Archives for August 2008
London housing association receives Housing Corp praise
A housing association operating in London has been commended by the Housing Corporation, it has been revealed.
Gallions Housing Association, which manages properties in Greenwich, Bexley and Bromley, has been given the highest possible mark across all four indicators of performance.
Such criteria are financial viability, management, development and governance, with the housing body receiving a green light in each of these areas.
Rona Nicholson, director of the Housing Corporation’’s London office, claimed that the report "demonstrates that they [Gallions] have successfully met or exceeded the standards set across all four key performance areas needed to ensure the quality of the services they offer to the people of London".
Tony Cotter, chief executive for the housing association, claimed the report signifies the body’’s ability to build and manage affordable homes within the capital.
Such news might be of interest to those people who are seeking housing jobs.
Earlier this month the Housing Corporation claimed that in spite of the difficulties currently being experienced in the housing sector those with jobs in housing associations should be able to manage through the economic downturn.
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Eco-town plans progress
Progress continues to be made in planning proposals for the eco-towns project, it has been revealed.
In a report by the Eco-Town Challenge Panel – which was created by housing minister Caroline Flint – it was reported that many of the bidders for the scheme have made a positive response to recommendations in regards to employment and transport strategies for the municipalities.
Ms Flint said: "The progress made over the past few weeks demonstrates the willingness of the promoters to react to the expert advice they have been given."
However, she reported that at present no agreements have been signed, stating that only those schemes which have the highest sustainability standards will be able to qualify for eco-town status.
The news could be of interest to those seeking jobs in housing.
John Walker, chairman of the Eco-town Challenge Panel, added a significant number of the eco-town proposals "have shown significant and encouraging progress during those few weeks".
Earlier this summer, Jane Davidson, environment, sustainability and housing minister for the Welsh Assembly government, reported that all new homes in Wales will be carbon neutral.
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Shelter reports on property struggles of renters
It is not just homeowners who are struggling with the declining property market, renters are also developing difficulties.
Such is the assertion of Shelter, which points to research carried out by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) which revealed that repossession rates within the buy-to-let sector are rising at a rate twice the speed of the entire mortgage market.
Figures from the CML show that during the first six months of this year repossessions for buy-to-let mortgages increased by 100 per cent in comparison to the same period in 2007.
Adam Sampson, chief executive of Shelter, said: "These figures show the shadow of repossession is no longer just cast over homeowners, but also thousands of innocent renters who have no idea how close they are to eviction."
He called on the government to do more to protect those who find themselves being at risk of becoming homeless as a result of their landlord being repossessed.
The comments by Mr Sampson could be of interest to those with jobs in housing.
Earlier this month Shelter reported that the government should invest all of the £8 billion it has set aside for housebuilding for the next three year immediately.
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Housing association backs calls for affordable properties
A housing association based in the north-west of England has commended a report demanding that more affordable homes are built, it has been revealed.
Two Castles Housing Association has backed a recently-released study which stated that property development in the South Lakes and Lake District areas should be carried out so as to give local people the chance to get on the property ladder, the Lakeland Echo reports.
Published by prime minister Gordon Brown, the report revealed that many people in the region are being forced to move due to the high price of properties and increasing demand for holiday homes.
Meanwhile, the housing association took Liberal Democrat MP Matthew Taylor on a tour of Cumbria to highlight the need for affordable properties.
Stephanie Murphy, chief executive of Two Castles Housing Association, said: "We were also able to demonstrate how important it is to be able to build high-quality affordable homes such as the one visited at Staveley, near Windermere."
Such news may be of interest to those looking for jobs in housing.
Earlier this month an Inside Housing report revealed that housing developers and councils believe the government should focus on the provision of affordable homes.
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Albyn Housing Association ”has positive year”
A housing association in Scotland has revealed that it has continued to make good progress, it has been revealed.
Covering the Inverness and Invergordon areas, Albyn Housing Association reports that is has cash funds in excess of £1.5 million.
At the annual general meeting, the housing association indicates that £25 million has been ploughed into new properties, adding 100 homes on to its overall stock, the Ross-shire Journal reports.
Figures from the housing association also show that rent collection rates stood at 94 per cent.
Calum Macaulay, chief executive for the housing association, said: "This has been an extremely busy but positive year for Albyn.
"We”re continuing to invest and increase our housing stock, focusing on innovation and quality."
Such news could be of interest to those looking for jobs in housing.
