<p>Trust, aspiration and responsibility lie “at the heart” of the housing challenge, the housing secretary James Brokenshire said today (June 27).</p><p>In a wide ranging speech at the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) conference in Manchester, Brokenshire explained what the government intended to do to ensure these three crucial elements were fulfilled, including confirmation that new build houses will be sold only as freehold properties to ensure “fairer housing”, and the launch of a consultation on a new homes ombudsman.</p><p>Local authorities and housing associations needed to be trusted to build, Brokenshire said. He opened the bidding process for £2 billion of funding until 2029 for housing associations to deliver additional affordable homes through long term strategic partnerships. “This gives them the confidence and responsibility to deliver.”</p><p>On aspiration, Brokenshire announced that the government would support 19 new garden villages. One of these is a dementia-friendly community village at St George’s Barracks in Rutland, involving the elderly living safely and independently in their own homes.</p><p>The housing secretary also told the audience that Homes England would renegotiate Help to Buy contracts to ban leasehold houses “other than in exceptional circumstances”.</p><p>Leaseholds, the housing minister indicated, tied in with Brokenshire’s responsibility theme, with the minister confirming …