The Mayor’s ‘affordable rent’ policy was criticised in a motion agreed at a full meeting of the London Assembly today.
The motion says the policy - which places rents at 80 per cent of market rates, makes it “less affordable and less safe” than social rent.
The motions also calls on the Mayor to back the SHOUT (“Social Housing Under Threat”) campaign, highlighting the positive role of social housing and to consider how the GLA can deliver a programme of new social rented homes.
Darren Johnson AM, who proposed the motion, said:
“Social housing has provided affordable, secure and comfortable homes in London for well over a century. But we are losing homes at an alarming rate, when the need is only becoming more pressing. I hope the Mayor will speak out against the denigration of social housing, affirm its positive value, and promote the construction of more genuinely affordable social housing.”
Andrew Dismore AM, who seconded the motion, said:
“By marginalising social rented homes, and allowing vast numbers of new homes to be sold off plan to overseas speculators, the Mayor is pricing many low and middle income families out of the capital.
The Mayor’s definition of affordable housing is unrecognisable to many Londoners on modest incomes. Without a concerted effort from the Mayor to build new social housing, living in the capital could soon become unaffordable for many Londoners.”
Read the full text of the motion agreed at today’s meeting here.
Watch the meeting on the webcast.
Notes for Editors:
1. The motion was agreed 15 votes for to 3 against at a meeting of the full Assembly today.
2. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
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