Closed petition Start Building More Council Houses

Closed on 8 August 2012

Not enough new houses have been built over the last two decades. Those that have been built are of a poor quality. Property prices are so high that young people are unable to buy a house. Rental prices are also high, and there are many badly maintained properties.

In response, many people look to the public sector alternative for help. Council houses charge rents that are actually affordable. They are built to a higher standard than many private sector homes. The 'landlord' is democratically accountable. Well run council estates, with active tenants’ associations, are some of the best places to live.

Yet there are long waiting lists for council houses. This is because councils have been discouraged from building. It’s time for the government to remove restrictions on building council houses. If people decide that they want more council homes then to stand in their way is both a failure to respond to genuine need and a breach of democratic principle.