Housing Policy

The country faces a housing crisis, primarily due to deliberate policies promoting mass immigration pursued by successive Labour and Conservative governments since 1997. We contend that this issue can only be resolved through remigration. However, additional challenges within the housing sector must also be addressed. Our subsequent policies focus on tackling the immediate issues, while over time, our comprehensive remigration policies will help stabilise house prices and improve rental availability.

It is our ambition that every British family should have a decent home with space to raise a family. Moreover, we aspire to provide more for the British people: safe and thriving communities with good transport links and access to green spaces.

This vision cannot be achieved if the “free market” allows investors to buy property as an asset to leave derelict, construct poor-quality housing for maximum profit, or monopolise cheaper housing to rent at excessively high rates. A degree of state intervention is, therefore, essential. At the same time, we acknowledge that the private sector has an important role to play. We recognise the British aspiration to home ownership and understand that not everyone wishes for the state to be their landlord. As custodians of our homeland, we assert that housing policy should serve the interests of citizens above those of investors.

To this end, we propose the largest building programme since the Second World War. However, we will not surrender to the trend of consuming ever more green spaces for new housing. Our landscapes are our birthright. Instead, we seek to reinvigorate and regenerate our towns and cities. Many of our mid-sized cities have been neglected, leading to widespread decay. New developments have often been approved without regard for beauty, heritage, or regional character. As a result, too many of our towns have become indistinguishable, lacking the unique qualities that once made them vibrant and memorable.

While we firmly believe that our country should be a true homeland, we also recognise that our villages, towns, and cities must be places that uplift the human spirit and inspire ambition. New buildings should evoke pride and reflect the values and aspirations of their communities.

1. The True Scale of the Housing Crisis

In 2023, a housing supply shortfall estimated at 8 million dwellings was identified.(1) An analysis of population and housing growth since 1997 reveals that the net growth in dwellings has kept pace with natural population growth (excluding additional births attributed to migrants). However, it has not matched the rates of immigration-driven population growth.(2)

To keep up with immigration-driven population growth, the UK would have needed to sustain new dwelling construction at the fastest historical rate—achieved in 1953. This rate is 25% higher than the recent average. As a result, even if population growth were to cease entirely, it would take over 10 years to eliminate the shortfall at the 1953 rate of building. At the current rate, the catch-up period would extend to more than 13 years

2. Rethinking Cities

The traditional model of cities is no longer viable. The retail-centric urban model of the past is unlikely to return, requiring an entirely new approach to urban planning. The Homeland Party believes it is time to reclaim our cities from transient student populations, reversing the creeping “studentification” that has eroded community cohesion.

The over-expansion of universities has led to decent homes being carved up into overcrowded, low-quality bedsits for students, creating transient communities living in often squalid conditions. We will reverse this to ensure key workers can live in their towns. We will no longer allow universities to use young people as cash cows or permit them to expand without building corresponding on-campus accommodations.

For cities to become truly liveable spaces, the Party proposes the demolition of redundant retail centres and under-occupied office buildings. In their place, we will construct modern, stylish apartment blocks no taller than four stories, complimented by wide, tree-lined boulevards and ample below-street parking.

To foster safe and vibrant communities, we will invest in local policing and drug rehabilitation programmes, addressing issues such as vagrancy and crime. Our vision is the creation of genuine urban communities, where people can thrive.
The Party is committed to rebuilding cities with independent power supplies, integrated into district heating systems, to provide residents with affordable energy and warm homes. We will prioritise leisure facilities, including swimming pools, playing fields, gyms, and free-to-use community spaces, ensuring cities are places of vitality and wellbeing.

The Party also recognises that many small-town high streets have become shabby and derelict. Urban decay spreads like cancer, and we are determined to stop it. To address this, the Party will introduce a “use it or lose it” policy for derelict commercial properties. Councils will have a statutory obligation to compulsorily purchase such properties and restore them to saleable condition. Owners will have the right to appeal and will be granted a 12-month period to begin restoration works. To incentivise timely completion, business rate exemptions or other tax discounts will be offered for projects completed within two years.