Earlier this week, it emerged that the North Glasgow Housing Association had completed a £5.7 million affordable homes project in the Scottish city.
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Shelter calls for housing boost
Shelter has called for the government to immediately inject £8 billion into the faltering housing sector in the UK, it has been revealed.
The money is currently set aside to be spent over the next three years, however, Shelter chief executive Adam Sampson believes that by releasing the funds in one lump sum it could give a much needed kick-start to the currently flagging industry.
"Spending this £8 billion now rather than over three years makes perfect economic sense. It would give the housebuilding industry a huge boost," Mr Sampson noted.
In news that might be of interest to individuals looking for planning jobs, it is thought that this cash injection could create thousands of opportunities within the construction industry.
Meanwhile, the organisation also recent called for residents in Oxfordshire to make their opinions known over a proposed eco-town in their area.
In order for individuals to make an informed contribution, Shelter has created a booklet outlining the key aspects of the development including the fact that there are currently 7,000 people in the area waiting for permanent abodes.
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Glaswegian housing development complete
An affordable housing development has been completed in Scotland, it has been revealed.
Worth £5.7 million, the North Glasgow Housing Association project has seen a total of 275 homes be built across five sites in the city since 2003.
The project was finally completed as some 40 families moved into the most recent set of homes – which incorporate a number of three and four-bedroom properties for people with special needs – in Blackthorn Street, Hawthorn Street and Hickory Street.
Such news might be of interest to those looking for jobs in housing.
Chairperson Pat Kenna said: "Good quality housing can make a real difference to the lives of tenants and in the last five years more than 250 families will have felt the benefits of new homes provided by the association."
Earlier this month it was revealed that pPod – a consortium of Browne Smith Baker architects and the housing associations Gentoo Homes and Morris Homes – is to build an eco-friendly housing development in Peterborough, in which more than a third of homes will be made affordable for people on lower incomes.
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Housing associations ”can manage through downturn”
Despite the recent declines experienced in the financial sector, the majority of housing associations should be able to manage through the downturn unharmed.
Such is the assertion of the Housing Corporation, where it stated that there are "challenging times" ahead for those with jobs in housing – due to the slowing property market and difficulties for the international credit sectors over the past year.
However, it reported there is light at the end of the tunnel for housing association due to the fact demand for affordable properties is currently at an all time high.
In a statement, the corporation claimed: "We believe that the sector overall and the vast majority of associations continue to be well placed to weather any downturn."
The institution reported that the pressing concern for housing associations is the future performance of the property sector.
Earlier this summer, the Local Government Association claimed that the waiting list for social housing could account for some five million Britons by 2012.
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Demand for social housing ‘’set to surge”
Some five million Britons could be on the waiting list for social housing in the next two years, it has been reported.
In research carried out by the Local Government Association (LGA) it was revealed that an increasing number of people may be on the search for this kind of property due to significant increases in house prices over recent years, Public Servant Daily reports.
Paul Bettison, chairman of the LGA’’s environment board, said: "Social housing has to be a top priority because the harsh reality is that fewer people are getting on to the housing ladder."
He added that those councils which want to provide homes for people unable to purchase a property or rent in the private sector have been hampered by an inability to borrow off council assets in order to invest in property for "those who need them most".
Such news might be of interest to those seeking jobs in housing.
The association’’s comments come after figures from the Ministry of Justice showed that the number of households on social housing lists rose from one million to 1.6 million between 2001 and 2006.
Last week, Plaid Cymru president Dafydd Iwan called for the need for a mixture of affordable properties to be made available throughout Wales.
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Homes for Islington improves homeless reception centres
A number of reception centres for homeless people in north London – including those managed by Homes for Islington – have been refurbished, it has been revealed.
The new look facilities were unveiled at an event at Homes for Islington’’s Herongate Reception centre, where a total of 115 units have been refurbished to help provide independent living services.
Now the centres contain individual kitchen and bathroom facilities, with heating and hot systems also receiving an upgrade.
Councillor Terry Stacy, executive member for housing at Islington council, said: "The new look centres are a huge improvement and provide a much higher standard for the residents."
Such news might interest those looking for jobs in housing.
In addition, Homes for Islington operates reception centres in Hornsey Road and Peregrine in Hall Street EC1.
Earlier this month, Shelter highlighted the plight of homeless people with a special event at its Newham Educational Support Project featuring singer/songwriter Danelle Harvey.
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