Future Cambridge council tenants will risk being turfed out of their homes following a Government announcement that it will introduce a five-year limit on new council tenancies.

Council tenants currently have a right to a secure tenancy for life. The government has tabled an amendment to the Housing and Planning Bill that sets a maximum of five-year terms for new secure tenancies.

Daniel Zeichner MP said: “This a sly attempt by the Government to quietly destroy the security of council housing through the backdoor. Hundreds of new tenants every year will now no longer feel secure in their home in Cambridge, but will fear being turfed out. That means moving children from school to school, it means no security, it means unstable local communities, and for many it will mean moving out of our city.

At the election, Labour promised more security for people in rented accommodation -; this callous move is exactly the opposite. Removing the right to a secure, stable home is frankly vicious. We’re already suffering a housing crisis in Cambridge and this will only make things worse.”