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LIBDEMS LAUNCH EMPTY HOMES PLANS
18 January 2010
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Nick Clegg
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The Liberal Democrats have set out plans to bring a quarter of a million empty homes back into use, making homes available for people who need them and creating 65,000 jobs.
There are over 760,000 empty properties across England which are no longer used as homes but can be brought back into use with some investment. People who own these homes will get a grant or a cheap loan to renovate them so they can be used: grants if the home is for social housing, loans for private use.
The plans form part of the economic stimulus package outlined as a core principle of the Liberal Democrat election manifesto. In the first year of the new Parliament, the party would redirect over £3.6bn of spending to create jobs and build up Britain’s infrastructure. In the following years this money will be redirected to other Lib Dem spending priorities and reducing the structural deficit.
Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg launched the plans with Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable and Shadow Housing Minister, Sarah Teather.
Clegg said: “Allowing thousands of houses to sit empty when millions of families have been waiting years for a home is nothing short of a scandal. These plans are a clear example of where Liberal Democrat priorities lie: creating jobs and providing more family homes.
“The cost of bringing these homes back into use is just a fraction of the cost of building new ones, yet the Government is sitting idly by while they fall into disrepair. This is one element of our economic stimulus package that will generate jobs and help Britain on its way to building a fair, sustainable economy.”
Chief Executive of the Empty Homes Agency, David Ireland said: “This bold policy would transform the scale of England’s empty homes crisis, enabling a very significant proportion to become affordable homes for people.
“This sends out a challenge to the government and other opposition parties to say how they would help create more homes from England’s empty property.”
CIH Chief Executive, Sarah Webb said: "We have campaigned with partners in the housing sector to highlight the scandal of the 760,000 properties in England standing empty, and we are delighted that the Liberal Democrats have incorporated a pledge to tackle this problem in their manifesto, to turn them into new homes and stimulate the economy by creating up to 65,000 new jobs.
"We need national and local government to understand and resource the issues around tackling empty homes. We would urge government to consider whether fiscal measures could help bring empty homes back into use as well as to investigate ways to prevent them falling empty in the first place."
Federation chief executive, David Orr said: "The Liberal Democrats' commitment to addressing the country’s housing crisis is very welcome. Waiting lists for affordable homes have hit record levels, and continue to grow during the recession as repossessions and unemployment further fuel demand. Millions of people are meanwhile living in cramped, overcrowded conditions, with little hope of getting the affordable home they desperately need.
“This policy will help address Britain’s chronic shortage of affordable homes and recognises the social and economic value of continuing to invest in affordable housing. Housing associations would be ready to play a leading role in transforming derelict properties into affordable homes and indeed have a strong track record for successfully bringing empty houses back into use.”
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MORTGAGE REPAYMENTS HIT 13-YEAR LOW
18 January 2010
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The cost of mortgage repayments for homeowners buying a new property hit a 13-year low during November, according to figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
Former owner-occupiers who bought a new home during the month needed to spend an average of just 10.6% of their income on mortgage interest, down from 11.1% in October.
The group said the figure was the lowest since 1996, when the level of income spent on mortgage interest briefly dropped to 10.2%, but other than that it was the lowest debt servicing burden since its records began in 1974.
It attributed the increase in affordability to mortgage rates continuing to fall as competition returned to the market, as well as a change in the type of mortgage people were opting for, with increased numbers taking out variable rate deals, which currently have lower rates than fixed rate loans.
Only 58% of borrowers opted for a fixed rate mortgage during November, down from 66% in October, with 42% taking out a variable rate one. There was also an improvement in affordability for first-time buyers, although this was less dramatic.
The average person buying their first home during November spent 14.4% of their pay on mortgage interest, down from 15.1% in October and the lowest figure since May 2004. But first-time buyers continued to put down average deposits of 25% of their home's value for the 10th consecutive month.
Despite the increase in affordability, overall mortgage lending still suffered its traditional seasonal dip in November. Around 53,000 mortgages were advanced to people buying a home during the month, 4% fewer than in October but still 66% up on November 2008.
Within this there was a 2% drop in the number of first-time buyers purchasing a property with a mortgage during the month at 19,300, although this was still two-thirds higher than it had been 12 months earlier.
