Derelict houses ”to be turned into social homes”
The housing minister has announced new funding in order to help those with local government social housing jobs to salvage empty homes which have fallen into disrepair – or disrepute.
John Healey pointed out that empty homes are often used as dens for anti-social behaviour such as drugs or vandalism.
He said that £1 million in funding would be going to help councils deal with the problem, with 17 local authority areas known to be particularly stricken getting extra support.
The derelict homes will be renovated and restored as social properties, creating up to 10,000 front line social housing jobs.
"Councils already have strong legal powers to force the owners of empty properties to act and if necessary take over homes, but these powers are often neither used or understood properly," Mr Healey said.
He added that empty and run-down homes were "a blight on communities".
The housing minister announced last week that guideline rents for councils homes would be halved in 2010 and 2011.
Affordable housing project unveils 30 homes, promises more to come
A brand-new 30-home social housing project has been unveiled by its creators, amid promises of more developments to come – in news which could create more social housing jobs.
Terry Fuller, the regional director of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). officially launched the new development in Bury St Edmonds this week.
The £4 million-backed scheme has provided space for up to 30 affordable housing tenants.
The chief executive of Havebury – the housing company behind the development – Steve Cook said that the homes were completed ahead of schedule and their prime location next to the town centre was only the first stage of several affordable housing projects to come.
"Nearly 2,000 people are currently on the register for an affordable home home in this area so building new homes is something we care about doing and doing it well," he added.
The HCA recently granted £27 million in record funding to kickstart a £1 billion social housing scheme in Hackney.
Social housing rent guidelines to be halved
Guideline rent increases for tenants in social housing will be halved for 2010-11, the housing secretary has announced.
John Healey assured those in social housing jobs that this did not mean that rents would be increased sharply in the year after but that it was merely a sign of the government’’s commitment to keeping rent at levels achievable for all tenants.
Instead, Mr Healey asserted, it is central government which is feeling the effects of the cost-cutting.
His decision is thought to have been affected by the housing crisis which was put into overdrive through the economic downturn.
"This government’’s priority during this downturn has been – and will continue to be – ensuring that council rents remain as affordable and fair as possible to tenants," Mr Healey added.
The housing secretary announced in recent days that greater powers of protection against repossessions would be given to tenants in affordable housing whose landlords were facing financial difficulty.
Healey: More powers for private tenants
The housing minister has announced extra powers that will be given to private tenants, those in social housing jobs may benefit from hearing.
John Healey said that too many tenants in privately rented accommodations suffer from their landlord’’s financial woes and pointed out that new parliamentary plans set out today (February 3rd) could mean that all prospective renters have access to details about their landlords” track records through a national database.
He added that by the summer, a hotline should be in place allowing tenants free and easy access to help and support should there be legal difficulties or other problems with their lets.
Protection will also be extended to 150,000 more people on short-term lets.
"Over three million families live in private rented housing and while the majority of tenants say they”re happy with their homes and landlords many do face problems with their landlord and should have better help and protection on hand," he added.
A backbench bill announced on Monday (February 1st) aims to give tenants greater protection from any repossession issues their landlord may face.
Young people raise social housing issues
Tens of young people have expressed their views on social housing at an event run by the Tenant Services Authority (TSA).
The regulator’’s My House, My Street, My Say! event saw around 100 attendees discuss issues they are concerned about with those social housing jobs, with topics such as youth centres and dealing with dangerous animals among those raised.
Giving young people a greater say about their communities was also one of the issues brought up.
"This event has given young people a voice – a chance to tell us what matters most to them about social housing and the neighbourhoods in which they live," TSA chief executive Peter Marsh states.
Fintan Tynan, resident empowerment manager for London-based housing association Poplar HARCA, adds that some young tenants do not always have the confidence to speak to their landlord about issues.
Research released by the TSA last September revealed satisfaction among social housing tenants in England was higher than ten years ago.
Tenants in social homes to get greater repossession protection
The government has thrown its weight behind a backbench bill which aims to give greater protection to tenants when their landlord faces repossession, those in social housing jobs may benefit from hearing.