Urban densification—the strategic increase in population density within existing urban areas—is a cornerstone of our vision. It is not merely a response to housing shortages but a proactive step towards creating vibrant, equitable, and environmentally sustainable cities. By embracing urban densification, we unlock opportunities for innovation in housing, mobility, and community living, ensuring that our urban spaces are fit for the future.

3. Heritage and Beauty

The Party will establish national guidelines on heritage and beauty for all new developments. Utilitarian cost-cutting has significant negative consequences for public morale and property owners, particularly when an ugly building diminishes the character of a neighbourhood.

This oversight was glaring in the post-war era, which saw the construction of ugly concrete monstrosities of zero architectural value. These structures continue to blight our cityscapes today. Most were never designed to last a century, and with the advent of home working, many are now under-occupied. The Party believes that these buildings could—and should—be demolished, clearing the way for developments that enhance our urban landscapes and reflect our rich architectural heritage.

Where practical, all new buildings should reflect the local character, using local materials. To empower residents, the Party will introduce a Heritage Veto Petition system, enabling communities within a district to have a say in the design of new developments.

The Party will mandate and encourage design competitions for significant new developments, particularly in historic or sensitive areas, to ensure architectural excellence and community engagement. These competitions could involve local architects or students to foster local talent. Alongside the policy to demolish outdated or unattractive structures, the Party will promote the adaptive reuse of older buildings where demolition is unnecessary. Converting old industrial structures into residential or mixed-use developments will preserve architectural heritage while addressing housing needs.

The Party will introduce a system where particularly well-designed or culturally significant new buildings can achieve ‘landmark’ status, protecting them from future modifications that could detract from their value. Such buildings could become points of local pride and tourism. This system will operate alongside the existing ‘listed’ status framework and will not affect it.

For larger developments, the Party will require cultural impact assessments, akin to environmental impact assessments, as part of the planning process. These assessments will evaluate how proposed buildings might influence the cultural fabric of an area, ensuring that new developments enhance, rather than detract from, local heritage. The ultimate objective is to foster pride in the places people call home.

The Party believes there are too many cars littering our streets, in some cases, dangerously so. New urban residential developments over three stories tall will be required to provide adequate underground parking. All care must be taken to promote peaceful communal spaces. Removing the blight of parked cars is central to this.

4. Building New Private Sector Housing

The Party will discourage the construction of sprawling housing estates on farmland and greenbelt. Many such developments owe their existence to “white flight,” transforming towns into soulless commuter dormitories where residents spend little time engaging with the places they call home.

Increasingly, families are opting for so-called “Barratt boxes” as an entry point to the housing ladder, often moving far from their places of employment and enduring lengthy, congested commutes. This phenomenon is largely driven by uncontrolled immigration, which is unsustainable and erodes the character of the country. The Party strongly opposes this pattern of urban sprawl. Each time a new housing estate is approved—for example, in Cambridgeshire, sprawling ever further from London—we reinforce the unsustainable idea of four-hour daily commutes. Planners and local politicians then bemoan congestion and strained rail capacity, perpetuating a cycle of poor urban planning.

The Party’s densification and city renewal programme, combined with an extensive remigration policy, will significantly reduce the need for new housing estates. While the Party will not dictate to local authorities, we will establish minimum floor space standards. Cramped living conditions are a known factor contributing to demographic decline, and ensuring adequate living spaces is essential.

The Party will streamline planning regulations to encourage development but will uphold rigorous standards. All housing will be required to meet regulations ensuring insulation against damp and noise, with adequate storage space. We will also ensure that housing developers prioritise the use of British materials and labour. Tax incentives will be offered to companies that invest in domestic supply chains and local employment, fostering economic resilience and reducing dependency on foreign imports.