But the number of people remortgaging remained subdued at just 31,000, 6% less than in October and 39% down on November 2008, as the low rates people revert to when their existing deal ends continued to act as a deterrent to switching.
Overall, mortgages for people buying a property accounted for 60% of all lending during the month, the highest proportion since 2001 and well up on the 27% it stood at in January last year.
Michael Coogan, director general of CML, said: "It is encouraging to see that mortgage interest payments are so affordable for home movers and first-time buyers. But with substantial deposits still needed to secure a mortgage, the market will continue to be relatively restrained for some time to come.
"With refinancing still unattractive or unnecessary for many borrowers due to continuing low rates, we are now seeing a much more house purchase-focussed market, a profile much more like the beginning of the Noughties than its latter years."
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PUBLIC HOUSING ORDERS DROP BY A THIRD
18 January 2010
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Public housing and housing association orders in the three months to November 2009 fell by 30% compared with the previous three month period, according to new figures from the Office of National Statistics.
However, they did rise nine per cent when compared with the same three month period a year earlier. Public housing and housing association orders fell by six per cent in the 12 months to November 2009, compared with the previous 12 months.
General construction orders in the three months to November 2009 rose by one per cent compared with the previous three month period. Orders in the 12 months to November 2009 fell by 14% compared with the previous 12 months but orders in the three months to November 2009 rose by four per cent compared with the same period a year earlier.
In the three months to November 2009, compared with the same period a year earlier, private housing orders rose by 23% and public and housing association housing orders rose by nine per cent.
Private housing orders in the three months to November 2009 rose by 56% compared with the previous three month period and rose by 23% compared with the same three month period a year earlier. Private housing orders in the year to November 2009 fell by 30% compared with those in the previous 12 months.
RICS chief economist, Simon Rubinsohn said: "New construction orders data released this morning suggests that incoming work into the sector is now stabilising after the hefty falls of the past few years.
“One particularly encouraging aspect of the numbers is the continuing improvement in private housebuilding orders; in November they climbed to their highest level since May 2008. This is consistent with the better news from Barratt Developments today who, while remaining generally cautious about the outlook, acknowledged that forward sales have significantly increased.
"The contribution of the acceleration of public spending programmes is evident in the data, whilst in contrast new private commercial and industrial work continues to languish. The key issue looking forward for the construction sector will be whether the private sector can take up the running as the public sector taps are turned off in an effort to rein in the huge budget deficit."
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COMMONWEAL HOUSING APPOINTS FIRST CHIEF EXECUTIVE
18 January 2010
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Ashley Horsey
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Commonweal Housing, a specialist housing charity established in 2003 that creates role model demonstration projects that solve social injustice, has taken the next step in its growth by appointing its first Chief Executive, Ashley Horsey, to implement its next stage of growth.
Ashley has more than 20 years experience in social housing, much of it spent tackling homelessness. He is the former Head of the Government's Bed & Breakfast Unit, where he successfully reduced the use of B&B hotels as temporary accommodation for homeless families. He was Chief Executive of the campaigning charity, The Empty Homes Agency from 1998 2001.
Before joining Commonweal this month, Ashley was Commercial Director at Local Space, a new housing association in East London, which delivered more than 1,100 additional social homes in just 3 years.
Ashley said: “Commonweal exists to find housing solutions to those challenges that others may class as too difficult. It’s a fantastic opportunity to really make a difference in a specialist field of housing, and one to which I’m greatly looking forward.”
Fiona Mactaggart, MP – Chair of Commonweal said “We are delighted Ashley has joined us at this exciting time for the organisation as we set about taking Commonweal Housing to the next level. His experience and track record in establishing new initiatives and delivering real change in the housing sector made him an excellent choice for the charity.”
Since being established Commonweal has been managed by part-time staff, but the Trustees believe that Commonweal is now sufficiently well established to move to its next stage of growth due to the successful operations of its first two demonstration projects.
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SECOND HALF SURGE BRINGS CHEER TO HOUSING MARKET
18 January 2010
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Valuation activity on residential properties in the second half of 2009 rose significantly on levels seen in 2008, according to the latest data from Connells Survey & Valuation.
