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NUMBER ACCEPTED AS HOMELESS DOWN 72 PER CENT
15 March 2010
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New national statistics released today show that despite the tough economic times, the number of those accepted as homeless is down by 72 per cent since 2003, according to Department for Communities and Local Government figures.
The figures show that 9,430 households were accepted as homeless by local authorities between October to December 2009 - a 22% reduction compared to the same time last year.
The number of households in temporary homes on 31st December 2009 has also fallen by 21% since the same date last year - down to 53,370 - showing that local authorities have almost met the 2010 target of halving the number of households in temporary accommodation.
Homelessness Minister, Ian Austin said: "One of the greatest successes of this Government is its record on tackling homelessness, but this wouldn't have been possible without the expertise and most of all commitment and support from across the homelessness sector.
"From councils to charities, they've got behind the policy and made it happen on the ground. Today's figures are a testament to all that hard work.
"However, there is still more work to be done. That's why we have invested £220 million over three years in local authorities and the voluntary sector, to continue this drive to reduce levels of homelessness even further.
"At the same time we've put in place a comprehensive range of support to help families struggling to pay their mortgage and this has already helped over 330,000 families stay in their homes during the recession and made sure repossession is the last resort."
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JOB ADVICE COMES TO HOUSING ESTATES
15 March 2010
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Helen Goodman
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Expert job advice will be available in community centres and GP surgeries in some of the most deprived housing estates across Britain to help thousands more people into jobs, Work and Pensions Minister, Helen Goodman has announced.
Jobcentre Plus Outreach advisers will work with partners, such as housing associations, resident groups, local authorities and local community organisations, to reach more than 15,000 people and to address the issues of deep-seated and intergenerational worklessness.
The recent employment White Paper announced an extension to the community-based approach which has been trialled since October. This will be funded by an additional £12m.
Goodman said: "We know that most people want to work but for a small minority of people not working has become an accepted way of life. We will be taking our services out of the Jobcentre and into the community in a number of deprived estates.
"Our Outreach advisers will work with community partners in unemployment hotspots across Britain to make sure Jobcentre Plus support and advice is easily accessible to everyone. Work is the best way out of poverty and our Outreach programme is part of the broad range of support available through Jobcentre Plus to help people into work."
New Outreach teams are being launched in every Jobcentre Plus region, building on the success of the three pilots which continue to run in Greenwich, East Durham, and Liverpool. Each of the teams can decide on the best way to provide intense support to suit their areas. This could range from setting up adviser sessions in doctors’ surgeries, to visiting benefits claimants in their own homes.
The partnership approach will offer a range of specialist services to people, from employment and skills training to advice on debt, drug and housing issues, as well as access to the right benefit, to help families lift themselves out of poverty. The 16 teams working across Britain will focus on deprived communities to help benefit claimants move closer to the jobs market and into work.
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NEW BUILDS DOWN 15 PER CENT BUT RESIDENTIAL REMAINS STRONG
15 March 2010
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The value of construction projects starting on site during the three months to February 2010 was 15% lower than the same period a year ago, but new residential starts were up, according to the latest Glenigan Index.
The fall is the result of continued weakness of non-residential project starts and a drop in civil engineering projects.
Allan Wilén, economics director, Glenigan, said: “The rise in private housing projects points to improving private sector confidence which is expected to lift industry prospects during 2010 countering the impact of declining government funded work.”
The Glenigan Residential Index for February was 13% higher than a year ago due to an increase in private and social housing project starts.
Wilen added: “Private housing projects picked up as housebuilders pressed on with projects disrupted by poor weather during December and January. Housebuilders are keen to capitalise on rising house prices and property transactions and the further improvement in market conditions anticipated for 2010.”
The Glenigan Residential Index for February 2009 which was 75.5 versus a 2006 base of 100.
The Non-Residential Index was 24% lower than February 2009 because private and public funded project starts were weak.
Mr Wilén said: “Commercial and industrial project starts remain weak due to the sharp fall in rental and capital values over the past two years. Increased investor interest in these markets has not yet fed through to developer activity. Glenigan forecast that office, industrial and retail project starts will increase in the second half of 2010.
“The rise in government funded work since April 2009 partially offset weak private sector investment. However, more recently the flow of health and community & amenity projects has slowed and education projects fell back sharply during the three months to February. The general election will further disrupt new public sector projects.”
The Glenigan Non-Residential Index for February 2009 was 72.3 versus a 2006 base of 100. The Glenigan Civil Engineering Index for February was 32% lower than February 2009 due to fewer road and rail projects and a surge in project starts in February 2009 which exacerbates the fall in the annual comparison. New renewable energy and transport infrastructure projects are forecast to boost in the sector. The Glenigan Civil Engineering Index for February 2009 was 87.9 versus a 2006 base of 100.
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OVER £38M AWARDED TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS
15 March 2010
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Angela Smith
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Over £38m in grants have been given out in almost 15,500 grant awards to charities and voluntary organisations through government’s Grassroots Grants scheme, statistics reveal.
The three year Grassroots Grants programme comprises of a small grants fund and an endowment investment programme. The programme, which launched in September 2008, is aimed at helping small voluntary and community organisations provide much needed help in their communities and reach out to the most vulnerable people.
Grants have been spent on a range of community activity from lunch clubs for the elderly to leisure activity in deprived areas – helping communities to thrive and deal with the individual challenges that face each local community. Small and local community groups with annual incomes below £30,000 can apply for the grants of between £250 and £5,000.
Angela Smith, Minister for the Third Sector, said: “I am delighted to hear over £38m in government grants has been invested in small community groups who are making a difference in their local communities. The grants have been used in a number of ways up and down the country and have included services to help the unemployed, leisure activities for young people and social clubs for the elderly.
"This programme gives local communities a voice and helps them direct their energies to the particular challenges they see in their local community.”
Grants include a match fund whereby donations by business and individuals are matched by government. The money, which is then invested as an endowment, aims to provide financial support over the long term to charities and voluntary organisations; enabling even more grants to go to local good causes, for generations to come.
Nationwide over 11,000 donations from businesses and individuals have raised over £17m, so far, which the government then matched funded. This has already built endowments in every local area, worth over £32m in total.
The innovative endowment match challenge is the first of its kind and offers businesses and individuals the chance to contribute directly to supporting and sustaining the communities in which they operate and upon which they rely.
