Asked how they would respond if a party made housing one of its top three priorities for the next Parliament, 38% of respondents said they would be more likely to vote for them compared with 12% who would be less likely to vote for the party. Housing is a swing issue for the General Election, with 44% of undecided voters more likely to vote for a party that made housing a priority. Among private renters, 59% would be more likely to vote for a party that makes housing a priority.
When respondents were asked which party had the best policies to help people struggling to buy a home, Labour came out on top with 21% to the Conservatives’ 18%, but dwarfing both those figures, 47% said they didn’t know. Half (50%) said they didn’t know which party had the best policies to help people struggling to rent a home; the same proportion of private renters couldn’t identify the best party either.
Respondents were asked if they agreed that the government’s housing policy had helped private renters and was on track to solve the housing crisis. Just over a fifth (22%) agreed, compared to 37% who disagreed. Unsurprisingly, Conservative voters were more likely to agree (37%) and Labour voters more likely to disagree (46%), but Liberal Democrat voters were less likely to agree that the coalition had been good for renters – 30% agreed compared to 51% who disagreed.
From the private tenant struggling to make the monthly rent, to the home owner whose children can’t buy their first home, the housing crisis is looming over Britain and it’s not going away under this government. Voters want a party that will make housing a priority, but when half of them don’t even know who is offering the best deal it’s clear that politicians are not taking it seriously enough.
At yesterday’s Hustings, representatives from the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Greens had a go at pitching their housing solutions to our audience of renters, but it will take a lot more work to get through to voters by May.
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