Over 2009, the number of valuations conducted each month has increased steadily compared to 2008 figures. For five consecutive months from August to December, the number of valuations conducted significantly exceeded the number for the same month of 2008. As a result, there were almost 20% more valuations in the second half of 2009 than in the same period of 2008.
December was the stand-out performer, with a 52% more valuations than the same month of 2008, reflecting a growth in confidence in the housing market – a stark contrast compared to the end of 2008.
This trend follows a trough in valuation activity in the first half of the year, compared to 2008. In January alone, valuation numbers were down nearly 60% on January 2008.
Ross Bowen, managing director of Connells, said: “The summer of 2009 was a marked turning point for the housing market, as demand for valuations increased beyond last year’s levels. Despite the difficult mortgaging conditions, the valuations market demonstrated its resilience – ending 2009 on a much firmer footing than 2008.
“But while the news is more encouragng, 2010 will undoubtedly present many challenges. Doubts still persist over issues such as the timing and impact of the general election, the effect of removing the £175k stamp duty exemption, and trends in the wider economy.
“We did clearly see a more positive trend in the second half of last year as house prices started to rise and confidence strengthened in the market. We expect to see the market continue to improve in 2010, with further modest growth in the number of housing transactions and surveys conducted.”
The upsurge in valuation activity has been spearheaded by first-time buyers and home movers. In 2009, there were 10% more valuations for homeowners conducted than 2008, and 15% more for first time buyers.
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ANCHOR TRUST CHIEF BACKS DIGNITY FOR ELDERLY CAMPAIGN
18 January 2010
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Anchor Trust Acting Chief Executive, Jane Ashcroft has welcomed Sir Michael Parkinson’s report into the care of older people in Britain.
She said his report, My Year as Dignity Ambassador, highlights the good practice being carried out by the huge number of committed carers across the country.
The report details his last 12 months during which time he met Jane to hear how Anchor staff had received advanced dementia training to enable them to become Dignity Champions. Also present at the meeting was Care Services Minister Phil Hope, who had previously met one of Anchor’s Dignity Champions, Helen Rollin, from Oakwood House in Ipswich.
Jane said: “Sir Michael has rightly identified the importance of providing person-centred care so that each older person is treated as an individual and their care is tailored to their needs and provided by appropriately well-trained staff.
“Dignity and individuality are the foundations on which Anchor builds its care. We have more than 500 Dignity Champions of the 12,000 highlighted in his report, making us the organisation with the largest number outside of the NHS.
“To treat people in our care as individuals, you have to get to know all about them. We embrace the Life Story initiative about which Sir Michael speaks so passionately, with our staff having one-to-one sessions with our residents, looking at photographs of them when they were younger and talking with them about their past, their likes and dislikes.
“Our residents have a wealth of experience gained from fascinating lives which we can learn from personally and which we use to shape our services to provide happy living for the years ahead.”
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JUST A MINUTE: DARREN CROCKETT, 21ST CENTURY HEATING
19 January 2010
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Darren Crockett
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Darren Crockett, Managing Director, 21st Century Heating
How did you get started in the industry? We are a family business - I’m the third generation and began as an apprentice electrician. I am 39 now and have spent 24 years in the business.
Was it something you always wanted to do? I wanted to be a Ghostbuster originally!
Your biggest professional achievement: Taking over the family business four years ago after the sudden demise of my father and developing new strategies to take us forward.
Your biggest mistake: Employing my wife, mother, two cousins and uncle --- only joking!!!
Best advice you received: Don’t employ family members? Seriously though, treat every customer’s home with the respect you treat your own.
What’s the best aspect of your job? Every day is different and meeting constant challenges.
And the worst? The pressure of trying to keep everybody happy.
What you would most like to change in construction? Speed up the rate of payment and cut much red tape.
Best thing to happen to the industry in the past decade? The tightening up on the cowboys who plagued the industry. Certification has been a welcome improvement.
Do you read a daily newspaper? When I get the time – my local Evening Telegraph and The Sun for sport.
Are you making more use of the Internet? Yes – our website www.21stcenturyheating.com has produced valuable leads for our new eco-friendly electrical heating products.