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SECOND ROUND OF FLOOD PROTECTION GRANTS ANNOUNCED
15 March 2010
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The second round of a £5.5m grant scheme to help households better protect their homes against flooding have been announced by Environment Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies.
The Property Level Flood Protection Grant Scheme is part of the Government’s response to Sir Michael Pitt’s review of the 2007 floods. In this the second phase, £2.6m will be allocated to 34 schemes in areas at high risk of flooding, enabling 532 households to benefit from practical flood protection solutions such as air bricks covers, storm porches, door guards and flood boards.
Irranca-Davies said: “In the future we must be prepared for more extreme weather on all levels. There are 490,000 properties at significant risk of (river/coastal) flooding in England. Since the floods of 2007 we have been taking action on a range of fronts to protect against the heart breaking damage and destruction that can be caused by floods.
“Property level measures like flood boards aren’t appropriate for every situation, but as was shown in Appleby at the end of last year, they can be a very effective way for householders to protect their homes.”
In the first round of funding, £3 million was made available to 25 local authorities to protect up to 593 properties across England.
Robert Runcie, Environment Agency Director of Flood and Coastal Risk Management, said: "We welcome the second round of funding for Defra's property level flood protection grant scheme. We urge all individuals and businesses at risk of flooding to make their property more resistant by fitting products such as flood gates, in addition to signing up to our free flood warning service”
Local authorities are responsible for delivering the scheme locally and are able to tailor schemes to suit the needs of their communities.
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SANCTUARY APPOINTS NEW DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
15 March 2010
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Kate Still
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Sanctuary Group has appointed Kate Still to the position of Director of Community Investment and Involvement.
Reporting to Simon Clark, Sanctuary Group’s Director – Housing and Communities, Kate will be responsible for ensuring that Sanctuary works closely with residents to build and support vibrant, sustainable communities through investment in local activities and training opportunities.
In partnership with external organisations and agencies, she will ensure that Sanctuary is making the most of available funding to bring long-term benefits to residents.
Prior to joining Sanctuary, Kate has held a number of high profile roles including her position as Head of Social Economy for the South East England Development Agency where she was responsible for strengthening relationships between the nine Regional Development Agencies (RDA’s) and Central Government.
Kate, who joins Sanctuary from Richmond Housing Partnership where she was Head of Social Investment and Enterprise, said: “I was attracted to the position at Sanctuary because I was keen to work for an organisation that is committed to providing a first class service to its residents.
“Investment in communities is even more important in tough economic times, when we need to give residents greater support in accessing opportunities that will make a long-term difference to their lives.
“I am looking forward to harnessing Sanctuary’s fantastic reputation and helping to transform neighbourhoods into places our residents are proud to call home.”
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JUST A MINUTE: JENNY EDWARDS, HOMELESS LINK
16 March 2010
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Jenny Edwards
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Jenny Edwards, Chief Executive, Homeless Link
How did you get started in the industry? Homelessness was a big issue when I was a councillor in Westminster in 1990s so it has been an issue close to my heart for a long time.
Biggest professional achievement: Getting the Government and the Mayor of London to back our campaign to end rough sleeping by 2012.
Biggest mistake: Underestimating the time it takes for people to adjust to organisational change.
Best advice you received: Look at successful alliances in other parts of the third sector. I worked on this and the result was the Making Every Adult Matter coalition in partnership with Mind, Clinks and Drugscope
What do you like most about your job? Working with intelligent and passionate people to bring about real change for homeless people.
And least? Getting tied up with internal problems.
What you would most like to change in housing? People’s belief in the potential of homeless people.
What future issues do you see arising in housing? How the sector can achieve more with lower incomes.
Do you read a daily newspaper? Yes, the Guardian.
How are you making use of the internet? It is my main route for information; I love the two way flow of the new social networking sites.
Hobbies and interests: Gardening, music and virtual worlds.
Favourite holiday destination: Depends on the time of the year – Crete or Sweden.
Favourite Music / Bands: James Blackshaw
www.homeless.org.uk
If you would like to feature in Just A Minute, please email: news@housingnews.co.uk or Click Here.
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CONSERVATIVES CONCERN OVER ‘BLACK HOLE’ IN HOUSE FUNDING
16 March 2010
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Grant Shapps
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Shadow Housing Minister, Grant Shapps has commented on a £25m "black hole" in flagship Government plans to build new affordable and social housing.
Last summer, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced moves to build 110,000 new homes by reallocating funds from existing projects. £183m was due to be found through "efficient and flexible management" of housing and regeneration programmes, but Housing Minister, John Healey has now said £25m has yet to be identified.
Shapps said: "The Prime Minister is once again guilty of a financial sleight of hand. We've seen it before on the 10p tax scandal and he should know it always comes back to haunt him.”
Healey revealed efficiencies for 2010-11 would be found "at a later stage, following an assessment of performance and delivery options". But Shapps said this was "grossly irresponsible" and was likely to mean further borrowing to plug the shortfall.
Shapps added: "Gordon Brown is responsible for plunging this country into the red to such an extent that we risk losing our economic sovereignty and yet funds his latest initiative with millions of pounds that ministers have admitted they will worry about after the election. Under Labour that's likely to mean even more borrowing.
"This is grossly irresponsible and just goes to prove that it's time to get rid of Labour and elect a government that will take decisions based on the long-term needs of Britain, not on short-term electoral calculations."
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REPORT: FREE UP MORE LAND FOR HOMES IN BUOYANT CITIES OR CHOKE OFF GROWTH
16 March 2010
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A new Centre for Cities report has found not enough houses are being built where they are most needed – in the least affordable UK cities with the strongest economies.
It recommends scrapping the national brownfield target, introducing new incentives for local authorities to build homes and devolving decisions about the green belt to councils.
It says the UK economy needs more homes built in cities like Brighton, London and Cambridge. These cities have large graduate workforces and high employment rates. They are the cities most likely to lead the recovery and their economic growth is in danger of being stifled by unaffordable house prices.
Local councils are not offering up enough land for housing. If the whole of England is a football pitch, all the built up land is the penalty area. Most of this is made up of gardens, roads, paths and railways. Housing would cover just a third of the centre circle.
Only 1.1% of England is taken up by housing. In recent years, the cost of land for development has rocketed and homes remain unaffordable. If we don’t build enough houses this risks choking off economic growth in our most dynamic cities, preventing the workforce from moving to where jobs can be found and where incomes are high, ultimately curbing national economic growth, says CfC.
