WELWYN Hatfield MP and housing minister Grant Shapps today (Monday) announced the end of ‘council houses’ for life, in a radical shake up of social housing.

Mr Shapps and communities secretary Andrew Stunell unveiled what they called the “fundamental shift of power from Whitehall to councils and local housing associations”.

Mr Shapps says the move is “to help the most vulnerable”.

He added that currently around five million people are “languishing” on the waiting list for social housing.

The new rules, which only apply in England, mean that those who get a home are expected to move on when their financial situation improves.