Homes challenges
In general, the housing and homelessness situation in the North East is more in line with the national picture, and we may even be doing a little better in areas such as housing affordability and numbers of rough sleepers. But there is no doubt that being in line with England is not enough when as a nation we face a situation that is dire enough to be characterised by some campaigning charities as a ‘housing emergency’ or ‘housing crisis.’ And we must recognise that many people in our region do not yet enjoy their right to a decent and secure home.
- National challenges: lack of affordable, adequate and good quality housing; inadequate regulation of the private rented sector and issues with housing quality and security of tenure; unacceptable levels of homelessness and rough sleeping.
- North East England challenges: supply of affordable and social housing in e.g. coastal and rural areas; expanding private rented sector with potential quality and security of tenure issues; serious shortage of accessible housing and possible discrimination in the rental market; higher numbers of indebted households at risk of repossession.