Hobbies and interests: Football. I make a point of going to see the Dundee United home games. But the business and family commitments don’t allow time for much else.
Favourite holiday destination? Florida – Disney for my three kids.
Favourite band/music? U2.
Cuisine—Indian or Italian? Italian
Car? Audi A4. I love everything about it.
If you would like to take part in Just A Minute, please email: news@housingnews.co.uk for more details.
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ONE IN FIVE FORCED TO PUT OF HAVING KIDS DUE TO LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOMES
19 January 2010
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One in five people claims to have been forced to put off having children because they cannot find an affordable place to live, research from Shelter has shown.
Around 18% of people aged between 18 and 44 said they actively delayed starting a family because of high housing costs. The proportion of people who are putting off having children soars to 24% among those aged between 18 and 34.
A fifth of people said they had put plans to have children on hold for up to six years because of high housing costs, while 37% did not think they would be able to start a family for at least another four years.
Kay Boycott, director of policy and campaigns at Shelter, said: "These figures show just how pervasive the housing crisis is. While it is responsible to ensure that you can afford to support a new baby, it is completely unacceptable that housing costs are changing important life decisions like starting a family in such a significant way."
The average age of someone buying their first home without financial help from family and friends is now 37, up from 33 in 2005. But women were warned that they risked not being able to have children at all if they delayed starting a family for too long.
Susan Seenan, from Infertility Network UK, said: "If people are delaying having children because of housing costs then this could have long-term implications for their ability to conceive.
"It is extremely important that people are aware of the effects of age on their fertility, not only for the woman but for both partners, and particularly for women over the age of 35. Success rates for fertility treatment also decrease with age, from around 30% for women under 35 to 3% for women in their early forties."
YouGov questioned 5,438 people during October.
Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister, Sarah Teather said: “This new research is further proof that the crisis in affordable housing is having a dramatic and devastating impact on people’s lives. It is absolutely shameful that Labour’s housing failure is forcing young couples to put their dreams of starting a family on hold.
“Everyone knows of a property in their area sitting empty that could be used to house a young family in need. We need to fight a war on empty homes so that people can get on with living their lives.”
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MOD FACES CRITICISM FOR 8,000 EMPTY HOMES
19 January 2010
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Almost 8,000 homes for Armed Forces families are standing empty despite the Ministry of Defence spending £17m a year renting substitute properties.
Figures showed there are currently 7,889 unoccupied homes for service families in the UK, including 2,077 that have been empty for more than a year.
Previous data revealed the MoD has spent more than £88m since 2004 on renting homes where no suitable properties are available, with the bill for 2009 topping £17m. This included almost £7,000 a month on a single property in Chelsea, west London.
In a series of written parliamentary answers, junior minister, Kevan Jones said the 7,889 void service family accommodation (SFA) properties represented 15.8% of the total 49,828 stock.
He insisted there were a number of reasons for the homes being unavailable, such as awaiting "routine moves of service personnel", improvement or modernisation work, demolition or disposal.
Those that had been empty the longest were "mainly held awaiting large future redeployments of personnel, pending return to (owners) Annington Homes Limited or awaiting demolition, or where decisions on the future of MoD sites have yet to be made".
But Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, Willie Rennie, who uncovered the figures, said: "It is scandalous that the Government is spending millions renting forces homes despite already having thousands of houses standing empty. This is yet more evidence of Labour wasting money even though budgets are tighter than ever.
"With frontline troops still facing shortages of equipment, and their families having to put up with shoddy accommodation, this kind of bungling is unacceptable. The botched privatisation and catastrophic mismanagement of forces properties is the joint legacy of successive Tory and Labour failure at the MOD. Our brave troops and their families deserve a change for the better."
In the written answers, Mr Jones highlighted that the number of void SFA properties reached 21% in 2008 and said the MoD sought to sub-let homes where they were empty at present but needed in the long-term.
"While the department is working hard to reduce the number of voids, there will always be a need for a management margin of properties to ensure they are available for service families," he said. "Although extremely challenging, the MoD is driving hard to reduce the percentage of voids to the target management margin of 10% by 2012."
