Co-op housing boost could be an election issue

Politicians are being urged to pledge a massive increase in co-op and mutual housing.

The independent Commission on Co-operative and Mutual Housing is seeking manifesto commitments from the major political parties, claiming mutual models produce better management and better communities.

The commission launched its final report last month, following an 18-month investigation. It says there is enough evidence to support the introduction of this housing model in every English community by 2030.

Co-op and mutual housing consistently produced above average resident satisfaction ratings and sound management, the report said. It also found people took more responsibility for their housing and had a heightened sense of community.

Commission chair and Building Societies Association director general Adrian Coles said: 'The report concludes that the English housing system would be an ideal policy arena in which co-operative and mutual approaches could be expanded to bring the UK in line with most other European countries which have far more developed sectors.

'Now that the report has been launched the hard work of implementation begins. The Commission hopes to obtain commitment from all major political parties that mutuality will have a significant place in future housing and community strategies.'

Mutual ownership in the public sector, described as John Lewis style public services, has been a major theme of both Labour and Conservative media interviews recently and the Commission's report has received statements of support from all major political parties.

Minister for housing John Healey said: 'I'd like to see more [co-operatives] follow in the footsteps of the 250 co-operatives already registered in England that have successfully led tenants to play a more active role in their local communities. This report is a very valuable contribution to the debate over how we may do this.'

Conservative housing shadow minister Grant Shapps said: 'We need to build homes through a bottom up process and we agree that communities should have the option of co-operative and mutual housing solutions.'

Liberal Democrat shadow housing minister Sarah Teather said: 'Co-operative and mutual housing is an important form of tenure that has historically been overlooked in the UK. I very much welcome the contribution that this report makes and hope it will reinvigorate the debate about the future of co-operatives.'

The Commission found that in the UK 0.6 per cent of housing is in the form of co-operatives and mutuals this compares to 18 per cent in Sweden, 15 per cent in Norway, eight per cent in Austria, six per cent in Germany and four per cent in Ireland.

• Read Accord Group CEO Chris Handy comment about the recently concluded Commission on Co-operative and Mutual Housing