| Boris - Housing Manifesto |
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London is one of the most desirable places to live in the country, offering better job prospects and cultural amenities than anywhere else in the UK. But the price of these benefits is a rising cost of living that is reducing Londoners' quality of life.
The single biggest effect on this is the cost of housing. House prices in London have accelerated faster than wages over the last eight years, and many Londoners now cannot afford to buy a home in their own city.
Those lucky enough to own their home have to work longer hours to meet ever-rising mortgage costs, and those still searching have to take on mountains of debt in order to get on the ladder.
After eight years under Labour's Ken Livingstone, housing waiting lists in some areas have almost tripled, while fewer affordable homes are being built and the quality of developments has declined. The number of first-time buyers in the city has almost halved.
We urgently need fresh thinking to get more homes built and to give a helping hand to those who want to own their own home.
We need a fresh approach to help low-income Londoners move off waiting lists and into homes that are affordable and high quality.
We need a new era of cooperation between London's Mayor and the borough councils, to forge the best solutions for local communities.
We must embrace fresh ideas and break with the tired approach of the past.
My vision is a London where the quality of what we build is as important as the quantity; a place where young families can afford a home of their own; a city where we value and protect open green spaces and historic views.
If elected, I will enact the following measures;
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