Powers for local housing legislation should be granted to Wales, according to Welsh party Plaid Cymru.

Such a regionalisation of power would allow for more social housing to be built, as financial strategies could be studied at a local level, the party stipulates in its manifesto. Increased social housing would not only provide relief for those on lengthy council housing registers, but it would generate increased support roles such as housing management jobs.

Inside Housing reports that the party is seeking to encourage landlords and housing associations to bring derelict property back into use and reduce VAT on all home maintenance or improvements, in line with the National Federation of Property Professionals (NFoPP) manifesto.

Plaid Cymru state that housing has an immediate impact on life quality of individuals and as such stipulate that ''everybody should be able to obtain an affordable home of decent quality in the area where they want to live.''

With the rumour of a hung parliament floating around the media, the party could be in a favourable position to prevent cuts in public finance, cited in Inside Housing as demanding ''changes to the way that social housing is financed so that Treasury rules on borrowing no longer stand in the way of local authorities that want to build and maintain social housing.''

Housing is a contentious subject in the media and it is expected to become a big election talking point over the coming weeks, with all parties aiming to influence voters with their strategies to bolster housing quality and recruitment.