General Election 2024: what the party manifestos tell us about housing and local government

In the last of our General Election 2024  manifesto blogs, we take a closer look at what the national parties would prioritise for housing and local government.

As the General Election 2024 nears, housing and local government funding are pivotal issues. This blog compares their pledges on right to buy reforms, social housing and new home building, renters’ rights, homelessness, local government funding, devolution, and regional government.

Labour and the Green Party propose measures to protect and expand social housing stock by reviewing or ending Right to Buy. The Conservatives prioritise local residents for social housing, while the Liberal Democrats want local authorities to have the power to end Right to Buy completely. Reform UK focuses on prioritising local people. 

Labour and the Liberal Democrats set ambitious targets for social and affordable housing. The Conservatives and Green Party also propose significant increases in housing supply, with a focus on home ownership schemes and sustainable housing, respectively. 

On renters’ rights, Labour and the Liberal Democrats aim to abolish no-fault evictions and strengthen tenant protections. The Conservatives balance tenant and landlord rights, while the Green Party supports rent controls. Reform UK focuses on improving the enforcement process.

Local government funding is addressed through multi-year settlements by Labour, the Conservatives, and the Liberal Democrats. The Green Party and Reform UK propose fiscal reforms like replacing Council Tax with a Land Value Tax and cutting bureaucracy.

With local government finances in many areas on the brink of bankruptcy, and with more households than ever before living in temporary accommodation, how will these wicked, complex issues be tackled?

Two million social homes have been sold under the Right to Buy scheme

Introduced in the Housing Act of 1980, Right to Buy enabled council tenants to purchase their homes from their local council at substantial discounts, making home ownership accessible to many who may not have had the opportunity otherwise. Since then, over two million homes have been sold through this scheme. However the building of replacement social housing stock has not been delivered and there are now around 1.3 million families on England’s social housing waiting lists.

Since the introduction of increased discounts in 2012, around £6 billion has been given out in Right to Buy discounts. In response, Labour aims to review increased discounts and enhance protections on newly-built social housing. The Green Party advocates for an end to Right to Buy altogether, securing new social homes for communities indefinitely. 

In contrast, the Conservatives propose new ‘Local Connection’ and ‘UK Connection’ tests for social housing, aiming to prioritise local residents and UK nationals, but without addressing the underlying issue of social housing stock depletion. The Liberal Democrats offer a middle ground by empowering local authorities to end Right to Buy in their areas, allowing for regional flexibility. Reform UK, while not addressing Right to Buy, emphasises prioritising UK nationals for social housing.

1.3 million households are on social housing waiting lists

When it comes to building new homes, Labour and the Liberal Democrats set ambitious targets. Labour promises 1.5 million new homes, prioritising social rented homes and ensuring new developments provide more affordable housing. The Liberal Democrats go further, proposing 380,000 new homes annually, with 150,000 being social homes. Both parties aim to address the housing shortage comprehensively, with Labour focusing on mandatory housing targets and the Liberal Democrats on community-led developments. 

The Conservatives, while also setting a high target of 1.6 million new homes, focus on a mix of tenures and emphasise home ownership schemes like Help to Buy and the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme. The Green Party, on the other hand, pledges 150,000 new social homes annually and significant investments in retrofitting and insulating homes, combining environmental sustainability with housing provision. 

Will we evict Section 21?

Renters’ rights are a critical aspect of housing policy, with significant differences in approach among the parties. Labour and the Liberal Democrats both propose abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, aiming to provide greater security for renters. Labour also seeks to empower renters to challenge unreasonable rent increases and extend ‘Awaab’s Law’ to the private sector which would require landlords to respond to health concerns and associated repairs within given timescales.  

The Liberal Democrats go further by making three-year tenancies the default and creating a national register of licensed landlords, enhancing transparency and stability in the rental market. 

Conservatives also plan to abolish Section 21 but emphasise strengthening other grounds for eviction, particularly for anti-social behaviour, balancing tenant protection with landlord rights. The Green Party supports ending no-fault evictions and introducing rent controls, empowering local authorities to manage rental prices effectively. Reform UK, conversely, seeks to abolish the Renters’ (Reform) Bill, focusing instead on boosting monitoring and enforcement processes for renters with grievances, reflecting a more landlord-friendly stance.

