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GREENS CHALLENGE GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH RIGHT TO RENT IN TODAY’S BUDGET

01908 316921 07852 116809

NEWS RELEASE 22.4.09

Alan Francis, Green Party candidate for Milton Keynes North, has devised a new policy which both helps home owners threatened with repossession and creates more council housing. His ‘Right to Rent’ policy was adopted by the Green Party at its annual conference last autumn.

Mr Francis said, “The Green Party would include Right to Rent in its Budget. We want to see the government include it in today’s Budget. While the Labour government bails out the wealthy bankers the Greens would bail out ordinary home owners.”

People facing severe difficulties with paying their mortgage and facing re-possession should have a right to rent their existing home as council housing. Alan Francis said:

“Home owners who are unable to meet their mortgage payments and are under threat of repossession would have a right to transfer ownership to the council, at less than market value, in exchange for the right to remain in the home and pay rent as council tenants.

“There would be limits on the size and value of house covered by this policy and it would only apply to a sole house owned and occupied by a family or individual. The cost to the council would be covered by government grants or public loans.

“Homelessness and forced moves are a major cause of family breakdown. Allowing families to remain in their old homes as tenants keeps them together, allows them to retain their jobs, their children to stay at the same school and to retain existing support networks. Green Party research suggests a scheme of this type, given rising repossessions at present, would cost about £2.5 billion a year.

However, since Councils already face the consequences of dealing with family break up and re-housing those who are repossessed, the real cost would be a lot lower.

The Green Party estimates that several hundred home owners in Milton Keynes are in danger of repossession and could benefit from a Right to Rent scheme.

Mr Francis said, “The cost is a tiny fraction of what the government has spent bailing out the banks. This would allow thousands of families to stay in their homes and increase the stock of council housing. The stock of council housing has been eroded by the disastrous ‘Right to Buy’ policy introduced by the Conservatives and this has lead to lengthening waiting lists.” Ends

Contact: Alan Francis (01908) 316921

07852 116809 ahfrancis@gn.apc.org

Promoted by and on behalf of Milton Keynes Green Party, 6 Spencer St, New Bradwell, Milton Keynes, MK13 0DW