5. Banning Foreign Ownership

The Party will ban non-residential foreigners from purchasing and owning residential property in this country. Foreigners who are legally present as guests, temporary workers, or spouses will be permitted to purchase property only on the condition that they reside in it. Citizenship and residency checks will be required at the conveyancing stage, prior to finalising any purchase.

Second home ownership or commercial rental property ownership by non-residential foreigners will not be permitted. Those convicted of abusing the system will face property confiscation and subsequent remigration in line with our policy.

The Party will also implement a fair and phased compulsory open-sale programme for residential properties currently owned by non-residential foreigners. This process will be staged to avoid market disruption, with owners given 12 months to list their property for sale when notified.

6. Helping First-Time Buyers

To help young people, particularly those on lower incomes, achieve homeownership, the Party will introduce a tax-advantaged savings scheme specifically for first-time buyers. Contributions to these savings accounts will be deducted directly from an employee’s salary before tax, functioning similarly to private pension contributions. This scheme will be exclusively available to non-migrants.

When an individual uses these savings to purchase a home, they will be eligible for an income tax rebate equal to one year’s contributions, provided they earn under £40,000 per year. For married couples, this rebate will double, recognising the importance of family stability in homeownership. If the funds are not used for purchasing a home by the age of 40, they may be lawfully transferred into a private pension fund, ensuring long-term financial security for participants, or alternatively, withdrawn after applicable taxes are paid.

7. Reforming the Planning System

While the Party prioritises densification, we will reclaim brownfield sites and take decisive action to eliminate land banking (the practice of buying land as an investment without developing it). To achieve this, the Party will deregulate processes to ensure brownfield sites can be safely recommissioned more quickly. Planning rules will be overhauled to streamline procedures, shorten timelines, and remove unnecessary regulatory burdens.

To expedite these reforms, the Party will consult with developers, placing particular emphasis on removing onerous Net Zero measures that hinder progress. The recent Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) house building market study(3) highlights the urgent need for reform: only 12% of planning applications for development projects are determined within 13 weeks, and direct costs associated with these applications can range from hundreds of thousands to millions of pounds. Much of this overhead can be reduced by devolving greater powers to local authorities.

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8. Regulating Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

HMOs play an important role in providing housing for young and single people. However, they require more stringent licensing and inspection, not least because overcrowded HMOs often serve as a means for illegal immigrants to undercut native labour, undermining fair employment practices.

The Party will enforce mandatory licensing for all HMOs, removing exemptions based on size or household criteria. Licensing will include a strict occupancy standard of four occupants per bathroom to prevent properties from being turned into overcrowded flop houses. To ensure compliance, the Party will introduce the following measures:

  • Inspection and Enforcement: Local authorities will no longer be obligated to rehouse individuals evicted due to a landlord’s breach of HMO regulations. Districts will appoint specialist inspectors to conduct regular checks.
  • Tenant Awareness: Landlords will be required to provide tenants with copies of HMO standards upon signing tenancy agreements.
  • Prohibiting Substandard Living Conditions: Outbuildings used as “beds in sheds” will be outlawed.

The Party will also establish a mandatory national register of HMO landlords. This register will include a points-based penalty system, similar to driving licences, where accumulating points beyond a set threshold will result in a five-year ban on letting properties. To prevent local authorities from turning a blind eye to the use of HMOs for illegal migrants, the statutory obligation to re-home any non-national evicted on inspection shall be removed.

9. Social Housing

The Party believes that strong, multi-generational communities are essential to building a homeland. Everyone should have the right to live close to where they call home. Social housing is not just about bricks and mortar; it is about anchoring our people to their land, fostering a sense of belonging, and strengthening loyalty to our country. By ensuring that every citizen has access to safe, affordable, and dignified housing, we create cohesive communities and reinforce the social fabric of the nation.

