Appendix—Policy Goals for a Sustainable
Housing Market
Sufficiency
— the housing market should operate
efficiently overall and in such a way that all needs are met
— there must be an adequate supply
of housing to avoid homelessness and overcrowding, and provide
for future requirements as they emerge
— there must be enough affordable housing
for those on low incomes
Quality
— the housing market should provide
a defined quality of housing stock, and should ensure that it
continues to be of good quality, responding to changing social
requirements and expectations
— housing is not a stock of fixed assets
with an indefinite life, and there must be adequate levels of
renewal to maintain the agreed quality standards
— new housing should be built efficiently
Economy
— housing must contribute to economic
prosperity and stability, improve job prospects, facilitate mobility
and help to reduce rather than exacerbate differences between
regions
— housing systems should have as much
flexibility as possible to cope with changing economic circumstances
(both generally and for individual households)
— housing finance should be a mix of
private and public funds
— public subsidies and taxation in
housing should have clear purposes
Combating poverty and disadvantage
— the housing system must help to prevent
the poverty trap, reduce inequality and ensure that those whose
financial circumstances change do not lose their access to good
housing
— housing should help to combat discrimination
and tackle disadvantage suffered by particular groups
— the way housing is provided should
not stigmatise people and should be free of overt and institutional
discrimination
— people who need support in order
to stay in their homes should get it
A healthy, secure and sustainable environment
— housing should be environmentally
sustainable, in terms of how and where it is built, how it is
used and how it relates to transport systems
— housing should provide an environment
in which adults and children take pride in their home, feel secure
and can lead independent lives
Choice and accountability
— there should be as much choice as
possible within housing—people should feel that they have
chosen where they live, and whether they buy or rent (and who
they rent from)—and be able to move between renting and
buying and vice versa
— housing providers should empower
the customer—both individually and collectively, with the
right balance between the two, and between the power of the customer
and of the provider
Community sustainability
— through housing we should aim to
reduce segregation of rich and poor, and build sustainable communities
which are likely to be viable in the longer term without high
levels of public sector intervention
— housing should be part of properly
planned neighbourhoods with adequate local facilities such as
schools, shops and public transport
— the ways in which housing is provided
and run should be open to community accountability where this
is required
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