Homes for the North reflects on today’s Inside Housing coverage of the Government’s plans for rent convergence and wider policy reforms.
The Government’s announcement of a phased reintroduction of rent convergence, alongside a new social housing taskforce, reforms to Section 106, upgraded Decent Homes Standards, and strengthened energy efficiency requirements, signals a significant shift in national housing policy.
At Homes for the North, we welcome renewed focus on long-term certainty and a more strategic approach to unlocking affordable housing supply. Long-standing underinvestment, particularly across the North, has constrained the ability of providers to build and maintain the homes our communities need.
Research commissioned by Homes for the North shows the scale of this challenge—many northern areas face viability constraints driven by low land values, high remediation costs on brownfield sites, and ageing stock in need of substantial upgrade or replacement.
Rent convergence, (where some rents have historically been held artificially low) implemented carefully, can help to improve financial capacity across the sector, to invest in both new homes and existing stock. It is crucial that this is done in a way that protects tenants from unaffordable increases while enabling housing associations to meet rising quality expectations, including tackling damp and mould and delivering warm, energy‑efficient homes.
The policy reforms highlighted—especially the strengthened Decent Homes Standard and the expectations for energy upgrades—will require major investment. Evidence presented in our previous regeneration and redevelopment research shows that thousands of homes across the North will require full refurbishment or replacement in the coming years if they are to meet new regulatory standards and deliver the quality residents deserve.
We therefore urge government to work closely with northern providers, ensuring that rent policy, capital funding, and the new taskforce are aligned to unlock growth where the need—and opportunity—is greatest.
A stable, long-term settlement will help us deliver more homes, improve existing neighbourhoods, and support people and communities of the North to reach their full economic potential.
Homes for the North will continue to champion a strong northern voice in national housing policy and advocate for the tools needed to deliver the homes our residents and communities deserve.