Archives for September 2009
London receives affordable housing boost
Hundreds of vacant properties in London are set to be refurbished, it has been revealed.
Moves by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) will see more than 400 properties located next to the A406 in Enfield upgraded, those with jobs in housing could be interested to hear.
After laying vacant for a number of years, the properties are to be transferred from the remit of Transport for London to the Notting Hill Housing Trust.
With Enfield Council also working on the scheme, a total of £90 million is to be invested into the properties.
"Hundreds of Londoners and their families will now benefit with new affordable homes and this is a major step forward in the ongoing drive to reduce the scandalous number of empty homes in the capital," London Mayor Boris Johnson claims.
Earlier this month, the HCA revealed funding for a total of 332 new council homes across 45 schemes to be built in the capital.
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Low-income Britons ”hold social housing concerns”
Those on lower incomes feel unconfident about social housing, new research reveals.
A study commissioned by the National Housing Federation (NHF) shows that some 62 per cent of those with a total household income of less than £30,000 believe they are less likely to be allocated an affordable home than previous generations were.
Meanwhile, those with jobs in housing could be interested to hear that three out of five people questioned claim they do not understand how social housing is allocated.
Such findings come as the NHF points out demand for social housing has risen 70 per cent over the past seven years, with the number of those on waiting list predicted to reach an all-time high of five million in 2010.
"The public needs to understand how homes are allocated and have confidence that the system is fair and transparent," states chief executive David Orr.
His comments come as Liam Bailey, head of residential research for Knight Frank, recently claimed that affordable housing providers will need to make more effective use of their assets in the current economic climate in order to support the development of homes.
Housing associations ”urged to raise their game”
Housing associations need to do more to ensure people are able to keep their homes, it has been suggested.
John Healey, minister for housing, is calling upon those with jobs in housing to "raise their game" and help people facing the threat of repossession make sure get the assistance they need to stay in their homes via the Mortgage Rescue Scheme.
Such demands come as it was revealed that 605 households applied to sell and rent back their properties via the government initiative between April and June, however only 46 received an offer from a registered social landlord.
The minister also reveals that all housing associations looking to apply for state funding to build affordable homes will now be required to offer local job opportunities and apprenticeships.
"We”re using the power of government action and public investment to build homes, create jobs and support the construction industry at a time when others can”t," he claims, adding that some 55,000 affordable homes are set to be built over the course of this year.
His comments come as he revealed earlier this month that around £250 million is to be ploughed into the construction of 3,400 affordable homes, an initiative that will create around 5,000 jobs
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TSA ‘’saves housing sector £500m”
The Tenant Service Authority (TSA) has proved to be of significant benefit to those with jobs in housing, the organisation’’s chief executive Peter Marsh claims.
Speaking at the annual National Housing Federation conference, the TSA head claims that in imposing better regulation for housing associations the organisation has helped to attract more investment to the sector.
"The TSA’’s existence has given confidence to lenders and investors by ensuring the financial stability of the sector and its ability to manage emerging risks," he states.
Continuing, Mr Marsh points out that if it were not for the work of the TSA, some £100 million in additional interest would have to have been paid on the £7 billion in new finance raised by housing providers over the past 12 months.
He adds that as banks have lent a total of £35 billion to the housing sector in the last year, "this works out as a £500 million a year saving".
Earlier this month, the association revealed it is to fund 37 projects across the country aimed at encouraging landlords and social housing tenants to work together on improving services and meeting local needs.
Social housing concerns ”need to be overcome”
More needs to be done in the delivery of social housing schemes in Yorkshire, it has been suggested.
Speaking at a seminar in Leeds, Rosie Winterton, minister for Yorkshire and the Humber, points out that although more than £170 million has been invested into the construction of affordable properties since April there has been some local opposition towards such projects.
"We need to work out the best ways to overcome concerns so that real progress can be made," she states, adding that government investment in new homes is helping to support the region’’s construction industry and provide jobs in housing.
The event – hosted by Shelter and Local Government Yorkshire and Humber – discuss the possible ways that those working in housing can discuss how to challenge the negative connotations attached to social housing.
Meanwhile, Caroline Davey, deputy director of communications, policy and campaigns for Shelter adds "there can be no doubt" that more social housing is required for those in the greatest need.
