that could potentially improve the cost of housing in the UK. Here are a few:
Increase the supply of housing: One of the main reasons for the high cost of housing in the UK is the lack of supply. To address this, the government could encourage the construction of more homes, particularly affordable housing, through measures such as relaxing planning regulations, providing financial incentives for developers, and building more social housing.
Increase funding for affordable housing: The government could increase funding for affordable housing to help reduce the cost of housing for lower-income families. This could include investing in new social housing projects or expanding existing ones, as well as providing subsidies for private developers to build affordable homes.
Reform the planning system: The UK's planning system is often seen as a barrier to new housing development, particularly in desirable areas. Reforming the planning system to make it more efficient and responsive to local needs could help increase the supply of housing and reduce costs.
Encourage the use of brownfield sites: Brownfield sites are areas of land that have been previously developed and may be suitable for new housing projects. Encouraging the use of these sites, rather than greenfield sites, could help reduce the cost of building new homes.
Increase transparency in the housing market: The lack of transparency in the UK's housing market can make it difficult for buyers and renters to make informed decisions. Increasing transparency, for example through the publication of more data on house prices and rental costs, could help reduce the cost of housing by making the market more competitive.
Encourage more affordable rent-to-buy schemes: Rent-to-buy schemes allow tenants to gradually purchase their rental property over time, giving them a pathway to homeownership. Encouraging more of these schemes could help reduce the cost of housing by providing an alternative route to ownership for those who may not be able to afford a mortgage outright.
Of course this is a simple version and much more needs to be done, but it is a starter to get the debate going!