Emma Reynolds MP, Labour’s Shadow Housing Minister, responding to the Home Truths report by the National Housing Federation which warns a whole generation won’t be able to buy or rent a home, said:

“The growing housing shortage is central to the cost-of-living crisis but this Government has refused to take the action needed and is presiding over the lowest levels of house building in peacetime since the 1920s.

“The failure of the Government to build the homes the country needs and to tackle the cost-of-living crisis will mean home ownership remains out of reach of low and middle-income earners, rents will continue to rise faster than wages and waiting lists will grow ever longer.

“This means increased costs for the taxpayer with the report finding that one working person every five minutes is turning to housing benefit to make ends meet.

“Labour is determined to tackle this housing crisis and will increase house building to at least 200,000 a year by 2020.”