Earlier this month, housing minister John Healey unveiled a £26.8 million investment that will see local authorities in the Yorkshire and Humber region build 453 homes.
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HCA forges housing partnership
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has announced details of a partnership with Bolton Council that will see thousands of affordable homes built.
Working alongside the local authority and Bolton at Home – the council’’s arms length management organisation – the Transforming Estates project will see a total of 6,000 properties delivered in the Greater Manchester town over the next 12 years.
Half of these will be available to be bought, with the remainder offered on an affordable rent basis that will be developed and managed by Bolton Community Homes.
Contracts for the first phase of construction are expected to be signed this autumn, as those with jobs in housing could be interested to hear that construction is due to begin by next summer.
Nick Peel, executive member for housing for the local authority, claims the initiative "will transform housing in Bolton".
Last week, housing minister John Healy revealed work on ten stalled housing projects is to begin once more, as the government’’s Kickstart programme will see £10 million invested into the completion of 740 new homes.
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Lincolnshire association ”bucking housing trend”
Despite the overall difficulties being experienced in the property market, one housing association has revealed it is offering more homes to people.
The Acis Group points out that the last 12 months have seen it let more properties than even before.
As such, the housing association – which is based in the Lincolnshire town of Gainsborough – states that waiting lists have fallen significantly.
Indeed, those with jobs in housing could be interested to hear that potential customers will be able to directly apply for some properties on a first-come, first-served basis.
"People wanting family housing in Gainsborough are waiting for a much shorter time than previously and there are other areas where waiting times have reduced too," Chris Litherland, operations manager for Acis, states.
Such comments come as Liam Bailey, head of residential research for Knight Frank, recently claimed that affordable housing providers will have to work their assets harder in the current economic climate to support the construction of more homes.
ALMO ”taking steps to reduce residents” energy bills”
An arms length management organisation (ALMO) in London is taking steps to help its tenants reduce their energy bills, it has been revealed.
Moves by Brent Housing Partnership have seen it work alongside Solarcentury to fit solar-powered electric roof tiles on more than 80 of the ALMO’’s properties located on the Brentfield estate.
The installation of such technology will provide residents with around a third of their electricity for free, resulting in an average annual saving of £120, those with jobs in housing could be interested to hear.
Shaun Gillam, senior project manager for Brent Housing Partnership, tells Green Building Press: "Solar power is a great way of investing in the future for our tenants."
He adds that the fact such renewable technology can offer significant savings on energy bills means it will "make a real difference" to residents” quality of life.
Meanwhile, a 16-property social housing development in St Athan in south Wales was recently reported to have met Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, one of the few schemes in the region to reach this standard.
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TSA unveils local standards scheme
Details of the housing projects set to be part of a new Tenant Services Authority (TSA) pilot scheme have been unveiled.
Those with housing jobs in 37 projects across the country will receive funding from the organisation with which to strengthen links between tenants and landlords.
With a total of £281,000 set to be handed out, the recipients will look to ensure residents and landlords work together on agreeing targets and improving services which reflect local needs and priorities.
Overall, the TSA’’s local standards project will affect 380,000 homes with funding due to be issued from this month up until April 2010.
Peter Marsh, chief executive of the TSA, points out that the scheme "will provide invaluable learning to test, inform and shape our thinking" with regards to how local standards can best be agreed with tenants.
News of the project comes as the authority urged tenants to hold meetings with one another to discuss their housing needs and what they require from their landlords.
Affordable housing providers ”need to work assets harder”
The ongoing economic crisis will see the affordable housing sector go under significant change, it has been suggested.
In comments likely to be of interest to those with jobs in housing, Liam Bailey, head of residential research for Knight Frank, states that the market "will be changed for good by the current recession".
And with a report from the organisation revealing that nine out of ten households are currently eligible to access government support to help cover housing expenses, Mr Bailey claims that there is not enough funding – from either the public or private sector – to sustain the long term construction of new homes.
He adds that "affordable housing providers are going to have to work their assets harder to support more affordable development".
Such comments come as Andrew Teacher, spokesperson for the British Property Federation, recently stated the government has been putting too much pressure on councils to focus on building new homes, instead of improving existing stock.
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