A Message to the New Prime Minister

By Peter Luck, Managing Director, ROCC

Few jobs come with a bigger in-tray, and few issues matter more to everyday life than housing. At ROCC, we build maintenance and repairs optimisation software for housing associations, local authorities and maintenance contractors, so we see every day what a safe, well-kept home means to the people living in it. 

Therefore, I have a few thoughts on what I believe the sector needs most from this government, and how the Prime Minister and wider Labour Party can make a positive difference.

Early signals have been encouraging. Recently, the government announced a significant council house building programme, allocating nearly £10bn of the £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme. This first wave of funding aims to build around 70,000 homes, mostly for social rent, with priority given to families stuck in temporary accommodation. 

I also think handing mayors a strategic role is a sensible way to match investment to local needs, and the commitment to ending rough sleeping is the right ambition.

However, the proof is in the pudding. The programme itself predates the new Prime Minister’s arrival, and only a small share of this first round will be built by councils. The reality is that around 1.3 million households remain on waiting lists, and latest figures show a net loss of almost 3,900 social rent homes in England in 2024–25. Announcements matter, but completions matter more.

So where should the focus be? I would suggest four things.

First, look after the homes we already have. Every new build is welcome, but millions of tenants live in existing homes where slow repairs mean damp, cold, and stressful living conditions. Awaab’s Law and the updated Decent Homes Standard are the right reforms, and landlords want to meet them. But sector leaders have warned that the money for that work “cannot be funded from rents alone”. Funding for existing stock deserves the same attention as new supply.

Second, fund the new duties properly. The 10-year rent settlement at CPI+1% gave landlords welcome certainty. Councils have asked for faster rent convergence and for new responsibilities to come with full funding. Easing historic council housing debt would also free them to build.

Third, back the workforce and the data. Landlords need skilled repairs teams and better information about their homes. Good data lets a landlord spot a damp problem before it becomes a hazard, and technology can help teams meet Awaab’s Law deadlines without piling on admin.

Fourth, keep tenants at the centre. The tenant transparency measures and the new professional standards for housing staff are steps in the right direction. Success should be judged by whether tenants feel listened to and their homes get fixed.

At ROCC, our values are simple: people come first always, and stronger communities start at home. We give every colleague paid days to volunteer for causes they care about. Our Community Fund supports the towns where we live and work, and our Client Fund backs the charities that matter to our customers.

I would love to see the same instincts in national housing policy. That means decisions judged by their impact on real families and neighbourhoods, and partnership with the councils, housing associations, charities, and businesses doing the day-to-day work. 

Trust local organisations, fund what you ask of them, and measure success in warm, safe, secure homes.

The sector is ready for change and desperately needs assistance from the government. Organisations like ours are doing our bit; now we’d like to see our Prime Minister step up and do the same.