Barnet Council has addressed the borough's housing crisis with a motion welcoming government support, as discussed in a council meeting on 8 July 2025.
The motion, introduced by Councillor Ross Houston, acknowledges the severity of the housing situation in Barnet. The motion (Administration motion in the name of Cllr Houston) welcomes the Labour Government's transformative package for housing, which includes £39 billion of investment over ten years, a commitment to building a generation of new towns, and almost £1 billion to support councils in providing temporary accommodation.
As of 2023/24, 4,437 households were on the waiting list for social housing. Furthermore, as of March 2025, over 1,200 families are in temporary accommodation, costing the council millions annually. The motion also highlighted that 17% of Barnet residents were earning below the Real Living Wage in 2024.
To address these issues, the motion resolves to request that the Leader of the Council, Councillor Barry Rawlings, write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, congratulating them on the government's transformative package for housing in Barnet and beyond. Additionally, it requests that the Cabinet consider bringing forward an item on its agenda to report on how this effort by the Labour Government can be harnessed in Barnet. The specific timeline for this report is not mentioned.
The motion was carried with 34 votes in favour and 16 against.
