New panel to inform housing policy in London

A new housing panel is being set up to shape the capital’s housing policy. It will give voluntary and community sector organisations a formal way to engage regularly with the Mayor, GLA, and other decision-makers on housing issues affecting Londoners.

The panel, which is being set up by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Trust for London, will be made up of groups representing a wide range of perspectives, including social housing tenants, homeless households, leaseholders, students, and private renters. The panel will set its own agenda, which could include estate regeneration, the private rented sector, or students’ experience of housing in the capital.

The Mayor is investing £30,000 into the panel, with match funding from Trust for London.

Applications for the Chair and membership are now invited and will be considered by an independent selection panel. Appointments will be announced in June, with the first meeting to be held in late June.

The Chair will join the Mayor’s Homes for Londoners Board to ensure the London Housing Panel’s views are represented.
 
James Murray, Deputy Mayor for Housing & Residential Development, said: “All the Mayor’s housing policies have benefited from the input of tenants, campaigners, and other Londoners in developing them. The new London Housing Panel will help give organisations a formal way to feed their views into our thinking at City Hall, and I look forward to it being up and running soon.”
 
Bharat Mehta, Chief Executive of Trust for London, said: “Many people in our city are trapped in unaffordable, insecure and poor quality housing, with consequences for their health, wellbeing and even their children’s education. At Trust for London, we believe that communities and the people directly affected by housing issues have the best understanding of their needs, and should play an important role in finding and delivering solutions. The London Housing Panel is an important step to make this happen. We are pleased to be partnering with the Mayor to deliver the Panel, and warmly encourage stakeholders with knowledge of housing to find out more and get involved.”