Michael Gove has said he wants to see more social housing built, echoing promises made in his aborted 2016 Conservative leadership election campaign, and accused landlords of presiding over “scandalously poor” housing conditions.

The new secretary of state for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, speaking at a Conservative Party conference fringe event, added that he was concerned the supply of social housing hadn’t kept up with demand.

According to reports of the event, he also implied he will look to advance policies making it easier for potential first-time buyers to secure mortgage finance.

…