Shelter want to put housing at the centre of the Mayoral election and have just launched a Homes for London website.
The housing and homelessness charity wonders why London doesn't have a body overseeing housing, a bit like TfL does for transport, when every single one of us needs somewhere to live. As all types of housing get more and more expensive and not enough new homes are built, Shelter has four policy suggestions:
- build more homes that Londoners can afford
- develop rental contracts that offer stability and security to tenants
- identify and prosecute rogue landlords
- create a one-stop-shop lettings service connecting good landlords and tenants and cutting out dubious fees
The site also has a 'journey planner' that can help you calculate how long you'd need to save a deposit to buy in your chosen area, how long you'll be waiting for social housing or how much you'll likely need for a rental deposit. Rarely has such a nifty device been so depressing.
Shelter will also keep track of what the Mayoral candidates are saying about this important issue.
