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This conference will examine the future for social and affordable housing in England, with the Government preparing its response to consultations on social housing rent policy and Right to Buy, and following changes announced in the 2024 Autumn Budget.
It comes with the target of reaching a net positive supply of social rented homes in the first full financial year of this Parliament, and against the backdrop of official statistics published by MHCLG in December 2024 showing more than a million households on social housing waiting lists.
Delegates will consider the impact of proposed changes to Right to Buy eligibility on home ownership, and implications for access to affordable housing, and demand for social and affordable housing stock. Areas for discussion include strategic options for the delivery and retention of newly built social housing, with the allocation of a further £500m within the Affordable Homes Programme, alongside requirements for social and affordable housing within the National Planning Policy Framework.
Sessions will also consider priorities for improving standards of social and affordable housing. Delegates will examine delivery of upgrades in the context of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act and Awaab’s Law. They will also discuss the future direction of regulation in the sector, including safeguarding the accessibility of affordable housing, tighter rules on rent caps, accountability for landlords, and scrutiny of the quality of social housing, with new direction of the regulator due to be published shortly.
With the agenda currently in the drafting stage, overall areas for discussion include:
- delivery and retention of social and affordable housing stocks:
- changes to the National Planning Policy Framework on social housing delivery - allocation and delivery of the £500m additional funding in the Affordable Homes Programme
- proposed exemptions to Right to Buy and measures to safeguard retention of newly built social housing - proposed fixed multi-year rent settlements
- strategies for supporting the delivery of social housing, including private and public sector investment
- Right to Buy Reforms:
- eligibility requirements, discount calculations, and exemptions for newly built social housing - changes to Right to Buy discounts and impacts on stakeholders
- funding formulas and distribution of Right to Buy receipts
- improving social housing standards:
- delivery of upgrades under the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act - long-term strategies to ensure housing standards are met and enforce Awaab’s Law
- implications of proposed new directions to the Regulator of Social Housin
- long-term strategy:
- potential legislative updates and regulatory goals - Spending Review priorities - sustainable delivery of housing and improvements in quality standards
