In advance of the General Election, the Housing Alliance is calling on all parties to commit to delivering lifetime sustainable social and affordable homes by implementing the following:
Increase in Capital Investment:
Increase the capital budget for social housing building specifically for Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) allocation and the associated Payment and Availability (P&A) allocation to ensure social housing supply continues to increase.
National Intermediate Rental Scheme:
A National Intermediate Rental scheme needs to be introduced. The rollout of new schemes of this type would facilitate a significant increase in the availability of social and affordable homes and accelerate the development of new schemes by Tier 3 AHBs and Local Authorities.
Reclassification of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs):
Tier 3 AHBs need to be reclassified as off-Government’s Balance Sheet. In 2018, Eurostat and the Central Statistics Office (CSO) deemed 14 of the largest Tier 3 AHBs to be part of the General Government sector and, as a result, on the Government’s Balance Sheet. Failure to secure reclassification will restrict funding available to Tier 3 AHBs, and impact on the output of more social and affordable homes. A time-lined action plan is urgently required from Government, to ensure that the steps required to restore these AHBs to their former classification are taken.
Security of tenure:
Offering lifetime social and affordable housing tenancies is the best way to address the significant levels of housing need and are more cost-effective offering better value for money for the State. The State must reduce the reliance on the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and leasing and invest in social and affordable housing as long term assets.
Near Zero Energy Building Standard (NZEB):
Support Local Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to achieve nZEB ratings on their housing schemes and developments, including the retrofitting of old stock. This will result in more sustainable and energy efficient homes and