Rough sleeping has increased 120% in ten years

There are record numbers of households in temporary accommodation and local councils are spending more than £1.7 billion a year on temporary housing costs. Government figures tell us around 110,000 households are living in temporary accommodation. Around 70,000 of those are families with children. As homelessness and demands on temporary accommodation both rise, tackling this complex issue is a priority across all party manifestos.

Labour proposes a cross-government strategy to end homelessness, working closely with mayors and councils to make housing more affordable, by increasing social housing supply. The Conservatives focus on ending rough sleeping through commitments under the Local Authority Housing Fund and improving the quality of temporary accommodation. They also propose legal tests to prioritise social housing for local residents, aiming to reduce homelessness among those with strong local ties. 

The Liberal Democrats offer a plan to end all forms of homelessness, including a ‘somewhere safe to stay’ legal duty and exempting at-risk groups from the Shared Accommodation Rate. They emphasise long-term support and emergency accommodation, ensuring everyone at risk of sleeping rough receives the help they need. The Green Party plans to empower local authorities to bring empty homes back into use and ensure fair funding for councils and housing associations, focusing on sustainable and inclusive housing solutions. Reform UK highlights the need to reform social housing laws and prioritise local residents, advocating for a more efficient housing system to prevent homelessness.

	Plan to end rough sleeping and prevent people from ending up on the streets in the first place. Deliver commitments under the Local Authority Housing Fund and review the quality of temporary accommodation. Will legislate for new ‘Local Connection’ and ‘UK Connection’ tests for social housing in England.   Will implement a ‘three strikes and you’re out’ expectation of social housing landlords for anti-social behaviour.  Deliver 1.6 million well-designed homes in the right places Permanently abolish Stamp Duty for homes up to £425,000 for first time buyers and introduce a new Help to Buy scheme to provide first-time buyers with an equity loan of up to 20% towards the cost of a new build home. First-time buyers will be able to get  onto the housing ladder with a 5% deposit on interest terms they can afford.  Renew the Affordable Homes Programme that will deliver homes of all tenures and focus on regenerating and improving housing estates. Continue the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme Pass a Renters Reform Bill that will deliver fairness in the rental market for landlords and renters alike. Deliver the court reforms necessary to fully abolish Section 21 and strengthen other grounds for landlords to evict private tenants guilty of anti- social behaviour. Do more to boost the availability of affordable housing for local people in rural areas. Rural exception sites will support local people into home ownership and create a dedicated taskforce in Homes England to deliver on the mission set out in their Rural Housing Statement to invest in regeneration and building high quality homes.
	1.5 million new homes over the next parliament Prioritise the building of new social rented homes and protect our existing stock by reviewing the increased right to buy discounts introduced in 2012 and increasing protections on newly-built social housing. Immediately abolish Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, prevent private renters being exploited and discriminated against, empower them to challenge unreasonable rent increases, and take steps to decisively raise standards, including extending ‘Awaab’s Law’ to the private sector. Develop a new cross-government strategy, working with Mayors and Councils across the country, to put Britain back on track to ending homelessness. Will make housing more affordable, expand access to childcare, and make work pay Mandatory housing targets Deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable house building in a generation Ensure new developments provide more affordable homes; make changes to the Affordable Homes Programme to ensure that it delivers more homes from existing funding; and support councils and housing associations to build their capacity and make a greater contribution to affordable housing supply
	Urgently publish a cross-Whitehall plan to end all forms of homelessness. Introduce a ‘somewhere safe to stay’ legal duty to ensure that everyone who is at risk of sleeping rough is provided with emergency accommodation and an assessment of their needs. Exempt groups of homeless people, and those at risk of homelessness, from the Shared Accommodation Rate. Ensuring sufficient financial resources for local authorities to deliver the Homelessness Reduction Act and provide accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse. Increasing building of new homes to 380,000 a year across the UK, including 150,000 social homes a year, through new garden cities and community-led development of cities and towns. Immediately banning no-fault evictions, making three-year tenancies the default, and creating a national register of licensed landlords. Give local authorities, including National Park Authorities, the powers to end Right to Buy in their areas End rough sleeping within the next Parliament and immediately scrapping the Vagrancy Act. Help people who cannot afford a deposit to own their own homes by introducing a new Rent to Own model for social housing where rent payments give tenants an increasing stake in the property, owning it outright after 30 years
	Champion the right to inclusive welfare support and housing under the principles of universal design Provide 150,000 new social homes a year and end ‘right to buy’, so that these homes can belong to communities forever. Empower local authorities to introduce rent controls. End no-fault evictions. Introduce a Fairer, Greener Homes Guarantee to ensure warm, safe homes that are well insulated. An end to competitive bidding for the social housing Increase Council and Housing Association provision of homes offered at low ‘social rents’ to 150,000 new homes a year, as soon as possible Empower local authorities to bring empty homes back into use. All social housing stock is brought up to and kept at a decent standard, with fair funding for Councils and Housing Associations to get this done. Introduce Private Residential Tenancy Boards. These would provide an informal, cheap and speedy forum for resolving disputes before they reach a tribunal. Local authorities will be funded to meet a new statutory duty of tenancy relations Introduce legislation to give local authorities, registered social landlords and community housing groups the first option to buy certain properties at reasonable rates, for example private rental property that hasn’t been insulated to EPC rating C or that fails to meet the decent homes standard, or any property that is left empty for more than six months.
	Reform Social Housing Law Prioritise local people and those who have paid into the system. Foreign nationals must go to the back of the queue. Scrap section 24 for Landlords: will restore landlords’ rights to deduct finance costs and mortgage interest from tax on rental income. Abolish the Renters’ (Reform) Bill: will boost the monitoring, appeals and enforcement process for renters with grievances.

