"This is about ensuring we make the best use of our social housing, and that tenancies change as needs change," he said.
Its chief executive, Campbell Robb, said: "This is a welcome step in the right direction, and ministers now need to consider how to make longer tenancies a real choice for the families desperate for a more stable place to live".
First, he says Labour would legislate to make longer-term tenancies the standard in the private rented sector.
But Labour knows - I suspect - that the 9m people in England living in 3.8m rented homes will probably be hanging the bunting out (carefully, Blu-Tack only, nothing permanent etc) at the party's plans to make three-year tenancies the standard contract.
The Association of Residential Letting Agents said flexible tenancies were "what makes the sector work", and the CBI warned against "overburdening" landlords.
We will legislate to make three-year tenancies, not short-term tenancies, the standard for those who rent their homes in the private sector".
So Labour would legislate to make three-year tenancies the standard for people who rent their homes in the private sector.
Proposals to make social tenancies fixed term, offering a minimum of two years when currently the offer is 'stay forever if you like', will change the way people think about their homes and communities – people invest more time and money in property, friendships, and community activities if they see it as a long-term home.
Make it clear in the tenancy agreement that you reserve the right to enter your property at reasonable hours to check it is being kept in good condition or to make necessary repairs.
Yet, when the leader of the opposition makes a relatively sensible and modest proposal to cap rent rises, pegging them to a sensible benchmark and making longer tenancies the norm, as they are in many other countries, all hell breaks loose.
