Briefing on new housing Act


The 2016 Housing and Planning Act is a missed opportunity that will have a severe impact on the provision of housing in England, warns public services union UNISON.


The union’s briefing on the Act says the focus on home ownership will reduce the amount of social and affordable housing available to ordinary working people, hitting general housing provision.


Many public service workers will be affected by the Act, whether they are tenants forced to pay market rents or lose their social rented home; tenants who lose secure tenancies; staff who lose their jobs or see their pay, terms and conditions eroded.


UNISON assistant policy officer Sylvia Jones said: “Rather than offering holistic solutions to improve the housing market across all housing types, the act focuses on boosting home ownership at the expense of affordable and social housing, which the majority of people on average incomes need.”


www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2016/08/Housing-and-Planning-Act-2016-FINAL.pdf