Housing

Construction union UCATT has attacked the government’s decision to bring forward manifesto commitments to extend the Right to Buy to housing association tenants at heavily discounted rates.

It said this will lead to a very sharp cut in the supply of social housing because housing associations are unlikely in future to invest in new properties for rent, which could then be sold off.

The policy is set to increase the number of families in housing need and on council waiting lists.

Brian Rye, UCATT national secretary, said: “Housing is already in crisis with ever-increasing numbers of families denied a decent home. This policy is going to further reduce the supply of socially rented accommodation. The government should be looking at every way to increase its housing stock rather than sell it off.”

www.ucatt.org.uk/queen%E2%80%99s-speech-slap-face-housing-and-workers%E2%80%99-rights