A snap general election will take place on 4 July 2024. But will the next government tackle the problems faced by shared owners?
This is a critical week as political parties are busy finalising their manifestos. Don’t miss the opportunity to help make sure the next government commits to improving shared ownership.
When?
Parties could publish their manifestos on or around 7 June 2024. Consequently, there is very little time left to raise shared ownership as an important election issue. If improving shared ownership matters to you, make contacting your candidates the one thing you do today!
How?
1. Find out who is running as a candidate in your area.
You can use this online tool to find your local candidates and their email addresses.
2. Email your candidates
Ask your candidates what their party will do for shared owners…? You may have specific questions relating to your own situation. And/or perhaps the suggested questions – below – might be helpful. Don’t forget to explain why the issues matter to you.
- What will your party do to make sure that shared ownership stays affordable over the long-term?
- What will your party do to help more shared owners staircase to 100%?
- Will a government led by your party implement the recommendations made by the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee in their highly critical report on shared ownership?
- The advertising watchdog (Advertising Standards Authority) has upheld a number of complaints about misleading advertising of shared ownership homes. Shared owners are currently excluded from the New Homes Quality Board’s Code of Practice. What will your party do to tackle mis-selling of shared ownership, and to ensure that purchasers of new-build shared ownership homes have the same rights and consumer protections as any other homebuyer?
- What will your party do to help shared owners trapped by the building safety crisis, who can’t sublet or sell their home?
Why? Will my email make any difference?
Emailing the candidates in your constituency will add to the visibility of the problems that shared owners, like you, face. The LUHC Committee made some valuable recommendations following their inquiry into shared ownership. However, there is a risk that their report will not be followed up, following the general election.
However, candidates will generally refer to their political parties before they reply so every single email will help add pressure and make fixing problems faced by shared owners a priority.
Featured image: cookie_studio, Freepik
What will be done to tackle those who are now trapped with the SO houses and can’t sell them?
It’s a very good question. Please do raise it with general election candidates in your local constituency.
Shared ownership is not affordable, especially if have one income with all the bills unaffordable and leaving with nothing to live on and work hard too just feels like never achieving anything, private rent also unaffordable too.
Housing association does not help in anyway not even a percentage off repairs. And they are hard to sell