Tories pledge ‘at least’ a million more homes in next five years
A million more homes will be delivered in the next five years under Conservative housing plans which include measures designed to “empower” renters and help first-time buyers.
Boris Johnson said he would change the law to end “no fault evictions” which see tenants forced out of rental properties without a good reason.
The measure came among plans to help renters buy homes with long-term, fixed-rate mortgages requiring only 5% deposits – and a pledge to offer 30% discounts for local, first-time buyers.
The Prime Minister also vowed to introduce “Lifetime Rental Deposits” so down payments can be transferred from one property to the next – before the deposit from the first property is repaid.
His pledge will come on the same day Labour announces its own house-building programme with a pledge to erect 150,000 homes a year.
Video report by Paul Brand
Mr Johnson said the Tories would deliver one million more new homes in the next five years by tackling inefficiencies in the planning sector and reviewing new ways to support home ownership following the end of the Help To Buy scheme in 2023.
The party could not immediately provide costings for the policies.
Mr Johnson said: “The Conservatives have always been the party of home ownership, but under a Conservative majority government in 2020 we can and will do even more to ensure everyone can get on and realise their dream of owning their home.
“At the moment, renting a property can also be an uncertain and unsettling business, and the costs of deposits make it harder to move. We are going to fix that.
“A Conservative majority government will empower renters and give them greater peace of mind.
“We will end no fault evictions, so that landlords can’t remove tenants without good reason, and introduce Lifetime Rental Deposits so renters don’t have to save up for a new deposit while their money is tied up in an old one.
“It’s because we will get Brexit done that we can focus on helping people get on the property ladder or move up it, whereas Labour’s plans for two chaotic referendums would hold this country back.”
Chancellor Sajid Javid told ITV News last year house building reached its highest level in 30 years.
He said: "Some of the changes we'll be taking forward if we are elected as a majority government will be about housing fairness for people.
"We're going to be getting rid of what's called a no-fault eviction - if a landlord is going to ask a tenant to leave, they should have a good reason."
He also said they would be committed to building more affordable homes and social housing.
Housing charity Shelter said the Tory house building pledges would be a “significant disappointment to many”.
Polly Neate, chief executive, said: “The commitment to only build 200,000 a year when the Government’s own target is in fact 300,000 shows that even the Conservatives don’t think they’d be able to achieve this goal.
“The missing piece in their plan is any investment in new social house building – without this the housing emergency will continue to get worse.”
Shelter welcomed the ban on no-fault evictions in the private rented sector, describing it as having the possibility to provide “stability and security” for millions.