In a recently drafted policy handbook, the Labour Party has revealed the blueprint from which their next general election manifesto may be built upon.

The handbook appears to show promise for the housing sector, as it looks like homeowners and renters alike could receive attention from Labour when it comes to the general election.

Included are targets to boost both housebuilding and homeownership, with the latter set at a rate of 70%. To aid this, Labour aims to set up a new comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme to help first-time buyers get onto the property ladder. This will see the government act as guarantors for those who can afford mortgage payments but are unable to save for a large deposit. There are also plans to give first-time buyers ‘dibs’ on new developments in their area, while also ‘redistributing demand’ for homes away from those who speculate on house prices.

The Party also wants to build more high-quality homes across the nation, with a focus on making ‘more’ of these genuinely affordable, though it isn’t stated what percentage of new homes that would include.

Leasehold is also targeted, with a pledge to bring the present system to an end through reforms which includes enacting legislation ‘as soon as possible’.

In other news for the sector, there is a plan to decrease the number of social homes being sold due to right-to-buy without ‘like-for-like’ social housing being built to replace them. Additionally, local authorities would be given the power to pioneer new models of strategic development for larger sites.

Support for the private rented sector is also mentioned in the handbook, including a ‘fundamental reform’ of the sector, giving tenants greater security via a new renters’ charter. This would include longer-term tenancies as standard, an end to no fault evictions, and introducing a national register of landlords.

Importantly there is also mention of a legally binding Decent Homes Standard 2, which would apply to all privately rented homes over the next decade.

Outside of the housing sector, there are proposals to improve the welfare safety net in the UK. One such pledge is to ensure that those receiving welfare support are treated with respect and dignity, with those values being placed at the heart of the social security system. Other pledges include reducing the use of foodbanks across the nation; reforming the system of Universal Credit, ensuring that it works for everyone; and generally making the social security system is supportive and accessible.

You can read the full list of proposals that are in the policy handbook here.