The worst cost of living crisis since the 1950s is coinciding with a national housing crisis. The result of this will be an increasing number of our residents deprived of one of the most fundamental pillars to a healthy and happy life – a secure, stable, and affordable home.

Homeownership is in decline following a period of rising house prices that has made buying a home unaffordable for too many. This combined with a drastic depletion in social housing stock has forced an increasing number of residents into the private rented sector and at the mercy of rising rents and under-regulated tenancies. Worse still, many are left without a permanent residence at all, as levels of homelessness remain high.

Whilst this Council has welcomed the Manchester Housing Strategy it is now calling for the acceleration of its delivery to increase the provision of affordable, secure, high-quality and energy-efficient housing across the city to tackle the root of the housing crisis locally.

However, in the face of a worsening national economic crisis, urgent action is needed to protect our residents, especially those in the most precarious living circumstances, from its severest impacts.

To support residents through the immediate and acute period of the cost-of-living crisis, this Council calls upon Government to:

·                Increase Local Housing Allowance rates in line with rising private market rents - making these more affordable and reducing the proportion of income spent on rent at a time when household budgets are increasingly squeezed

·                Introduce rent reforms and a potential temporary cap to protect private tenants from further rental increases at a time of crisis

·                Legislate a no winter evictions guarantee to protect private tenants from homelessness through the most challenging period of the cost-of-living crisis

·                Reform Right to Buy - safeguarding remaining social housing stock for our most vulnerable residents, but also increasing affordable housing targets and expanding pathways to homeownership so that the right to own your own home can still be a realistic goal for all residents

·                Prioritise the passing of the Renters’ Reform Bill that seeks to improve standards and regulations across the private rented sector to better protect tenants.

Proposed by Councillor Moran, seconded by Councillor Lynch and supported by Councillors Baker-Smith, Rahman, Richards, T Robinson, Russell and White.

Councillor Moran proposedmitted the following motion, which was seconded by Councillor Lynch:-

The worst cost of living crisis since the 1950s is coinciding with a national housing crisis. The result of this will be an increasing number of our residents deprived of one of the most fundamental pillars to a healthy and happy life – a secure, stable, and affordable home.

Homeownership is in decline following a period of rising house prices that has made buying a home unaffordable for too many. This combined with a drastic depletion in social housing stock has forced an increasing number of residents into the private rented sector and at the mercy of rising rents and under-regulated tenancies. Worse still, many are left without a permanent residence at all, as levels of homelessness remain high.

Whilst this Council has welcomed the Manchester Housing Strategy it is now calling for the acceleration of its delivery to increase the provision of affordable, secure, high-quality and energy-efficient housing across the city to tackle the root of the housing crisis locally.

However, in the face of a worsening national economic crisis, urgent action is needed to protect our residents, especially those in the most precarious living circumstances, from its severest impacts.

To support residents through the immediate and acute period of the cost-of-living crisis, this Council calls upon Government to:

·                Increase Local Housing Allowance rates in line with rising private market rents - making these more affordable and reducing the proportion of income spent on rent at a time when household budgets are increasingly squeezed

·                Introduce rent reforms and a potential temporary cap to protect private tenants from further rental increases at a time of crisis

·                Legislate a no winter evictions guarantee to protect private tenants from homelessness through the most challenging period of the cost-of-living crisis

·                Reform Right to Buy - safeguarding remaining social housing stock for our most vulnerable residents, but also increasing affordable housing targets and expanding pathways to homeownership so that the right to own your own home can still be a realistic goal for all residents

·                Prioritise the passing of the Renters’ Reform Bill that seeks to improve standards and regulations across the private rented sector to better protect tenants.

Councillor Leech proposed the following amendment to the motion which was seconded by Councillor Good:-

The worst cost of living crisis since the 1950s is coinciding with a national housing crisis. The result of this will be an increasing number of our residents deprived of one of the most fundamental pillars to a healthy and happy life – a secure, stable, and affordable home.

Homeownership is in decline following a period of rising house prices that has made buying a home unaffordable for too many. This combined with a drastic depletion in social housing stock has forced an increasing number of residents into the private rented sector and at the mercy of rising rents and under-regulated tenancies. Worse still, many are left without a permanent residence at all, as levels of homelessness remain high.

Whilst this Council has welcomed the Manchester Housing Strategy it is now calling for the acceleration of its delivery to increase the provision of affordable, secure, high-quality and energy-efficient housing across the city to tackle the root of the housing crisis locally.

However, in the face of a worsening national economic crisis, urgent action is needed to protect our residents, especially those in the most precarious living circumstances, from its severest impacts.

To support residents through the immediate and acute period of the cost-of-living crisis, this Council calls upon Government to:

·                Increase Local Housing Allowance rates in line with rising private market rents - making these more affordable and reducing the proportion of income spent on rent at a time when household budgets are increasingly squeezed

·                Introduce rent reforms and a potential temporary cap to protect private tenants from further rental increases at a time of crisis

·                Legislate a no winter evictions guarantee to protect private tenants from economic homelessness through the most challenging period of the cost-of-living crisis

·                Reform Right to Buy - safeguarding remaining social housing stock for our most vulnerable residents, but also increasing affordable housing targets, and expanding pathways to homeownership so that the right to own your own home can still be a realistic goal for all residents recognising the need to prioritise affordable and social rented homes, while there is limited money available to support affordable and social housing.

·                Prioritise the passing of the Renters’ Reform Bill that seeks to improve standards and regulations across the private rented sector to better protect tenants.

The Council recognises that, unfortunately, it has failed miserably to secure enough affordable and social housing through the Planning process, particularly in the city centre and parts of south Manchester.

The Council accepts that all too often it has allowed developers to avoid affordable housing obligations in new developments, even though viability assessments have calculated multi-million-pound profits for developers.

It recognises that developments of 15 units or more should have a minimum of 20% affordable homes, and that this target is being missed in most housing developments in Manchester.

Council therefore commits to a review of the Council's planning process, including looking at best practise in other local authorities, to ensure that the Council can deliver more affordable and social homes through new developments.

Resolution

The amended motion was put to the Council and the Lord Mayor declared it lost.

The original motion was then put to the Council and the Lord Mayor declared it was carried unanimously.

Decision

This Council calls upon Government to:

·                Increase Local Housing Allowance rates in line with rising private market rents - making these more affordable and reducing the proportion of income spent on rent at a time when household budgets are increasingly squeezed;

·                Introduce rent reforms and a potential temporary cap to protect private tenants from further rental increases at a time of crisis;

·                Legislate a no winter evictions guarantee to protect private tenants from homelessness through the most challenging period of the cost-of-living crisis;

·                Reform Right to Buy - safeguarding remaining social housing stock for our most vulnerable residents, but also increasing affordable housing targets and expanding pathways to homeownership so that the right to own your own home can still be a realistic goal for all residents; and

·                Prioritise the passing of the Renters’ Reform Bill that seeks to improve standards and regulations across the private rented sector to better protect tenants.