The Government’s house building targets and regional planning has had only limited success. Councils in cities with strong economies need real rewards to bring forward land to build more houses where people want to live. The Conservatives’ recent council tax matching initiative is unlikely to provide a big enough incentive to combat antipathy towards new development
The report recommends abandoning the national brownfield target of 60% of homes being built on brownfield land); devolving responsibility for protecting the green belt to local authorities; and pilot land auctions in a small number of cities.
Dermot Finch, Chief Executive of the CfC, said: “Over the past fifty years housing has become more and more unaffordable. During this time nowhere near enough homes have been built, particularly in our most dynamic cities like Cambridge and Reading.
“The decade-long push to build on brownfield has run its course. Over the next decade, local authorities will need new incentives to build houses where they are needed. This also means a fresh look at the green belt. It’s a myth that the entire green belt is a picture postcard rural idyll. A very small slice of it could be used for housing.
“We are not suggesting cities should concrete over their green belt, and we are not advocating car-dependent urban sprawl. But we do need to free up more land for new homes, especially in our most buoyant cities.”
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HOUSE PURCHASE LOANS DROP IN JANUARY
16 March 2010
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House purchase loans fell by more than three times the decline in remortgages in January, according to data released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
This demonstrates the effect on the mortgage market from the end of the temporary stamp duty holiday in December. There were 49% fewer house purchase loans in January than in December but only 15% fewer remortgage loans.
However, the 32,000 loans for house purchase, worth £4.7bn, were up from the low of 23,000 (worth £3.1bn) seen in January 2009. Conversely, the 24,000 loans for remortgage, worth £3bn, were down from 45,000 (£6.2bn) a year ago. This is the lowest monthly level of remortgage activity - both by number and value - in eight years of available data.
First-time buyers recorded the largest drop among house purchasers, with a 54% drop (55% by value) from December to January, reflecting the fact that a high proportion would usually fall into the £125,000-£175,000 property value category and rushed through their purchase to complete in December.
There were 11,300 first-time buyer loans, worth £1.3bn, in the month, down from 24,800 (£2.9bn) in December 2009, but still up from 8,600 (worth £900 million) in January 2009. Following a 63% increase in the number of first-time buyer transactions for properties in the £125,000-175,000 band in December, the number of equivalent transactions fell by 80% in January – to account for just 19% of all first-time buyer loans, down from a record 42% in December. Compared to a year earlier, the number of first-time buyer loans in this category was down 22%.
A similar picture can be seen amongst home movers. This group saw a 49% increase in transactions in the £125,000-175,000 category in December and a 71% drop in January – while transactions across the other price bands fell by a more modest 36% in the month.
CML director general, Michael Coogan said: “It was a quiet start to the year. Lending volumes in January were low, but we had predicted this would happen due to the end of the stamp duty holiday distorting December’s figures.
“When December and January data are taken together, they show little change in underlying market conditions compared with recent months, with activity still slow but well up on the lows of a year earlier. We expect lending over the coming months to remain weak as uncertainty over of the state of the economy and the upcoming election are likely to continue to hold back housing market activity.”
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HEALEY PUSHES TOWARDS LOW CARBON COMMUNITIES
16 March 2010
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John Healey
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Housing and Planning Minister, John Healey has announced changes to the country's building regulations to make our homes, shops and offices warmer and cheaper to run and take Britain a step closer to meeting our low carbon commitments.
The amendments coming into force this year will make homes 25% more energy efficient, typically saving householders £100 a year on their heating bills. Building on the Warm Homes, Greener Homes strategy announced last week, the Government is continuing the drive towards all new buildings reaching the zero carbon standard from 2019.
The increasingly tough standards will see around 2 million tonnes of carbon saved every year by 2020, equivalent to taking over 3 million cars off of the road. The measures include practical steps that builders can take to make buildings greener, while at the same time ensuring that more efficient, air-tight homes and offices are sufficiently ventilated.
Where homeowners choose to extend or renovate their homes, they will now need to use more energy efficient windows and boilers. New homes will need to be more water efficient too, with each household saving, on average, enough water a year for 260 baths.
Healey said: "The higher green standards we're bringing in this year will cut emissions and play a crucial part in achieving our zero carbon policies. They will also make homes and businesses cheaper to heat and run.
"Nearly half the UK's carbon emissions come from our buildings. But more than one in three of the buildings we'll be working in and living in by 2050 have not yet been built, so action now can make a real difference in the future. We must all adapt to ensure that we cut carbon emissions where we can. While we must act to reduce carbon emissions, we must do so in sensible stages to avoid unreasonable burdens on the house building industry."
The UK is the first country to confirm legislation to require all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016, with all other buildings to meet the standard from 2019. The amendments to building regulations announced today will come into force in October, giving builders 6 months to prepare. The standards will help to deliver real carbon savings without creating obstacles for house builders during the economic recovery.
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NEW GUIDE TO PET POLICIES ANNOUNCED
16 March 2010
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The Pet Advisory Committee (PAC) has launched an innovative guide helping housing professionals develop comprehensive pet management policies and deal with common pet management issues.
The guide includes new advice regarding ‘status’ dogs and provides recent case studies of housing providers where successful pet policies have been put into practice. It highlights important points to consider when putting a pet policy together, including how to deal with unauthorised pets and tenants who ignore pet policy rules, how to tackle common problems such as fouling, noise and damage, and detailed guidance on how many pets should be allowed in any given home.
The guide was initially launched in 2007 following research[1] that found many housing providers do not have a clear pet policy and around half did not explicitly state their pet policy in their tenancy agreements. The Pet Advisory Committee found this ‘blind eye’ approach increases the likelihood of problems for both residents and housing staff.
Andrew Stunell MP, Chairman of PAC, said: “Many housing providers believe a blanket ‘no pets’ rule is the easiest route to take, especially when it relates to the keeping of cats and dogs. Yet aside from the trouble involved when tenants keep pets without permission, research shows that pets help their owners develop social skills and increased responsibility as well as providing real psychological and physiological benefits through regular exercise or interaction with others.
“We believe the key to long term success is for housing professionals to make tenants understand their responsibilities and the consequences of keeping unsuitable or unruly pets, while promoting multi-partnerhip initiatives with agencies such as the police, animal welfare charities and youth groups.”
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TSA SETS NEW STANDARDS FOR SOCIAL LANDLORDS
17 March 2010
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Peter Marsh
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More than eight million tenants across the country will benefit from new standards the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) has set for all social housing landlords.