Through our social housing policies, we will maintain the architectural and historical integrity of our neighbourhoods, protecting our national character from the dilution of globalisation. Every housing project and community development plan is an opportunity to celebrate our heritage, preserve our architectural styles, and ensure future generations inherit a landscape that reflects our history and values.

The family is the foundation of society, and social housing supports its stability. By providing stable environments where hard-working families can thrive, we cultivate a future where children grow up with a strong sense of identity and allegiance to our homeland. This stability is crucial for preserving cultural, moral, and social values. The Party will ensure that housing policies are equitable, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of all community members, allowing everyone to live with dignity, contribute to their community, and share in the benefits of a stable and kinship-based society.

The Party will establish national housing standards to ensure that all homes meet high-quality construction requirements. Tough penalties will be imposed for substandard building practices. Social housing must provide adequate space, storage, and facilities, including a kitchen capable of fitting essential appliances—a fridge, washing machine, freezer, tumble dryer, dishwasher, and most importantly, a dining table. Properties will also be required to have proper parking, bin bays, and both upstairs and downstairs toilets.

Social housing should be forever homes for young families wherever possible. These homes must be well-served by essential local services, including schools, GP surgeries, community centres, and sports facilities, ensuring that families have access to the infrastructure needed to thrive.

The Party recognises that the elderly are integral to the community. All new social housing developments will include a dedicated quota of adapted homes for later living. Additionally, assistance will be provided for vulnerable elderly people seeking to downsize, ensuring they can remain part of their communities while living in homes suited to their needs.

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10. Private Rentals

The rental market is currently characterised by fierce competition, driven primarily by a supply-demand imbalance. This shortage has led to rising calls for regulation to curb unethical landlord practices. However, while targeted regulation can address specific issues, excessive intervention often adds bureaucratic layers and costs that ultimately increase the financial burden on tenants. The most effective long-term solution is to increase the supply of rental properties, ensuring a more balanced market where unethical practices naturally diminish.

The Party aims to be pro-tenant but not anti-landlord, fostering a rental market that works for both. We recognise that many individuals rent due to barriers in accessing homeownership, particularly difficulties in securing a mortgage. To address this, we will advocate for a policy where consistent rent payments contribute positively to a tenant’s credit record, helping renters qualify for mortgages in the future. The Party will engage with financial institutions to implement this reform, ensuring that responsible tenants are not unfairly locked out of homeownership.

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  1. House of Lords Built Environment Committee, Meeting Housing Demand: 1st Report of Session 2021–22, HL Paper 132 (London, UK Parliament, 10 January 2022), p. 19. “A study by Professor Glen Bramley of Herriot-Watt University, based on analysis of the UK Household Longitudinal Study, estimated that almost 8 million people were experiencing some form of housing need, including overcrowded households, those living with family members who would rather not do so, and those with unaffordable accommodation.” ↩︎
  2. Sources for Graph: Immigration and Natural Change (2022): The Impact of Migration on UK Population Growth – Migration Observatory, University of Oxford.
    Population in 2023: ONS Annual Mid-Year Population Estimates (Released 23 November 2023).
    (Natural change data is not yet available for 2024.)
    ONS Long-Term International Migration (2024): Provisional Data for Year Ending June 2024.
    Dwellings Data: ONS Families and Households Dataset (Released 9 November 2023).
    ONS Household Estimates and Projections Across the UK (Released 9 March 2022).
    Assumptions: The average household size is assumed to match the historic trend of 2.36 people per household. The ratio of total dwellings to population characterising the “adequately housed population” dataset is defined by the 8 million person shortfall in 2023. ↩︎
  3. Competition and Markets Authority. Housebuilding Market Study. UK Government, published 28 February 2023 ↩︎
  4. Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, Independent Review into Legal Challenges Against Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, UK Government, published 28 October 2024, ↩︎
  5. ShortTermRentalz, ‘Tens of Thousands of UK Council Homes Used for Illegal Holiday Lets’, 3 January 2024. ↩︎
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