The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) raised concerns following the Prime Minister's speech to the Labour Party Conference, that housing risks losing profile in the next general election, and urged the sector to ensure that a new government focuses on housing as a major priority.

Sarah Webb, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), which represents over 22,000 housing professionals, said: "We face unprecedented demand for affordable, sustainable homes up and down the country and today are building less than half the homes we need. One of the key issues that hard working families are struggling with is housing - whether securing a decent rented house or being able to buy their own home. Without fundamental and far-reaching change these hopes and aspirations look set to move further out of reach, not closer."


The CIH said over the past ten years the government has taken the lead in delivering important changes in our housing landscape that have improved millions of lives.

Ms Webb continued: "The Prime Minister set out his vision for the Labour party's priorities for the future. Given this government's success with decent homes, market renewal, inner city regeneration and new investment in better affordable housing it makes it all the more disappointing that striving for a different housing recovery was not part of the vision set out yesterday. We urge the government to reflect and build on its achievements in housing and include housing as a centrepiece of realising the social and economic vision the Prime Minister has set out."

(CD/KMcA)