Lib Dems call for 150,000 social homes a year as Gideon Amos MP presents “missing half” of Labour’s Housing Bill

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats are today [Thursday 10th September] introducing a Private Member’s Bill to drastically scale up the UK's housing ambitions, establishing a legal target of 150,000 new social homes built each year while embedding "Heat Ready" standards into all new developments.

Speaking ahead of the Second Reading of the Government’s Social Housing Bill tomorrow, Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson Gideon Amos MP framed his legislation as the "missing half" of ministers' current plans. Calling for truly affordable homes as part of government plans, the party has warned that Labour’s approach lacks the scale needed to solve the housing crisis or protect residents from climate change.

The proposed legislation gives local councils control over Right to Buy rules and receipts, while creating a rent-to-equity route for tenants to build home equity through regular rent payments.

To future-proof developments, the Liberal Democrats have also called for mandated air conditioning in all new builds that would be powered by solar panels under the Lib Dem "Sunshine Bill", alongside passive cooling measures such as expanded tree planting to prevent residential overheating.

Liberal Democrat Housing and Communities Spokesperson, Gideon Amos MP, said:

"The Government’s Housing Bill, on its own, is only half a plan. Our proposal provides the missing half: building 150,000 social homes a year, giving councils control over Right to Buy, and helping tenants build equity through their rent.

“Crucially, these homes must also be fit for the future, rather than built simply to hit quotas. By pairing mandatory solar panels with air conditioning, we can keep homes cool and energy bills low as a changed climate becomes the norm.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

• The Social Housing Bill’s Second Reading takes place in Parliament today [Thursday 10th September 2026].
• Gideon Amos MP will present his Private Member’s Bill as a direct, complementary alternative to expand on the Government’s current legislative framework.