Almost nine out of 10 councils are experiencing or anticipating an increase in demand for social housing, research from the Local Government Association has found. Of the council leaders surveyed, 57 per cent say they are seeing more people in need, while a further 31 per cent say they expect an increase in demand. Only
The House of Lords has ruled that social landlords do not have a duty of care to their tenants, after an elderly man was murdered by his neighbour. The man’s family took the case to the Lords in an attempt to prove that Glasgow council should have done more to protect the man, who was
And still on the Budget – the £100 million announced by Alistair Darling to help councils start building houses has been described as a ‘drop in the ocean’ after it emerged that as few as 900 homes will be created. Last year just 310 properties were built by councils in England, and since 1995 no
The government has announced it is to commission a major study into housing need to determine whether people want to rent, buy or are interested in shared ownership. The findings will play a major part on the government’s affordable housing goals, according to the housing minister who was giving evidence at a Communities and Local
Local government minister John Healy confirmed today that 360 councils will receive a share of £100 million to be used ‘as they see fit’ to meet local priorities. The money is coming from a scheme that rewards councils for successfully promoting economic growth in their area.
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has said private developers, local councils and housing associations must work better together to manage land supply more efficiently to boost the supply of affordable housing. It argues that a poor grasp of land economics, an over reliance on section 106 agreements and an aversion to risk is hindering
Twice as many people are losing their homes due to evictions by social landlords than mortgage repossessions, Shelter Scotland has warned. It found that 13.1 out of every thousand social housing tenants had an evictions decree granted against them, mostly for rent arrears. The rate for homeowners was 6.8 per thousand. The body representing councils,
Guidance on renegotiating section 106 agreements is to be released by the Homes and Communities Agency later this month. The guidance for local authorities and developers is needed following a High Court ruling last year that quashed Blythe Valley borough council’s 30 per cent affordable housing policy and a similar High Court challenge currently against
Gwyneth Taylor from the National Federation of ALMOs (arms length management organisations) argues that if government funding dries up for ALMOs, which manage council housing on behalf of local authorities, one million council tenants would be affected. The federation has put together a paper providing examples of activities ALMOs can undertake to deliver social housing,
A disabled pensioner of 73 is sleeping in an armchair because of a lack of suitable housing association homes for disabled people in her area. Mrs Cunningham was moved from one flat after being told it was unsuitable and placed in another property that was deemed unsuitable for a wheelchair user. Torbay council says it