Housing in Lambeth - a national byword for waste and incompetence

Yesterday I received the request to sign the pledge below re affordable housing which I am happy to do. I also call on the government and local authorities to free up funds for the building of new council housing. I sent the following letter for publication to the South London Press in response to the recent publicity in the national press about Lambeth heading Labour's national campaign as the 'John Lewis Council' model.

At its spring conference in London last week the Green Party’s Deputy Leader made the following reference to Lambeth in his speech: “When I visited Lambeth recently I learnt about the campaign of Green Councillor Becca Thackary to improve the maintenance of local housing stock. The arms length housing organisation set up by Labour is unaccountable to residents and 1500 council homes lie empty while families wait for somewhere to live.



It's wrong that affordable housing isn't a priority. It's wrong that built houses are sitting empty while families wait. Greens believe that everybody deserves a safe, affordable home- and that's worth fighting for.”


It seems that aside from being badged as Labour’s ‘John Lewis style council’ in the national press, Lambeth is also acquiring a darker but nonetheless more accurate national reputation because of its housing policy. Not surprising when 20% of London’s empty properties lie within the borough boundary.


Joseph Healy


Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Vauxhall





Never has the availability of affordable housing been so important for the people of Vauxhall. With housing waiting lists approaching five million and rising house prices forcing young people out of the buying market, this is the general election where affordable housing must take centre stage.


This is why we are calling on all parliamentary candidates to support our housing pledge. We must ensure affordable housing remains a top priority for any future government.

The National Housing Federation represents 1200 housing associations in England and is the voice of affordable housing. Together our members provide two and a half million affordable homes for five million people.

Economic recovery and more affordable housing go hand in hand and with housing associations building the vast majority of affordable homes they are the best possible partners to deliver the homes this country needs.

Please show your support for affordable housing by supporting the Federation’s housing pledge:

'I pledge to back the building of more affordable homes and to work towards all constituents having access to decent, affordable housing in safe and sustainable communities.'

To confirm your support, please email violetar@housing.org.uk

If you would like any more information on the work of housing associations in your area, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Belinda Porich

Head of London Region

National Housing Federation