Social landlords should be acting to deliver new social homes and private rented properties for tenants, housing minister Mark Prisk has said.
In his first speech as housing minister, Mr Prisk called on landlords to bid for a share of the £10bn Government Guarantee and provide the ‘spark’ to get the country building by delivering social and privately rented homes themselves.
Mr Prisk urged landlords to take a ‘leap of faith’ and commit to projects such as the Thames Valley Housing Association’s Fizzy Living scheme, which offered new-build flats for rent on the open market in London’s East End.
Speaking to the National Housing Federation in Birmingham, the housing minister also told housing associations to apply their expertise in the provision of social homes to the construction of private rented properties.
Services could still be delivered for social occupants while they are also offered to private tenants, Mr Prisk said.
‘There's a tremendous opportunity here. We know there is already a massive demand for housing in the private rented sector. Housing associations already provide excellent services to their tenants, but have the potential to offer homes to a much wider group of people,’ Mr Prisk said.
‘By making the most of the new and positive measures we're taking, social landlords can branch out and provide the spark to get Britain building,’ he added.
