A NEW group has been established in Swindon which aims to campaign for numerous housing issues in the town.

The Swindon Housing Action Campaign is made up of a number of local organisations planning to tackle what they see as a housing crisis.

They want to see the issue of a shortage in council houses addressed, along with high house prices which are stopping many people getting onto the ladder.

Rising rents combined with a decline in the quality of housing in the rented sector is something they all want to see tackled.

Among those who will be handing out leaflets outlining their case will be the Swindon Tenants' Campaign Group, the People’s Assembly, the Swindon Green Party and the Labour Group.

They want to see a change to the current policy, especially the planned extensions to the Right To Buy policy, which they say will lead to further problems.

Kate Linnegar, of Swindon People’s Assembly, said: “For too long people have been struggling to find affordable, secure and decent homes.

"Shelter is a basic human right. The launch of SHAC gives people a voice to tackle the rogue landlords and to push the politicians to make positive changes.”

Swindon Tenants' Campaign Group secretary Martin Wicks said: “Given the direction of government policy the housing crisis can only get worse.

"The launch of SHAC is, therefore, important in highlighting the housing crisis and its human consequences.

“The town needs more council housing, not less, but the Government is abandoning support for social housing.

“With the rapidly growing PRS We need a movement which involves private tenants in campaigning against ‘rogue landlords’, for better living conditions, increased security of tenure, and more affordable rents.

“Without the right to a decent, affordable home, people cannot lead independent and settled lives.”

The Labour Group has said it fully supports the aims of the group.

Coun Steve Allsopp (Lab, Walcot and Park North) said: “Swindon needs a group like SHAC to press the case for decent affordable homes.

“Housing is in crisis with rents rising faster than inflation and earnings. The market solution is failing with housing needs increasingly unmet. Unless we change direction we are heading into an abyss.”

Andy Bentley, of the Swindon Green Party, said: “The Greens recognise that affordable, secure accommodation is a human need.

“Governments have failed to control runaway housing costs, protect tenants or ensure an adequate supply of housing.

"This has blighted lives and placed a huge financial burden on the people, in inflated house prices and rents, and on taxpayers as housing benefit costs have soared.”

However, the Government says its proposals will provide a boost to the housing market with thousands signing up to the Right To Buy Scheme.

Communities Secretary Greg Clark said: “Social housing tenants share the same hopes and dreams as everyone else. They live in the same towns, their children go to the same schools and they have the same ambitions for themselves and their families.

“They should be given the same opportunities, if they aspire to own their home.

"That is why we are extending Right To Buy to housing association tenants so they can have security of home ownership for themselves and their families.”