Tories have secret plan to raise rents, Housing Minister John Healey claims

HOUSING Minister John Healey claims he has unearthed details of a secret Conservative plan to implement massive rent increases if the Tories win this year’s general election.

Mr Healey told the Tribune that low-income families in Islington could be put at risk if David Cameron becomes prime minister.

Speaking at a meeting with Islington tenants and Labour members in the Town Hall last Thursday, he said: “I have, through Freedom of Information, obtained papers that show secret plans to raise rent levels in housing associations and council houses to market levels.

“They [the Conservatives] will also cut the long-term security that people have as tenants to private sector levels – in other words offering only six-month tenancies with two-month notice to quit.”

The information comes from minutes of a policy meeting in the summer between Conservative council leaders and top Conservative Party HQ housing advisors. 

Mr Healey is convinced it will form a central plank of Mr Cameron’s housing strategy – but admitted he has received no confirmation from the Tory leader despite sending three letters in the last four months.

While it is unlikely that a Lib Dem or Labour-run council would implement Conservative rent increase demands, Emily Thornberry, the Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, said a Conservative government would find ways of “coercing” Islington Council.

“I don’t think Conservative housing policy should be dismissed as something that is only relevant to Conservative-run councils,” she said. “It is clear that the main difference between the Conservatives and Labour is housing and voters should be made aware of that.”
TOM FOOT