A MoD spokesperson: "The MoD is unlike any other housing provider, for operational reasons it is necessary to keep a certain number of voids. Members of the Armed Forces and their families are very mobile, and as far as possible, we aim to ensure that we have capacity to cope as the Service population moves around the UK.
"The Government and MoD are committed to providing the quality and type of housing needed by our servicemen and women, and this is recognised by the £8 billion investment programme which is now delivering real results. We accept there is some way to go but this is a long-term commitment."
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UP TO 100,000 FAMILIES CRIPPLED WITH £82M LOAN SHARK DEBT AFTER CHRISTMAS
19 January 2010
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Up to 100,000 of the UK’s poorest families will spend 2010 crippled with a combined debt of around £82m after borrowing money from loan sharks to pay for Christmas 2009, according to a new report commissioned by Circle Anglia.
The Real Cost of Christmas report, authored by the Financial Inclusion Centre, found that an estimated £29m in illegal doorstep loans were taken out over the holiday season, making it the worst Christmas in a generation for this type of borrowing.
Circle Anglia commissioned the research to highlight the issue after noticing an increase in the number of its residents being targeted by loan sharks, and has launched a campaign to raise awareness among residents, who find themselves in financial difficulty.
Evidence shows that on average people borrowed nearly £300 from loan sharks to cover the cost of Christmas, but with exorbitant interest rates averaging 825% (some rates can reach as high as 1,500%), they will pay back over £800. The average loan repayment period is a year, meaning that a large number of Britain’s poorest households will still be paying off their debt in Christmas 2010.
It also found that illegal loan shark activity is on the up in the UK. Over the last three years the estimated use of loan sharks increased from 165,000 to over 200,000 households per annum – a 22% rise. As the recession continues to bite, loan sharks have moved in with loans from illegal doorstep lenders at Christmas time accounting for up to half of all loans borrowed from loan sharks in 2009.
Andy Doylend, Executive Director of Operations at Circle Anglia, said: “These figures are very concerning and demonstrate the scale of illegal lending across the UK. We hope that by turning the spotlight on loan shark activity we can help more people to seek help and get sound financial advice.
“A simple step such as borrowing from a credit union or a community finance organisation instead of a loan shark could have saved the typical low income household £500 in debt repayments – more than enough to fund the whole of Christmas 2010 as well.
“The challenge in 2010, for all of us in the housing sector, is to make sure that we reach out to our residents to make them aware of the availability and accessibility of affordable finance and to help them manage their finances better.”
Consumer Minister, Kevin Brennan said: "The Government has created specialist Trading Standards illegal money lending teams around the country so that they can come down hard on loan sharks. The teams have helped more than 10,000 victims and written off more than £30m of illegal debt. They have already secured around 50 years in prison sentences, helping to rid communities of these criminals. I'd encourage anyone who feels trapped by a loan shark to get help and advice as soon as possible."
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NEW BRAND LAUNCHED BY A2DOMINION
19 January 2010
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The A2Dominion Group is launching a new brand as it bids to bring a wider range of new homes to the market than ever before.
A2Dominion New Homes is the new name under which homes for both shared ownership and private sale will now be marketed, some of which the Group will start to build, procure and produce itself.
Private sale homes were previously constructed and sold by A Plus New Homes, a private subsidiary of the A2Dominion Group, while homes sold by A2Dominion were mainly for shared ownership.
But from this month all new homes will be sold under the same brand – A2Dominion New Homes – as the Group combines all its development, sales and regeneration activities under a single commercial umbrella.
John Knevett, A2Dominion Group Commercial Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, said: “Our new brand is all about building on our reputation as a provider of high quality homes and an organisation that always puts its customers first.
“It will also support the new hybrid business model for our commercial activities, combining the efficiency of a housebuilder, the robustness of a Registered Social Landlord and drawing on the benefits of both.”
Mr Knevett continued: “By working with our various markets, we aim to become even better known for the high quality of our homes to meet our customers’ expectations, be it for shared ownership or outright sale.”
