Policy Brief 2: How to fund sustainable homes for social rent

The Manchester Social Housing Commission launched in July 2024 after communities across the city called for urgent action to address the crisis.

Today we launch our second policy brief: How to fund and deliver sustainable homes for social rent. Our first policy brief and research report focused on an analysis of the housing crisis in Manchester and called for five urgent policy asks. This report sets out five key areas for reform that will make accelerated delivery possible.

Policy Brief 2

FIVE KEY AREAS FOR REFORM

1. Boost funding: A long-term government funding settlement for all social landlords through much higher levels of grant, access to cheaper government borrowing with longer repayment terms, and long-term rent settlement that is fair to both tenants and social providers.

2. Unlock land: Pursue options to unlock cheaper land for social housing delivery.

3. Reuse existing buildings: Make better use of existing residential and commercial buildings through the planning system to deliver social rent homes at pace.

4. Financial innovation: Support the development of alternative capital and revenue funding sources for social rent housing.

5. Transform supply chains: Invest in an alternative social housing supply chain to unblock the existing capacity barriers and reduce the cost of construction and retrofit.

Councillor Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development at Manchester City Council and a lead member of the Commission explains that:

“Councils all over the UK want to spend more of their budgets on social housing, rather than temporary accommodation for those experiencing homelessness; this long-term and joined up financial investment in social housing is the way we will solve the housing and homelessness crisis, and build the homes once again that our communities need.”

Zoe Marlow, Community Commissioner representing Wythenshawe Central Network was left with a 25% reduction in her housing benefit after her children moved out due to the bedroom tax. She has survived repeated eviction threats, court cases, and the stress of constant rent arrears despite actively wanting to downsize. Thankfully she has now been appropriately housed and continues to work hard to give voice to the experiences of tenants across the city through the Commission process including in Parliament in 2024.

Zoe says:

“Throughout this time, I tried to move to a smaller home and free up my 3-bed to one of the thousands of families living in overcrowded housing, but I was not allowed to bid for another social home because I was in rent arrears. Thankfully, I’ve finally been able to move to a smaller home I can afford. A lot of people are going through this.

And that’s why I’ve got involved in the Manchester Social Housing Commission, to work with others to get the millions of homes for social rent we need and abolish the cruel bedroom tax. That is the only way to address under-occupancy and reduce over-crowding.”

The Manchester Social Housing Commission will continue to unpick the mutually reinforcing housing, cost of living, and climate crises, and develop robust solutions for local, regional and national government through to December 2025. You can find all our publications here.

The Social Homes for Manchester Coalition will take forward the findings of the Commission over the next five years through to 2030. There are many ways to support these efforts. Please sign up to our mailing list or if you are a Manchester-based constituted group or registered organisation please consider joining the coalition.