Housing in the UK Election

As the UK election approaches, housing has become a central issue for all major political parties:

• Conservatives: Promise to deliver 1.6 million homes over the next five years, reintroduce a version of the Help to Buy scheme, abolish the leasehold system, ban no-fault evictions, and set new tenancy standards.
• Labour: Pledges to build 1.5 million homes within five years, focusing on affordable and social housing, extensive planning reforms, a mortgage guarantee scheme for first-time buyers, significant home insulation programs, and more rights for renters.
• Liberal Democrats: Aim to build 300,000 homes annually (100,000 for social rent), banning no-fault evictions, introduce a rent-to-own model for social housing, abolish leaseholds, and ensure all new homes meet zero-carbon standards.
• Greens: Want to increase the supply of affordable housing by 150,000 homes annually, implement rent controls, end no-fault evictions, introduce a community right to buy scheme, and invest in eco-friendly housing.

Whichever way you choose to vote there are plenty of ways to promote the issue of housing in the upcoming election:

• You can start by contacting local representatives to express concerns about housing policies and to inquire about candidates’ stances on these issues. 
• Attending town hall meetings and debates discuss housing directly with candidates and community members. 
• Using social media to raise awareness, and share information.
• Engaging with local media by sharing your stories, letters to the editor, or participating in interviews can raise the profile of housing issues and influence public opinion and political agendas. 

ITN would like to contact Frome people for short interviews to go on their national news. They are looking for:

Someone who was forced – or is being forced – to move out of Frome because they cant afford to buy a house, or pay the rent in Frome.

Someone who is living in poor housing or unsuitable housing in Frome because they can’t afford to live anywhere better – could be overcrowded/too small, too far from school or their job, mouldy, damp etc.

Someone who lives outside of Frome and commutes in or drops their kids off at school in Frome because they can’t afford to live in Frome, or find a suitable house.

Someone who is living with their parents in Frome – in their 20s or 30s – because they can’t afford to live in Frome or on the outskirts.

Someone / family whose rent in Frome is crippling them – e.g. paying most of their salary on rent.

This is part of ITN’s coverage of the election and the 5 main areas of the issues we face – housing being one of those.

Julie O’Connor of ITN is planning to visit Frome on Thursday June 20th to do the interviews. You can contact her directly at Julie.oconnor@itn.co.uk