William Eichler 18 August 2017

Research reveals the extent of England's ageing housing stock

Housebuilders must start working with local authorities to ensure new homes are built to a good quality, council chiefs say.

New analysis from the Local Government Association (LGA) has revealed that most local areas have more homes built before 1930 than from any other period of time.

It warned that the average new home in England will have to last 2,000 years if the 'sluggish' rate of house building and replacement continues.

Around 28% of privately rented homes are not decent, the LGA also discovered, an increase of 150,000 homes since 2006.

Council homes, in comparison, are more likely to be better quality, with 85% meeting the decent homes standard. This is an increase from 70% in 2008.

The research also found one in 10 new home buyers are dissatisfied with the quality of their new home and one in six would not recommend their house builder to a friend.

Local government leaders insist a ‘national renaissance’ in council housebuilding is needed, which would involve more cooperation between the Government, councils and housebuilders.

The LGA also said councils would need to be able to borrow to build and to keep 100% of the receipts of any home they sell to reinvest in new and existing housing.

‘Our country’s failure to build enough homes over the past few decades is putting huge pressure on our existing housing stock,’ Cllr Judith Blake, LGA housing spokesperson.

‘Families are having to spend more on rent or mortgages every month and deserve a decent home that is affordable. But as costs are rising, so is dissatisfaction with the standards of new homes.

‘Everyone deserves an affordable and decent place to live. It’s crucial that all new and existing homes are up to a decent standard.

‘Councils need to be able to ensure quality through the planning system, and to encourage high standards in rented and owned properties across the board.

‘To spark a desperately-needed renaissance in council housebuilding, councils also need to able to borrow to build new homes and keep all receipts from any homes they sell to reinvest in building new homes that are of a good quality and affordable.’