Legal News

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced details of a new team at City Hall to oversee house building in the capital and boost the delivery of new and affordable homes.

The Homes for Londoners team and the Mayor aim to bolster housing and development capacity at City Hall and across the Greater London Authority (GLA).

Mr Khan has begun recruiting new experts to scrutinise viability assessments – the financial details that lie behind how much affordable housing new developments will include.

Experts will be drawn from finance surveyors and property consultants – and will be based at City Hall to support housing delivery by making planning decisions faster and more consistent; and by ensuring new developments include the maximum amount of affordable housing.

Mr Khan will also lead the new Homes for Londoners board, comprising London Boroughs, housing associations, and developers.

The board will oversee delivery, land assembly and investment decisions –
and will draw on expertise from across the housing and property sectors to help develop new policy for the capital.

The Mayor of London said:

“Homeownership has been slipping increasingly out of reach for more and more Londoners – and rents have been getting harder and harder to afford.

“I want to be honest with Londoners from the start that it will take time to turn things around – we're starting from a position where last year the previous Mayor built the lowest number of affordable homes since records began.

“I am determined that Londoners get the same opportunities this great city gave me.

“That is why I am setting up my Homes for Londoners team to speed up homebuilding and to move towards 50 per cent of new homes in London being genuinely affordable to rent and buy.”

Executive Member for housing, London Councils, Steve Bullock, added:

“I welcome this strategic initiative that will help all key agencies work closer together towards building the thousands of extra homes London urgently needs.”

David Montague, Chair of the g15 – which represents 15 of London’s largest housing associations – also said:

“The Mayor of London has made housing a priority from day one – and we have been working with James Murray on a new strategic housing partnership.

“Homes for Londoners will bring together the GLA, housing associations, local authorities and house builders to tackle the capital's housing crisis.

“The priority now must be to build a long-term pipeline of clean, serviced and consented land.

“With this, we can guarantee apprenticeships, jobs, economic growth, thriving communities and affordable homes.

“Without it, London will lose out in the competition for investment and growth.”

Baroness Jo Valentine – chief executive London First, which has published a major report on Homes for Londoners – added:

“The creation of Homes for Londoners is an important and encouraging step if we are to solve the capital's housing crisis.

“We want it to have a relentless focus on delivery – including getting more public land into the market.”

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise on a wide range of housing law, including advising on public and private sector rental accommodation – as well as homelessness and council’s obligation to re-house under the Housing Act.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across the UK and our housing team is also able to advise on:

• Debt management for homeowners
• Disrepair of rented property
• Housing Benefit
• Housing possession
• Landlords’ obligations
• Landlord and tenant disputes
• Lease extensions
• Local Authority housing
• Mortgage repossession
• Notice to quit
• Nuisance neighbours
• Right to Buy
• Right to Rent checks
• Tenancy agreements
• Unlawful eviction.

For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 0333 772 0409.