Government must ‘focus on supply of rental property’

The Centre for Cities (CFC) has claimed that the government has focussed its policies unduly on homeownership and that conversely not enough attention has been paid to ensuring there are enough homes for rent.

This has been a mistake, the body argues, because owning a home puts people who are vulnerable at a high risk of repossession.

Dermot Finch, director of the CFC, said: “The government is focusing too much on home ownership, and not enough on homes for rent.

“Demand for rented housing is increasing all the time - but supply isn’t keeping up. Unless this changes, the young and job movers will have difficulties finding somewhere decent to live.”