In the biggest shake up of social housing regulation in decades, the six standards, drawn up with tenants and landlords up and down the country, will come into effect from 1 April and cover how landlords need to deal with issues such as tenant involvement and empowerment, repairs and maintenance, rents, quality of accommodation, complaints and anti-social behaviour.
The new standards will apply to nearly 1800 social housing providers in England which include housing associations, councils and co-operatives. This means for the first time tenants will get similar levels of protection and services regardless of who their landlord happens to be.
The TSA will also have new enforcement powers to rely on to ensure tenants get a fair deal, which could include issuing enforcement notices and directing the transfer of management.
Published in its new framework, the TSA’s six national standards that landlords will need to meet are:
Tenant involvement and empowerment, including customer service, choice and complaints, and understanding and responding to diverse needs
Home, including repairs and maintenance and quality of accommodation
Tenancy, including allocations, rent and tenure
Neighbourhood and community, including neighbourhood management, local area co-operation and anti-social behaviour
Value for money
Governance and financial viability.
The new framework heralds a fundamental shift in how the sector is regulated by:
ensuring the six standards are based on clear outcomes tenants care about, not detailed processes
giving tenants the opportunity to agree with their landlords a locally tailored offer on the standards around home, neighbourhood and community and involvement
embedding the principle of ‘co-regulation’ where discussions about service delivery takes place between landlords and their tenants, not in response to top-down prescription or performance indicators from the regulator
providing new rights for tenants to be able to scrutinise their landlord’s performance as part of promoting self-improvement and accountability
placing emphasis on those who govern providers to ensure there is effective performance and accountability to tenants
withdrawing around 875 pages of guidance notes and circulars that were previously used to regulate by the Housing Corporation
ending routine inspections for all providers but inspecting for compliance when the TSA suspects a landlord is failing to meet the standards.
TSA Chief Executive, Peter Marsh said: “This is a landmark for the social housing sector with a new system of regulation that will touch the lives of over eight million tenants. For the first time, tenants will have opportunities, backed by the regulator, to influence the services that most affect them and hold their landlords to account.
“I am pleased we have achieved a broad consensus amongst tenants and landlords on our co-regulatory approach – one that ensures that poorly performing landlords are quickly identified but a system that lets good performing landlords get on with that they do best – providing excellent services.”
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PARTNERSHIP EMPLOYMENT SCHEME HELPS OVER 1,000 YOUNG PEOPLE BACK INTO WORK
17 March 2010
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A unique partnership between environmental charity, Groundwork and the National Housing Federation has helped over 1,000 young people into jobs as part of a scheme to help the country’s youth back into employment.
With support from the Government’s Future Jobs Fund, the two organisations have been working with young people aged 18 – 24 who have been out of work for over six months.
Referred to the scheme by their Jobcentre Plus advisers, the young people are then provided with 26-week work placements with either Groundwork or the Federation, which builds their skills and boosts their ability to find future employment.
Communities across are also benefiting from these new jobs, which include a range of ‘green collar’ positions that make neighbourhoods better places to live. Typical roles include: energy efficiency advisers, neighbourhood caretakers, land management workers, gardeners and recycling workers.
The Groundwork/Federation Future Jobs Fund partnership aims to provide over 6,000 jobs for young people by March 2011.
Jim Knight, Minister of State for Employment & Welfare Reform, said: "I am delighted that Groundwork and the Federation are Backing Young Britain by using the Future Jobs Fund to employ 1000 green workers across the country.
”As well as gaining experience as energy efficiency advisers, land management and recycling workers, young people will be able to gain important qualifications giving them a better chance of securing their next job. The community also wins with valuable work done to the local environment."
Federation Chief Executive, David Orr said, “Housing associations have quickly established themselves as employment generators within their local communities – providing the skills, jobs and support people desperately need to get back into work during these tough economic times.
“Being based right in the heart of their communities, housing associations can offer these vital opportunities to people on their doorstep. And their close and long-standing relationship with their tenants means they know what jobs and training are needed most and how best to help people back into work in their local area.”
Groundwork Chief Executive, Tony Hawkhead added: “If you lack experience and skills, it’s very difficult to get your foot in the door – and young people were hit particularly hard by the recent economic downturn. These jobs are helping them to gain confidence and improve their abilities, and as a result there is a lot of interest as the take up for our employment programme shows.
“With this support from the Future Jobs Fund, we're able to invest in our young people and leave a lasting legacy, that creates both places that are cleaner and greener, and people that are confident and able to use their abilities to benefit the UK for decades to come.”
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MORE SHARED OWNERS ‘STAIRCASING’ UP THAN GOVERNMENT FIGURES SUGGEST
17 March 2010
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Over a quarter of shared owners go on to ‘staircase’ to outright ownership, far higher than the eight per cent suggested in Tenant Services Authority (TSA) research in 2009, according to new figures from the National Housing Federation’s Home Ownership Advisory Panel.
By 08/09, 43,138 shared owners had staircased out to 100% home ownership, representing 25.5% of total new shared ownership provision of 169,636 homes since 1979. The figures come from Federation analysis of government statistical returns from housing associations over the past 30 years.
Further analysis of their own staircasing figures by a number of HOAP members also showed that 25% of shared ownership buyers originally purchasing in the period 2001-06 had since either partially or fully staircased by buying extra equity in their homes. When buyers originally purchasing in 2001/02 were looked at in isolation, nearly 32% had since staircased to full ownership and another 5% had partially staircased.
Marilyn DiCara, director of sales, marketing & new business at Moat, speaking on behalf of HOAP members, said “This is important because there is a view around that shared owners may become ‘trapped’ in the tenure. The new research we have done suggests that is clearly not the case, at least no more than any of us are to some degree held back by our financial circumstances.
“Policy makers also need to recognise the motivations of shared ownership buyers. Many of these people have very serious housing needs – couples living with parents, single people living with friends, overcrowded households and so on. They have no priority for social housing, yet cannot afford the open market.
“Not everyone is buying into shared ownership with a view to staircasing out. They may want to if circumstances allow, but for some the primary objective is simply to get somewhere decent to live at an affordable price. Shared ownership is about meeting deep housing needs as well as meeting aspirations and asset-building, partly because our social rented sector is heavily rationed.”
