Andy Burnham vows to bring ‘hope’ back to the housing market

Prime Minister Andy Burnham (pictured) has pledged to bring back the hope that young people can have a home.

Delivering his first Labour Party Conference speech as Prime Minister, Burnham said previous governments had been flawed by treating the housing market as being made up of winners and losers rather than an “essential everyone needs for a good life.”

Burnham said the Your First Home scheme will reduce deposits that first-time buyers need to get on the property ladder.

He also targeted landlords, pleading to give councils power to take control of empty homes and bring them back into the public housing stock.

I wont rest until we live in a Britain where everyone has a roof over their head.”

Burnham also said landlords who rent out the worst quality homes will be given warnings to improve them, if they refuse, the Government will make it easier for councils to acquire those homes and will legislate if necessary.

He says: “We don’t let people who sell food damage health, so why do it with homes.”

He also promised to help build more council homes and to reform Right to Buy.

It comes as the Government earlier today pledged to bring in estate agency regulation.

Leasehold reform

Burnham also promised to bring in long-awaited leasehold reform legislation before this Christmas.

He says: “To the millions of leaseholders, you have my word, the days of you being squeezed for every penny are coming to an end.”

Later this year, Burnham also said the Government will publish a 10-year plan for Britain.

He says: “With a good home, everything is possible, without one, it feels like nothing is.

“I won’t rest until we live in a Britain where everyone has a roof over their head every night and no-one is forced to sleep rough on our streets.”