13
Nov
Beckett speaks of turning social renters into homeowners
Housing minister Margaret Beckett has said she is keen to find ways
of turning people who rely on social housing into first-time buyers
or private sector renters.
Ms Beckett made her remarks at a speech to the Smith Institute in
London last night.
She said: "If people could find greater security and stability in
the private rented sector, or could take advantage of low cost
homeownership, then perhaps fewer would think that social housing
was their only option."
The minister used the occasion to deny a newspaper report that she
was considering ending lifelong tenancies in council housing in
favour of a system under which tenants would have their means
frequently re-assessed.
Ms Beckett insisted that the housing green paper was still being
developed and that no decisions have been made yet, although she is
keen to see a change to the status quo.
The minster may be questioned publicly about this in Dover tonight
as she is due to appear on the BBC Question Time panel.