The rate of turnover in all home ownership markets has been reducing in recent years, partly due to rapidly rising house prices in the mid-2000s and latterly due to high mortgage costs.
TSA research in 2009 looked at whether existing shared owners had bought more shares in their homes since purchase, so is likely to have largely missed people who had already staircased to full ownership. Interestingly, 60% of existing shared owners responding said they were likely to staircase at some point.
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COUNCILS GET £50M TOWARDS ECONOMIC RECOVERY
17 March 2010
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John Denham
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An extra £50m is being given to councils to help them make big strides toward economic recovery in their local area, announced Communities Secretary, John Denham.
The funding is being allocated to all areas of the country from the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives (LABGI) scheme that rewards councils which successfully promote local growth.
Denham is clear that vital public sector support at this time can lessen the impact for struggling families and businesses. He wants to see councils use this grant to help small and new businesses in hard hit areas who often need extra support to get through the tougher times so they can hit the ground running as economic growth picks up.
Last July, the scheme was re-launched with a similar £50m grant. This announcement builds on that and takes the total LABGI funding since 2005 over £1bn, on top of normal Government grants.
Government action through Real Help Now has supported many families and businesses. It is also giving wider support including free business health checks, discounted rate bills for small businesses, tax payment deferrals, capital loans or help with bank loans for business growth, and a 10 day Government payment promise.
Denham said "Building economic recovery is the Government’s top priority and we firmly believe in the decisive leadership role councils have to play. Strong, vibrant, decisive local government is an essential part of our plans to promote growth and cut unemployment while rebuilding the public finances.
“We put the public sector in the lead while the private sector was struggling, spending and investing to lessen the impact on individuals, businesses and communities. We are giving councils up and down the country a further £50m to support small and new businesses in hard hit areas that might need a little jump start to get up and running again.
"Local councils, and councillors, with their unique democratic mandate, are best placed to provide financial support and local services that are responsive to the pressures being felt by families and businesses in local areas.
"Through our Real Help Now plan, we have committed a billion pounds to create more than 150 000 jobs and guaranteed everyone under the age of 25 a job, training or work experience if they are out of work for over six months and given struggling small businesses financial support through our billion pound Enterprise Finance Guarantee and tax payment deferrals."
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POOREST PENSIONERS GET FUEL BILL BOOST
17 March 2010
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Hundreds of thousands of the poorest pensioners should benefit from lower fuel bills this winter thanks to a deal announced between the big six energy suppliers (British Gas, EDF Energy, EON, Npower, Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy) and the Government.
As a result, up to 250,000 of the poorest pensioner households should see an £80 rebate off their electricity bills As part of the deal, the Government will share data securely with the energy suppliers so that they can identify the most vulnerable pensioners.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Yvette Cooper said: "I don’t want any vulnerable pensioners to be afraid to turn up their heating. That's why we’ve spent a record £295m in cold weather payments and £2.7bn in winter fuel payments so far this winter. This deal will now deliver extra help of £80 to some of the poorest of pensioners over 70 and give them the reassurance they need as we come out of the coldest winter in decades."
Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Ed Miliband said: “This breakthrough should provide cut price energy this year to those poorest and most vulnerable pensioners struggling with bills. It will also test how future energy bill rebates could reach those most in need of help.
“As part of our efforts to tackle fuel poverty, we’ll be requiring energy companies to double their collective spend to £300m a year by 2013, helping more of their most vulnerable customers with their energy bills.”
In most cases the rebate will be awarded automatically by electricity suppliers, without the need to claim. Where this will not be possible, we will write to individuals advising what they need to do so that they do not lose out.
Those pensioners covered by the scheme do not have to do anything at the moment. They will be contacted by DWP if the scheme applies to them. Full details about all the qualifying criteria are expected to be available by the end of March. An enquiry line has been set up, which can provide more details on the Scheme.
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HCA APPOINTS NEW HEAD OF DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY
17 March 2010
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The Homes and Communities Agency has appointed Jane Briginshaw as its new head of design and sustainability.
Jane joins from Partnerships for Schools, where she is currently design director, after a period as head of design for the Department for Children, Schools and Families. She will be responsible for the HCA’s design and sustainability agenda, and in particular, rolling out a set of best practice, harmonised standards. She is due to take up her new post, based in London, on April 19th 2010.
Trevor Beattie, HCA director of strategy, said: “Jane has extensive experience in this field and I am very pleased that the HCA has recruited someone of such high calibre. She will ensure that we continue to lead the way with our environmental, sustainability and design policy for housing and regeneration.”
Ms Briginshaw said: “Both Partnerships for Schools and the Department for Children, Schools and Families have been fantastic places to work and I am grateful for the tremendous support I received from colleagues in my time there. I am relishing the opportunity to further develop my passion for quality design and its contribution to creating sustainable places, in new challenges at the HCA.
“There are few higher-profile and more critically important roles than pushing forward the sustainability agenda, in delivering new homes and regenerating places, and I am looking forward to being part of a core team that will be at the forefront of this.”
The head of design and sustainability is responsible at the HCA for taking the strategic lead of all design and sustainability projects, and developing an overall strategy to ensure that HCA continues to deliver high quality places with optimum results and value for money.
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HCA CONFIRMS OVER 150 H.A.s SIGNED UP TO DELIVER MORTGAGE RESCUE
18 March 2010
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Sir Bob Kerslake
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Following an extensive and rigorous process to set up a network of RSLs to implement Mortgage Rescue support, the Homes and Communities Agency has announced that there are now 153 different RSLs established in the network.
They will work with the 22 Mortgage Rescue Scheme Syndication Agents, included in the network, to provide mortgage rescue support to people around the country.
The Agents are distributed throughout the country and take the lead in a defined area on behalf of all RSLs operating the Mortgage Rescue Scheme in their area. The agent’s role is to provide a one-stop-shop service to manage mortgage rescue cases from point of referral (from local authorities or the Communities and Local Government Fast Track team) through to completion. This includes managing all relationships and negotiating with home owners, lenders and syndicated RSLs.
Sir Bob Kerslake said: “Regional syndicates of housing associations are vital to the delivery of mortgage rescue ensuring that support is provided by local organisations who understand the needs of the people they are helping.
“So far, the Mortgage Rescue Scheme has supported 448 households in financial difficulty and now that we have this established network of housing associations, many more people will have access to the scheme.”
The HCA would welcome approaches from any other RSLs not included in the list above who are willing to participate in delivering mortgage rescue.
