Sadiq Khan names membership of London housing panel

The London mayor has announced the make-up of the panel that he hopes will shape housing policy for the capital.

Representatives from 15 organisations will sit on the panel, which will work with Sadiq Khan’s (pictured) housing team to develop housing policies.

Made up of representatives from a range of groups including social housing tenants, homeless households, leaseholders, students and private renters, the group’s first meeting will be in London on 25 June.

Established jointly with charity Trust for London, the panel will be backed with £60,000, sourced equally from the mayor’s office and Trust for London, to fund its work.

A spokesperson for the mayor’s office said the funding was for the current financial year, during which the group will meet three times.

“We’ve agreed to set this up for a year initially. As we approach the end of 2019/20 we will review how the panel is functioning and decide whether to continue.”

James Murray, deputy mayor for housing and residential development, said: “Over the last three years, our housing policies have benefited greatly from having involved tenants, campaigners and other Londoners in developing them.

“We look forward to continuing this approach through the new London Housing Panel and making sure our housing policies are always developed with the input of Londoners themselves.”

Raji Hunjan is the panel’s newly appointed chair. Hunjan, who is chief executive of anti-poverty charity Zacchaeus 2000 Trust, will also join the Mayor’s Homes for Londoners Board, to air the panel’s views.

Of the work the panel would do, Hunjan said: “The 15 organisations […] work to empower communities and individuals who have faced unacceptable housing problems which include poor conditions, discrimination and unaffordable rent.

“As chair, I am looking forward to using our collective knowledge and diversity of expertise to influence the mayor’s housing policies. All Londoners should benefit from more housing stability, despite their income or their circumstances,” she added.