Angela Rayner is advocating for a transformative shift in community housing to address the housing crisis in the UK. In a recent move, the former Labour deputy leader has endorsed a report by the Co-operative Party that calls for an expansion of community-led and co-operative housing models.
The report highlights the need to acknowledge an alternative housing tenure beyond ownership and tenancy, where individuals have the right to dwell in a property as members of a co-operative that both owns and manages it.
Rayner, known for her recent critical speech challenging Keir Starmer’s leadership, emphasized the necessity for a housing system that supports people. She emphasized the importance of empowering communities to shape the housing solutions they desire. As Housing Secretary, Rayner allocated £20 million in funding for community-led housing projects.
The Co-operative Party’s General Secretary, Joe Fortune, expressed the belief that communities offer a solution to the housing crisis, currently dominated by private interests. He emphasized that community-led housing, though existing and successful, faces obstacles due to outdated laws and lack of support.
In response, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) stated that the government is taking steps to address the housing crisis by increasing social and affordable housing, enhancing standards, and backing community-led housing initiatives. The reforms aim to provide safer, fairer, and more affordable housing for those in need.