The aim of mortgage rescue, wherever possible, is to keep people in their homes and living in the community where they can continue to benefit from existing support networks, including family, friends and work colleagues. The scheme has been designed to provide a vital support to vulnerable homeowners who are facing difficulties in maintaining their mortgage payments and offers two options.
The first is Government Mortgage to Rent, where a homeowner sells their home to a housing association and rents it back from them at a rate lower than private rent. The second option is shared equity and involves a housing association offering the home owner an equity loan in order to reduce their monthly mortgage payments.
To help ensure organisations are able to deliver the Mortgage Rescue Scheme a toolkit for RSL partners will be published on the HCA website shortly. The toolkit will contain process maps that outline how the process should work from start to finish, a set of standard documents for providers to use in mortgage rescue cases and a collection of useful information and tips.
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PLANNING REFORMS COULD REMOVE 10,000 APPLICATIONS FROM SYSTEM
18 March 2010
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John Healey
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Housing and Planning Minister, John Healey has confirmed further reforms to the planning system, removing around 10,000 full applications to cut costs and red tape for businesses, saving up to £43m a year.
He also confirmed the final grant allocations for councils from the £135m fund to support councils in planning and building more homes. The Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (HPDG) funding, pledged in December last year, acts as an incentive to strengthen councils' responses to local housing pressures by using the most efficient planning procedures.
The confirmation of reforms to the planning system, consulted on last year and recommended in the Killian Pretty Review, will remove 10,000 full planning applications from the system and allow industrial premises, offices, shops and schools to quickly and easily undertake minor developments without the need for planning permission - saving both time and money.
Shops will now be able to extend their floor space up to 50 square metres without the need to apply for planning permission and schools, hospitals and universities will be able to build new facilities. These extensions will still be subject to certain caveats to avoid any negative impacts on neighboring properties and the environment. These changes form a series of updates in response to the Killian Pretty Review, which when fully introduced will save up to £180m a year for developers.
Healey said: "Taking simpler applications out of the planning system will help councils process major applications faster, and save businesses up to £43m a year. This is in addition to over £120m worth of savings from cutting the amount of information required in planning applications and making planning permissions more flexible. This will give businesses a much needed helping hand during the economic recovery.
"I am also determined to see more affordable homes both to support first time buyers and to reduce the pressure on waiting lists for council homes. The extra funding is a direct incentive for councils to plan and give the go-ahead to good quality local homes in their area. Supplying land for housing is crucial to make sure as many homes as possible are built to help keep the country on the road to recovery."
The funding from the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (HPDG) will help councils to work with partners in the public and private sector to ensure that new homes are built where families need them. It supplements mainstream funding and councils can choose how to spend it locally.
Last year councils received £100m. The allocations confirmed today are for the second year of the three-year grant for councils that have identified at least five years worth of suitable sites ready for housing and a further ten years worth for future development.
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FINE TUNING CLEARS WAY FOR INTRODUCTION OF NEW REGULATORY STANDARD
18 March 2010
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The CIH has given its full backing to the new regulatory framework for social housing, published by the Tenant Services Authority (TSA).
CIH believes the new framework, effective from 1 April 2010, will drive forward change and improvements for tenants across the whole of social housing.
With the extensive consultation now at an end, the final framework remains broadly the same as the consultation framework published in November 2009.
However, there are some important changes for housing professionals to consider, including:
More clarity on how TSA will deal with complaints and the role of the ombudsman;
How inspections will be commissioned, including ALMO inspections;
Explicitly making the Tenant Involvement and Empowerment a cross cutting standard;
More guidance on how providers will be expected to report their performance against the standards.
Richard Capie, CIH Director of Policy and Practice said: "It has been a lengthy consultation process, but conducted in a thorough and professional manner by the TSA. However, the time for talking is over and it is now up to the sector to respond.
“Meeting the challenge posed by the new framework will be hugely demanding for the whole of the housing domain. However, it is one we should all get behind to deliver change and improvement for tenants."
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RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES CULTURE CHANGE ACROSS HOMELESS CHARITIES
18 March 2010
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Homeless Link research has revealed a marked increase in availability of specialist services for clients with a diverse range of needs, but warns of trouble ahead if funding cuts for homeless charities continue.
Homeless Link has released its third annual Survey of Needs and Provision (SNAP), which charts changes occurring in the homelessness sector in England. The survey, funded by CLG, provides an updated picture of services for single homeless people and couples and of the people that rely on them.
The report has identified dramatic improvements in the availability of specialist support services for homeless people since 2008. This is largely due to the development of external partnerships; helping vulnerable people move on to independent lives.
There has been a 32% increase in the availability of help for people to improve their education, develop skills and find employment (from 66% to 98%); a 33% increase in the availability of activities, such as gardening, sport and art (from 61% to 94%); and a 26% increase in the provision of services to help people improve their physical health (from 71% to 97%).
Jenny Edwards, Chief Executive of Homeless Link, said: “The report shows a dramatic improvement in the availability of many types of specialist services for homeless people. Many organisations are responding magnificently to the changing needs and expectations of homeless people.
“These developments illustrate the flexibility of homelessness charities in responding to the very wide range of needs of the people they see. People using services come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and include refugees and migrants, people with mental health issues, victims of domestic violence and prison leavers. Homelessness charities are taking a central role in ensuring that the most vulnerable people in society are supported through to positive futures. They are keen to share learning with other organisations and sectors.
“Looking ahead, however, almost half of the organisations surveyed were fearful that funding pressures and predicted decommissioning of services threatened their ability to continue with this work. It is essential that investment programmes, such as the Places of Change programme, homelessness grant and Supporting People funds, are maintained in order to sustain and build on the substantial progress that has been made for some of our society’s most vulnerable people.
Richard Cunningham, Manager of the HCA’s Places of Change Programme, said: “The report demonstrates that the Places of Change approach is working, and really making a difference to society’s most marginalised people; in other words, it goes way beyond just providing a place to live.”
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HEALEY ANNOUNCES PLANS TO HIT REPOSSESSION HOTSPOTS
18 March 2010
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Housing Minister, John Healey has announced he will be extending a Government campaign across the country with a special local push in 86 repossession hotspot areas, and an extra £2.5m funding to ensure struggling homeowners get the help they need to avoid repossession.
