We’ll build a million homes and deliver a Tenant’s Charter, promises Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn has pledged that a Labour Government led by him would build one million homes in its first five years, including 500,000 council houses.

The Labour leader has said that he would “reverse a generation of underinvestment in housing” that has led to a crisis in the sector. “Decent housing is a basic human need” that successive governments have failed to provide.

As well as a boost in housebuilding, Corbyn also says he will create a “Tenant’s Rights Charter” to offer greater protection to renters, which would include secure contracts of at least three years, preventing unreasonable rent increases, protecting against unfair evictions, outlawing agents’ admin fees and legislating against poor or unsafe living conditions.

“Successive governments have failed to fix our broken housing market,” Corbyn said yesterday. “Decent housing is a basic human need affecting everything we do and is a significant factor on stress and mental health. Our homes are where we should feel safe, yet for too many people housing is a source of anxiety – not security. And to a whole generation of our young people, the security of home ownership is rapidly becoming an impossible dream.

“That is why the next Labour Government will reverse a generation of underinvestment in housing, particularly council housing, and give the chance of a decent, secure, affordable home back to every family and citizen. Through our public investment strategy we will build a million new homes in five years. And we will end insecurity for private renters by introducing rent controls, secure tenancies and a charter of private tenants’ rights, as well as increasing access to affordable home ownership. Our housing policy is a core part of our plans to rebuild and transform Britain, to ensure that no one and no community is left behind.”