On October 24, Brighton & Hove City Council took a significant step toward addressing the city’s housing crisis by approving a new housing strategy: Homes for Everyone. This ambitious plan sets out to tackle a range of housing challenges unique to Brighton & Hove, with a strong focus on accessibility, affordability, quality, and safety for residents across the city. The new strategy aligns with the Council’s overarching 2023–2027 Plan to make Brighton & Hove a better place for all. Here’s a closer look at the priorities, the challenges, and the actions at the heart of this initiative.
Brighton & Hove is facing housing challenges on multiple fronts. Demand continues to rise, while the supply of affordable homes has not kept pace. Skyrocketing rents and housing prices are far outstripping the average income, putting significant pressure on residents and the local government. Adding to this, many properties in the city require substantial work to meet modern safety and sustainability standards.
The council is set to invest £89.7 million in council homes this year to ensure fire safety compliance, health standards, and energy efficiency. At the same time, the council is pushing to bring at least 2,000 genuinely affordable homes to completion, with 435 new affordable homes expected to be completed by year-end, including 90 additional council homes.
Homes for Everyone outlines five core priorities:
1. Improving housing quality, safety and sustainability
2. Delivering the homes Brighton & Hove needs
3. Preventing homelessness and meeting housing needs
4. Supporting independence, health and well-being
5. Providing resident-focused housing services
Following an 11-week public consultation earlier this year, where 347 responses were gathered, the council crafted the final strategy to reflect the community's concerns and ideas.
Councillor Gill Williams, Cabinet Member for Housing & New Homes, highlights that “Homes for Everyone is central to the council’s vision for a better Brighton & Hove for all.” She further explains that the council’s approach will be dynamic and adaptable, with annual reports on progress to ensure transparency and accountability.
The strategy goes beyond council housing to address issues in the private rental sector, a significant part of Brighton & Hove’s housing ecosystem. The council has introduced two new licensing schemes: an Additional Licensing Scheme for smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and a Selective Licensing Scheme for properties in specific wards. The response has been overwhelming, with over 3,600 applications already received, and a new team of officers is on board to help enforce standards.
Through these schemes, the council has adopted a zero-tolerance stance toward rogue landlords, seeking to provide renters with greater protections and create a more stable, secure housing environment.
The Homes for Everyone strategy is designed to do more than simply increase housing numbers. It’s about transforming Brighton & Hove’s housing market to be fairer, more inclusive, and sustainable over the long term.
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