New figures from the Financial Services Authority show there were 11,752 repossessions during the last three months - down 15% on the third quarter of 2009 and 11% fewer than the same period in 2008, taking the total for the year to 54,055.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) have cited the comprehensive range of Government help, lower interest rates and greater lender tolerance and understanding as the key reasons why repossessions are running at half the rate of the last recession.
The Government has put in place a comprehensive range of support for struggling homeowners, and more than 330,000 homeowners have received help and advice with their mortgage in the last year alone.
The Government has also tightened the rules on lenders so they must prove they have exhausted every possible option before seeking court action. Last year, the number of repossession court orders fell by a quarter - and every region of the country saw a fall in repossession court cases.
But the CML has also warned that the pressure on homeowners will remain throughout 2010. So the Minister has today dedicated an extra £2.5million to the Government's campaign to help anyone with mortgage worries to seek advice and get a grip on their finances.
In September, the Government launched the "It's Your Home" campaign, to encourage struggling homeowners to get the help they need and avoid losing their home.
Advertisements have appeared nationwide, and in 86 repossession "hotspots" identified at greater risk due to higher levels of unemployment and repossession court orders, pointing to the help available for those with mortgage worries.
Healey said: "With the pressure on homeowners set to remain throughout 2010 we must keep the Government support in place. Cutting that special help now would put an end to these special efforts now would put more families at risk of repossession. So today I am extending the Government's campaign so people know they can get free impartial and practical advice, both online or over the phone.
"We've pulled out all the stops with Government support to help people avoid losing their home. More than 330,000 families have had help and advice with their mortgages over the past year, which is one reason why repossessions are running at half the rate of the last recession. I would urge anyone facing money worries not to bury their head in the sand, but to go to our repossessions help website or call the National Debtline to get help in keeping their home."
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PLANNING STUDENTS GET FUNDING BOOST
18 March 2010
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More students will be able to take up careers in town planning and help bridge the skills gap after Planning Minister, John Healey confirmed an additional £1.8m to fund student bursaries for postgraduate training at 16 Universities.
The Government scheme began in 2004, with over 600 students completing their post-graduate planning qualification, and this year (2010/11) there is funding that will provide the full tuition fees for over 180 planning students as well as help them with the cost of living.
Students awarded bursaries are asked to agree to work for two of their first five years of employment after qualifying in the public sector.
Healey said: "We have reformed the planning system so it is faster, fairer and better at fulfilling its crucial role of delivering the homes this country needs and providing critical energy and transport infrastructure.
"But we also need a new generation of planners to make sure we are competitive in the global economy and meet the Government's ambitious low carbon goals.
"That's why I'm providing the full funding for over 180 students to complete high-level training so they have the right skills to raise standards in the public sector and shape future development in the UK."
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HOUSING NEWS: INNOVATION ROUND-UP
19 March 2010
Click the pic to see what is happening here
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HOME-OWNERSHIP DREAM SHATTERED FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS, NEW POLL REVEALS
19 March 2010
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David Orr
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Buying a home has become a pipe dream for millions of young Britons – with half believing they will have to wait up to a decade or more before getting a foot on the property ladder, and only then with the help of their parents, according to a new poll.
The YouGov survey, commissioned by the National Housing Federation, revealed that 86% of 18-30 year-olds could not currently afford to buy a home if they wanted to, despite recent falls in house prices.
A massive 83% of 18-30 year-olds, also thought buying a home was now more a dream than a reality for young adults. The Federation, which represents England's housing associations, blamed a chronic shortage of affordable homes and a slump in the number of new homes being built for the gloomy outlook.
With huge deposits now needed to secure mortgages, young adults are becoming reliant on their parents’ help – and deep pockets – to help them secure their first property, with 54% admitting they would need financial help from relatives or generous friends to buy a home.
In total, 18% said they would need up to £10,000 from relatives or friends to afford a home, 28% thought they would need up to £20,0000, and 8% up to £40,000. One in ten (9%) claimed they would need £40,000 or more. Only one in four said they wouldn’t need any assistance.
The Federation called on all political parties to commit to building more homes for first time buyers and address the crippling shortage of new homes which has seen average house prices more than double over the last decade.
The poll also revealed that 37% thought they would have to wait up to 10 years before moving into their own property, with 12% thinking it could take up to 20 years. 6% thought they would never be able to afford a home.
Seven out of ten people said they would rent from a private landlord until they can afford to buy their own place, 11% said they would live with their parents paying rent, and 8% said they would live rent free – with friends or relatives. The Federation said young people’s chances of getting a home were bleaker than ever after a year in which house-building slumped to its lowest level since 1923.
A record 4.5m people are on housing waiting lists in England, and rising unemployment and repossessions has further fuelled demand for affordable housing during the economic downturn. And a growing number of young people are now effectively excluded from the housing market.
The three main political parties should commit to tackling the housing crisis by granting housing the same “untouchable” status as the health, education and crime-fighting budgets in order to address the problem.
Federation chief executive, David Orr said: “Young people are giving up hope of ever being able to afford their own home and who can blame them? The simple truth is we, as a country, have failed to build anywhere like enough homes to meet demand, which has sent house prices rocketing over the last decade and well out of reach of most young people.
“Banks are meanwhile demanding tens of thousands of pounds in deposits before even considering lending first time buyers a mortgage. For those without parents with the funds to help them – there’s virtually no chance of getting a rung on the property ladder.
“The three main parties must commit to building significant numbers of affordable homes for rent and sale to avoid locking an entire generation out of having their own home. The next government must view housing in the same terms as health, education and policing – and protect it from budget cuts, given the scale of the crisis.”
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MORTGAGE LENDING UP SIX PER CENT IN FEBRUARY
19 March 2010
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Gross mortgage lending in February increased to an estimated £9.2bn, a six per cent rise from £8.7bn in January, according to new data published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
An increase in lending in the shortest month is unusual but unsurprising this year, given that the end of the stamp duty holiday distorted lending figures considerably in both December and January.
Lending in February was down 6% on £9.7 billion a year earlier, but the first two months of this year are broadly in line with our forecast for lending of £150 billion for 2010 as a whole.
CML economist, Paul Samter said: "As we look forward, we expect emerging signs of improvement as confidence in the economy grows and we move past the election. However, the need for the authorities to address fiscal deficit will inevitably slow the economy.
“At the same time the funding markets, while certainly better than a year ago, remain difficult and will limit the flow of available housing finance.
"Given the short-term weakness and distortions in the housing market, as well as more properties coming onto the market, it was perhaps unsurprising to see falls in some of the monthly house price indices in February.
