Key takeaways from the National Housing Summit 2023

From the need for a long-term plan for housing to the looming general election, here are the main talking points from the National Housing Federation’s 2023 event.

Housing and the general election

With a general election expected to be called before the end of next year, there was much talk around the extent to which housing will feature in debate. While it is already looking like housing will get more attention than in recent elections, it is unclear whether it will become a core contested issue. 

This is something, however, that Alastair Campbell, former press secretary and official spokesperson for Tony Blair, said the sector could influence. “You underestimate how much power you have to do that [put pressure on Labour to push the debate],” he said. 

The need to start thinking about the next general election was something National Housing Federation (NHF) chief executive Kate Henderson touched on in her opening address, saying it was “crucial” the sector has an “ambitious plan” for social housing in place. 

A long-term plan 

Henderson's message to politicians was that they “need to stop the piecemeal tinkering and controversial reforms that have happened over the last decade” and develop a long-term plan for housing. 

Housing minister Rachel Maclean said the government agrees on the need for a long-term plan, adding: “Housing is integral to everything that the government has tried to do in terms of levelling up and improving the quality of life for people.” 

Chair and former Newsnight presenter Lewis Goodall asked Maclean how the government can expect to put together a long-term plan for housing when she was the eleventh housing minister since 2016. As part of her response, Maclean said: “We do need stability in government.” She also seemed surprised when questioned about what would improve in housing if the Conservatives secured another five years in government. 

In his keynote, Labour’s shadow housing minister, Matthew Pennycook, said the plan needed to be “a serious, credible one”. 

Labour's social housing push 

Elsewhere in his keynote, Matthew Pennycook pushed Labour’s intention of delivering a net positive amount of social housing in the early years of a Labour government, something he said the party is “absolutely determined” to achieve. 

Indeed, the most recent government figures show 21,600 social homes were either sold or demolished during 2021/22, while just 7,500 new social homes were built – resulting in a net loss of 14,000 homes. 

Pennycook said social housing “is a crucial national asset to be proud of, to invest in, to protect and to maintain”. However, when probed on whether a Labour government would deliver 90,000 social homes per year, as many in the sector have called for, he said that likely wouldn’t be possible in a single term. 

On the wider housing crisis, he said it was “our singular failure as a nation” to build enough homes of all tenures. 

The housing crisis and children 

Kate Henderson was keen to highlight the impact the ongoing housing crisis is having on children, pointing out that around two million are currently living in overcrowded or unsuitable accommodation in England due to the lack of affordability within the sector. 

“We need to do the right thing and make sure everyone has a decent home they can afford,” she said, adding: “We need to collaborate and work together to fix the housing crisis.” 

A report published earlier this week on behalf of the NHF found that, without urgent action from government, 150,000 children will be homeless and living in emergency accommodation such as B&Bs and hostels by 2030, representing an increase of 20,000 on current figures. 

In addition, it predicts 1.5m families will be on the waiting list for social housing by this time, a rise of around 350,000 from today.

In her address, Rachel Maclean said she understands that the sector is going through “a challenging period”, adding that “the government will do everything in its power to support you”. 

Bob Kerslake tribute 

The conference paid tribute to Lord Bob Kerslake, who passed away earlier this summer. Kerslake was a veteran of the housing and wider public sector who, during his long career, served as CEO of the Homes and Communities Agency (now Homes England); head of several local authorities, including Sheffield City Council; and head of the Civil Service. 

Henderson said he was someone who “understood and valued social housing”, calling on delegates to “be more like Bob”.

Main image: Matthew Pennycook, shadow housing minister. Credit: CIH