Local government is surviving one year at a time

2024/25 is the sixth single year local government financial settlement in a row. Amidst this funding uncertainty, eight Section 114 notices have been issued in the last six years, all due to councils being unable to balance their books. In the previous 18 years, none had been issued. Local government funding has never been more critical to bringing back local economic health and restoring public services.

The stability and sufficiency of local government funding are central to all parties’ manifestos, but their approaches differ significantly. Labour proposes multi-year funding settlements and an end to competitive bidding, aiming to provide councils with the financial stability needed for long-term planning and investment. This approach contrasts with the Conservatives, who promise multi-year funding settlements specifically to support social care and additional funding for city regions, but maintain a more segmented and project-focused funding strategy.

Funding sources are discussed with Conservatives pledging to maintain the current council tax system, promising not to increase the number of council tax bands or undertake a revaluation, instead ensuring stability for homeowners under their Family Home Tax Guarantee. With no mention of council tax, Labour proposes a fundamental overhaul of the business rates system, which could indirectly affect council tax by shifting the funding burden and altering local government finances.

The Green Party offers a more radical reform, advocating for the replacement of Council Tax with a Land Value Tax, aiming to create a more equitable and progressive system. In the meantime, they propose a re-evaluation of Council Tax bands to reflect property value changes since the 1990s. The Liberal Democrats, while focusing on broader local government financial reforms, support giving local authorities more control over financial resources, including potentially revisiting council tax structures to better address local needs. 

The Liberal Democrats also advocate for multi-year settlements and emphasise the need for sufficient resources to deliver key services like the Homelessness Reduction Act and accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse. They highlight the importance of addressing health inequalities through increased Public Health Grants. 

Reform UK takes a different stance, focusing on cutting what it considers to be ‘wasteful spending and bureaucracy’ to save £50 billion annually. They propose abolishing business rates for high street SMEs and introducing an Online Delivery Tax to level the playing field. 

From top down devolution to ridding regions of mayoral impositions

Devolution is another key theme, with each party proposing different models to enhance regional governance. The Conservatives plan to provide every part of England that wants one with a devolution deal by 2030, starting with the Tees Valley. They also promise to create more Freeports and Business Rates Retention zones, enabling councils to retain all business rates growth within defined zones for 25 years, fostering local economic development.

Labour seeks to widen devolution to more areas, encouraging local authorities to come together and take on new powers. They plan to review governance arrangements for Combined Authorities to unblock decision-making and provide greater flexibility for those that demonstrate exemplary management of public funds. 

The Liberal Democrats focus on giving communities more control over second homes and short-term lets and ensuring local authorities have the powers and resources to tackle climate and nature emergencies. They oppose the top-down reorganisation of councils and the imposition of elected mayors on communities that do not want them, advocating for a more grassroots-driven approach to devolution.