“With activity unlikely to pick up much in the short term, we would expect to see continuing price fluctuation in the coming months."
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COALITION AIMS TO ERADICATE FUEL POVERTY
19 March 2010
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A major coalition of anti-poverty, energy, environmental and health campaigning organisations are launching a charter of measures needed to eradicate fuel poverty.
The campaigners are calling for the Government and political parties to commit to making all fuel poor homes as energy efficient as a home built today. It is warning that although the Government has taken some welcome steps, its target to end fuel poverty in England by 2016 will be impossible to meet under its current strategy. The organisations are highlighting that fuel poverty levels could in fact continue to rise to a record high.
An estimated 6.6 million UK households, of which 4.6 million are in England, are struggling to afford to heat and power their homes. Many are resorting to cutting back on heating or other essentials in order to make ends meet, which could put their health at risk. This is particularly worrying as in 2008/9 there were 36,700 excess winter deaths, an increase of almost half on the previous year.
Coalition members include Age Concern, Help the Aged, Association for the Conservation of Energy, Centre for Sustainable Energy, Child Poverty Action Group, Consumer Focus, Disability Alliance, Federation for Private Residents' Association, Friends of the Earth, MacMillan Cancer Support, NCT, National Energy Action, National Federation of Women’s Institutes, National Pensioners Convention, National Right to Fuel Campaign and Unison.
Jonathan Stearn, energy expert for Consumer Focus, said: “It should be a right, not a privilege, for everybody to have a warm, dry home that they can afford to heat. The main political parties have all exchanged rhetoric on the importance of ending fuel poverty but what we need now is concerted action. Any political party serious about ending the hardship millions of fuel poor households are facing must commit to make fuel poor homes as energy efficient as those built today.
“The coalition is worried about the confusing and uncoordinated range of Government energy efficiency schemes and their lack of measurable energy efficiency targets. Unless an improved national energy efficiency scheme is introduced, many more vulnerable pensioners, families and disabled people will be pushed into fuel poverty.
“A measure of any political party’s commitment to tackling fuel poverty must be a commitment to introduce a scheme to make homes as energy efficient as a house built today. This could reduce energy bills by up to 70% and cut carbon emissions by as much as 59%. Although such a scheme would require significant investment, it would help lift millions of the poorest households out of fuel poverty and at the same time dramatically cut CO2 emissions, create more than 35,000 jobs, and put over £6 billion back into the economy.”
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CLIMATE CHANGE THREATENS ‘DOUBLE INJUSTICE’ FOR MOST VULNERABLE
19 March 2010
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Those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change in the UK may be those who have contributed least to the problem, according to climate change experts.
The social justice implications of climate change for those living in the UK are outlined in How will climate change affect people in the UK and how can we best develop an equitable response? This booklet highlights the views of academic experts on climate change and its implications for the UK as presented during a Public Policy Seminar jointly organised by the Economic and Social Council, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Local Government Association.
According to new UK climate change projections published in 2009, science suggests that the impacts of climate change are likely to be very significant for the UK within the next few decades. The projected impacts range from rising sea levels to more winter rainfall and drier summers for much of the country.
As yet, understanding the likely consequences of climate change for people living in the UK is at an early stage. In this booklet, academic and policy experts consider the social impacts and the social justice implications of climate change in a UK context, and how society needs to respond.
Tim Allen of LGA said: “Climate change will not impact equally on society: some communities or particular groups are likely to be more vulnerable and hence disproportionately affected.
“This point has been increasingly recognised but insufficiently discussed or systematically researched. Now, the urgent priority is to understand these equity and social justice issues as we plan for mitigation and adaptation measures so that we ensure that no-one is either disproportionately or unfairly affected.”
In terms of who is most vulnerable to climate change impacts in the UK, the JRF is commissioning research to examine this question. The JRF’s research will examine how different climate impacts, from flooding to heatwaves, might affect different groups.
Katharine Knox of JRF said: “Vulnerability is complex and is likely to vary according to the type of climate impact, individual characteristics, location factors and issues such as levels of poverty and disadvantage as well as resilience and adaptive capacity.”
Policy responses and interventions will also be critical in how far vulnerable groups are protected and supported.
ESRC Chief Executive, Professor Ian Diamond added: “While many of the issues raised at the seminar have received comparatively little public attention to date, they demand attention, something that the ESRC, the JRF and the LGA ‘coalition of interest’ will pursue. The JRF is already conducting research on the social impacts of climate change in the UK, and the issues raised are mirrored in the ESRC’s strategic objectives.
“Furthermore, local government is only too aware that local public services will be at ‘the sharp end’ in meeting the challenges of climate change impacts on people in the UK. Hence, for all three of us, opening up debate, instigating a new conversation around the social justice dimension of climate change and starting to shape a collective agenda for future research are clear priorities.”
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NLA: ASSURED SHORTHOLD TENANCY THRESHOLD TO RISE TO £100,000
19 March 2010
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The Government has informed the National Landlords Association that on October 1 the Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) threshold will rise to £100,000.
The rise will apply retrospectively. The proposal to increase the AST threshold had been broadly welcomed as an attempt to offer greater clarity and transparency for landlords and tenants. However, the NLA believes the proposals have the potential to be damaging to a significant number of landlords who entered into contractual tenancy agreements in good faith.
For reasons the government has not fully explained, it seems that a quirk of the process means the change will be retrospective and will be applied to existing tenancies. As a result, any tenancy with an annual rent between £25,000 and £100,000 in existence on 1 October 2010 will become an AST overnight.
Landlords and tenants will no longer be able to negotiate individual terms for their tenancy and the rights and responsibilities associated with the Housing Act 1988 will be extended to these higher rent properties.
David Salusbury, Chairman, NLA, said: “Although we are still piecing together the facts, the retrospective nature of this change is highly regrettable, and it could have a wide-ranging impact on the letting of private residential property. For example, landlords in this higher rent bracket will have to protect deposits for the first time. If they fail to do so by October 1 2010 they could be in breach of the law. We are told the courts are being forewarned.
“The NLA believes the Government is rushing through this change without fully thinking through the consequences. We call for greater consultation to ensure this measure does not have a negative impact on the private-rented sector. We will continue to provide the most up-to-the minute help and advice on the issue to landlords and have published a guide to help landlords comply with the law. The NLA will continue the press the Government for further consultation.”
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NEWS 
