“Reports of an additional £39 billion grant funding for housing are welcome – access to safe and affordable housing is a fundamental right that has been unattainable for too many for too long.

However, affordable housing won’t be delivered by money alone – it needs builders receiving a fair wage for their work, robust legislation to protect tenants, and a green policy that ensures the costs of decarbonisation do not fall on low-income households. Progress on the Renters’ Reform Bill and Vagrancy Act, for example, would make a significant difference to reducing inequality in this country.

A human rights-based approach to affordable housing would provide cohesion between these policies, to deliver safe and secure housing that supports the creation of decent jobs, thriving communities and a sustainable path to net zero.”

— Gordon Miller, UK Built Environment Programme Manager, Institute for Human Rights and Business