As it stands now, landlords without buy-to-let mortgages and consent-to-let leave tenants in a home facing repossession high and dry as they are usually unable to speak to authorities about the dangers their accommodation faces.
This bill, tabled by Dr Brian Iddon, is intended to give tenants the power to request a delay so they can find alternative housing or try and work the situation out with their landlords.
The housing minister said that if it went through, the bill would stop tenants being subject to legal matters outside their control.
"Help is available both for those struggling to pay their mortgages, but also for those tenants who may have little or no notice that the place they call home is at risk," John Healey added.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders reduced rate projections of repossessions for 2009 by more than a third.
Social housing association praised for repairs
A social housing association has been praised for its efficient repair system.
The Audit Commission hailed Stadium Housing Association for its "helpful service" when it comes to those in social housing jobs making amends and renovations to faulty areas of tenants” homes through annual check-up visits.
Residents are "very happy" with this, the report said.
Also praised was the helpfulness and efficiency of Stadium’’s staff’’s telephone manner and the fact that residents were able to impart their views and have an effect on repairs services.
In accordance with this, the Audit Commission is recommending that Stadium carry out a gas safety check-up at all tenants” homes, as well as continuing to take their views into account when it came to making changes to the repair service.
The report also acknowledged that the housing association was set to improve areas the Commission felt it could work on, including ensuring customer calls are dealt with at the first point of contact.
The Audit Commission earlier praised the Wandle Housing Association for its social housing scheme.
Professionals in planning jobs ”facing heavier workloads”
People in planning jobs could be overwhelmed by work when new regulations relating to the private rented sector come into force, according to the National Landlords Association (NLA).
Housing minister John Healy recently announced that landlords will have to apply for planning permission before converting a family home into a property for use as shared accommodation.
The measure is part of new regulations, scheduled to be introduced in April 2010, which are designed to give local authorities the tools needed to effectively manage the growth in the number of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO).
NLA chairman David Salusbury said the regulations ignored the role shared accommodation plays in coping with the shortage of affordable housing in many areas.
With demand for such properties set to remain high, he warned that making it necessary for landlords to obtain planning permission for conversions is likely to have a major impact on those in planning jobs.
"We can expect local authority planning departments to be swamped under increasing workloads owing to these new measures," said Mr Salusbury.
Councils which try to restrict the number of HMOs in the area are also likely to see demand for social housing rise, he added.
Hughes seeking changes to town planning policy
The role of people in town planning jobs could change if Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes gets his way.
Mr Hughes has proposed an amendment to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which would allow local authorities greater freedom to choose how money from building developments is spent.
The MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey wants to give councils the option of spending the money on new social housing or improving the condition of existing housing stock.
At present council officials are required to allocate money received from building developments to infrastructure projects, but Mr Hughes does not think that is an effective use of the funds.
"The current planning system is outdated. It is ludicrous that councils are forced to use money from local developments to improve flowerbeds when there is a real need to improve local housing," he said.
Mr Hughes believes his private members bill, which will be debated on Friday, would benefit both local people who need social housing and developers.
Those working in planning jobs already face the prospect of adapting to new regulations, as housing minister John Healy recently announced that from April 2010 landlords will need to apply for planning permission when converting a property for use as shared accommodation.
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HCA issues record £27m grant to social housing project
A £1 billion social housing scheme is set to get underway after a record cash injection from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
Woodberry Down in Hackney will be home to a giant regeneration project which is designed to produce 167 social houses, with an additional 60 for shared occupation, in a scheme which could potentially create socially housing jobs.
This is just the first stage of the project, which is hoped to produce 4,500 affordable homes eventually.
It has been made possible after a £27 million grant from the HCA.
This, drawn from the National Affordable Housing Programme, is the biggest grant ever issued by the body for housing and regeneration.
The work – which is set to be completed by 2013 – will be carried out by Berkley Homes, under the social landlordship of the Genesis Housing Group.
Earlier this week the HCA provided £533,000 in funding to kickstart a stalled housing project in King’’s Lynn in Norfolk.
