Liberal Democrats Our plan to solve the housing crisis and improve local
government








As we gear up for the General Election, we're sharing our pre-manifesto
policies through a series of emails, focusing on the Fair Deal we're
championing in key areas.

The pre-manifesto is an early version of the party’s manifesto for the General
Election, setting out our core values and vision.

More details on these policies, and how they will be implemented and funded,
will be outlined when the full manifesto is published.

Here’s a snapshot of our plans for housing, communities and local government.
🔽

Please note, as housing and local government is devolved in Scotland and
Wales, these policies refer to England only.



Why we need a Fair Deal for Housing and Communities



People’s lives are shaped by the communities they live in - if communities
thrive, individuals will too.

But local government has been left underfunded, underpowered, and unable to
tackle many of the problems communities face today.

One of these problems is housing.

Many people struggle to buy or rent a good quality home and homelessness
remains shamefully high. The Government regularly misses its housing targets
and when new homes are built, they’re often energy-inefficient, leading to
large bills.

Rural communities also face their own problems, from the prevalence of second
homes, to a lack of public transport and broadband connectivity.

We must empower local communities by strengthening local government and
resolving the housing crisis.






Tackling the housing crisis



We will ensure everyone has access to housing that meets their needs -
somewhere they can truly call home.

We will:

✅ Build at least 150,000 new social homes a year out of our new homes target,
giving local authorities the powers to end the right to buy in their areas, and
require them to have a landlord licensing scheme.

✅ Ensure councils can deliver housing at a fair price. We will reform the
Land Compensation Act so councils can buy land for housing at its current use
value, rather than its potential use.

✅ Promote brownfield site development through financial incentives and ensure
these projects include affordable and social housing.

✅ Introduce a ‘use-it-or-lose-it planning permission’ for developers who fail
to develop land that has been given full planning permission.

✅ Build 10 new garden cities to help tackle the housing crisis.

✅ Improve standards for new homes so they are warm, cheap to heat and produce
zero emissions.

✅ Ensure leaseholders don’t have to pay towards removing dangerous cladding
from their buildings.


To strengthen renters’ rights, we will:

✅ Ban no-fault evictions for renters in the private sector and make longer
tenancies the default.

✅ Give social housing tenants more powers over the management of their homes
and estates.






Empowering local communities



We will give local communities the power to improve their areas and the lives
of their residents.

We will:

✅ Allow communities to limit the number of second homes and holiday lets.

✅ Enhance powers on community assets so local authorities can protect vital
infrastructure.

✅ Grant local authorities greater authority and resources to reduce emissions
in their area.

✅ Improve connectivity, particularly broadband and mobile, starting with the
most underserved areas.

✅ End top-down council reorganisations and the imposition of elected mayors
on communities which don’t want them.

✅ Address the existing £4 billion funding gap for local government and foster
consensus on the long-term funding of social care.


That’s the fair deal for housing and communities that we’ll be fighting for
at the General Election.

Stay tuned for the next edition of our Fair Deal series - coming to your
inbox soon!

Best wishes,




Liberal Democrats



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Will you support our fight for a Fair Deal?


We need your help to elect more Liberal Democrats and fight for change. Can
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Missed our previous emails in this series?


Find them all below to learn about our pre-manifesto policies in other areas:


* For A Fair Deal Introduction
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* Health
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* The Economy, Business & Jobs
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* The Environment, Climate & Energy
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* Foreign Affairs & Defence
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* Rights & Equality
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* Political Reform
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* Education, Children & Young People
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* Crime and Policing
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Published and promoted by Mike Dixon on behalf of the Liberal Democrats
<[link removed]>, 1 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PN.