The General Election 2024 manifestos present varied approaches to addressing local government funding, devolution, and social care. Labour and the Liberal Democrats emphasise multi-year funding settlements and empowering local authorities, while the Conservatives focus on project-specific funding and expanding devolution through Freeports and retention zones. The Green Party prioritises equitable funding reforms and social care, and Reform UK advocates for efficiency and significant restructuring of funding systems.

As voters consider these proposals, the effectiveness of these policies will depend on their implementation and the ability to address the complex challenges comprehensively. By focusing on both immediate needs and long-term solutions, the next government has the opportunity to create more resilient and empowered local governments across the UK.

	At the next Spending Review, will give local authorities a multi-year funding settlement to support social care and will take forward the reforms in ‘People at the Heart of Care’ White Paper. Provide city regions with an additional £8.55 billion to spend on their local priorities. Under the Family Home Tax Guarantee, we will not increase the number of council tax bands, or undertake a council tax revaluation or cut council tax discounts. Ensure councils have the powers they need to manage the growth of holiday lets. Provide 105 towns in the UK with a £20 million endowment fund. This includes extending plans to 30 more towns with funding that they can use on their priorities such as reviving high streets or bringing new housing to town centres. Extend the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for three years at the next Spending Review, before using this funding to support UKwide National Service. Create more Freeports and Business Rates Retention zones. Will enable councils to retain all business rates growth within a defined zone for 25 years. By 2030, every part of England that wants one will have a devolution deal. We will offer our ‘level 4’ devolution powers to areas in England with a devolution deal and a directly elected leader, starting with the Tees Valley. Ensure councils provide high quality and value for money services to local communities. Ensuring that local people have the final say on council tax. Will ban the ‘four-day working week’ in local authorities. Will improve standards in councils by making their performance more transparent through the Office for Local Government.
	One major fiscal event a year, giving families and businesses due warning of tax and spending policies. In England, Labour will replace the business rates system. Give councils multi year funding settlements and end competitive bidding Widen devolution to more areas, encouraging local authorities to come together and take on new powers. Will review the governance arrangements for Combined Authorities to unblock decision making. Will provide greater flexibility with integrated settlements for Mayoral Combined Authorities that can show exemplary management of public money. Will provide capacity and support to councils, and will overhaul the local audit system, so taxpayers get better value for money.
	Increase the Public Health Grant, with a proportion of the extra funding set aside for those experiencing the worst health inequalities to co-produce plans for their communities. Tackle the funding crisis facing local authorities, including by providing multi-year settlements, boosting the supply of social housing, and forging a long-term, cross-party agreement on social care. Ensuring sufficient financial resources for local authorities to deliver the Homelessness Reduction Act and provide accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse. Give communities more control over the number of second homes and short-term lets in their areas. Ensure local authorities have the powers and resources they need to tackle the climate and nature emergencies. End the top-down reorganisation of councils and the imposition of elected mayors on communities who do not want them.
	An additional £3bn to enable local authorities to provide high-quality children’s social care Replace Council Tax with a Land Value Tax In the meantime, a re-evaluation of Council Tax bands to reflect big changes in value since the 1990s. Removal of business rate relief on Enterprise Zones, Freeports, petrol stations and most empty properties.
	Every department must slash wasteful spending, cut bureaucracy, improve efficiency and negotiate better value procurement without touching frontline services. This will save £50 billion per year, ensure tax cuts and boost the economy. Abolish Business Rates for high street based SMEs. Offset with Online Delivery Tax at 4% for large, multinational enterprises to create a fairer playing field for high streets. Commence Royal Commission of Inquiry into Social Care System Simplify social care through a single funding stream, instead of the split between NHS and Local Authorities. More funding will be needed when a national plan is agreed.

By Friday 5 July we will know whose pledges we need to take most notice of, and begin to hold a new government to account. Housing affordability and availability are key to ending the plight of temporary accommodation and unaffordable rents. The financial health of our local councils are fundamental to the provision of major services such as social care, education, and public health. 

At Policy in Practice we are supporting local government and housing associations by maximising the income of their residents, putting money into the pockets of eligible households. 

Join us after the election to discuss new approaches to rent arrears and homelessness prevention by maximising income and using data to target communities in need.