Rent to Own Policy Article with Cllr Grace Williams

The housing crisis blights the lives of so many in Leyton and Wanstead. But building more affordable homes is only part of the solution. We also need action to rebuild access to ownership for first-time buyers.

I’ve been working on a policy that would unlock this shift for many, which I call Rent to Own. In essence, it rewards long-term tenants whose landlord is seeking to exit the rental market with targeted support, providing them with a much easier and more affordable route to buy their home.

At a time when the country’s finances are very tight, this policy would be low cost, whilst delivering life-changing benefits to families who want the greater stability and lower bills that can come from home ownership.

Grace Williams has worked with me on this and has been serving on the First-Time Buyer Commission set up by Enfield Council. I will keep pushing this forward with housing experts and Government Ministers, alongside my work to support constituents and push for all the policies we need to tackle this crisis.

Read the summary of Rent to Own alongside the Commission’s full report: Rebuilding the ladder: The definitive set of reforms for first-time buyers