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NLA BOARD DIRECTOR RESIGNS
19 January 2010
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The National Landlords Association (NLA) has announced the resignation of Board Director, Sussanne Chambers as she takes up her new role as Managing Director at HomeXperts Ltd, a property franchise business for landlords and property professionals.
Sussanne was appointed to the Board in May 2009. Her appointment was then confirmed by election of the membership at the Annual General Meeting in November 2009.
Unfortunately Sussanne’s new appointment will prevent her from carrying out her fiduciary duties as an NLA Board Director.
David Salusbury, Chairman, said: “It is with regret that the NLA must begin 2010 with the departure of a board member.
“In her short time on the Board, Sussanne’s enthusiasm and experience were already beginning to make a significant contribution to the continued success and development of our Association.
“Sussanne is now moving on to an exciting new business venture and all at the NLA wish her every success.”
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MINISTER DISCUSSES USE OF MORE MUTUALS IN HOUSING
20 January 2010
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Tessa Jowell
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Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Cabinet Office, discussed with housing co-operative tenants and staff whether the mutual model – tenant and staff owned enterprises – could play a bigger role in the UK housing market, in a visit to New Cut Housing Co-operative in Lambeth.
Jowell met with staff and residents at the housing co-operative to find out more about their experience of co-operative housing. The Minister for the Cabinet Office, London and the Olympics asked tenants about the benefits of living in a housing co-operative and discussed with staff the barriers stopping increases in the co-operative housing market.
Last month, the Minister gave a major speech outlining her views that mutuals, such as staff and user-owned co-operatives, should have a major role in public service delivery and reform. The Minister announced plans to create an independent Commission on Ownership, chaired by Will Hutton, to investigate the issue.
She also announced she was to meet ministers responsible for housing, social care and Sure Start, to investigate a larger role for mutualism.
Rosa Wright, Secretary of the New Cut Co-operative, discussed the benefits of living in a co-operative: “In a co-operative one can live alone, but not be lonely. Through involvement and participation, we have a say in what happens in our homes."
Jowell said: “It is easy to see the value and benefits of housing co-operatives. They support individual ownership and tenants making the decisions about their own homes, while creating and maintaining a strong community spirit.
“I am visiting New Cut today to meet with tenants to hear first hand about their experiences of living and participating in co-operative housing. I also hope to see how the benefits of mutual housing – such as co-operatives and tenant-owned estates – can be more widely shared across the UK.”
David Rodgers, Executive Director of CDS Co-operatives, said: “We welcome the establishment of the Commission on Ownership by Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Cabinet Office. We agree with the Minister that ownership matters because with ownership comes power. Housing co-operatives like New Cut demonstrate admirably the benefits which resident ownership of affordable housing brings.”
New Cut Housing Co-operative is part of CDS Housing Co-operative, the largest housing co-operative in London and the South-east. It is a member of the Confederation of Co-operative Housing.
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CALL FOR COUNCILS TO TAKE THE LEAD ON NEW HOUSING
20 January 2010
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Councils must take the lead on a radical new approach to delivering council housing, which includes paying down debt and making every house a liveable one, according to a new report published by Southwark Council and the Local Government Information Unit.
It claims lower interest rates mean this could be done without increasing total spending. Once and for all – funding the improvement gap in existing council housing, uses the experience of the council - one of the largest local authority landlords in the country with responsibility for 55,000 properties – to show that the government’s piecemeal policy on housing has resulted in an unsustainable financial position for council housing, and to propose a radical new plan.
The report identifies a series of failures in existing policy, including a legacy of debt left over from the post-war building boom, leaving local government straining with the burden of £18bn in debt with no plans to ever repay; and a Decent Homes policy that has pressured local authorities to invest without regard for tenant wishes or long term sustainability.
Other failures found include a legacy of underfunding which has left local tax payers picking up the bill for routine management and maintenance; and a lack of any plan to get council housing out of a cycle of decline and into a state which viable financially and robust to meet future needs. The report advocates a new definition of success to guide policy makers called Sustainable Social Housing and advocates a route-map to a sustainable future.
The Three Point Plan is to restructure debt repayments to take advantage of historic low rates and allow councils a ten year payment holiday; use the funds freed each year to fund a massive renewal plan that would leave houses in top condition – and therefore cheaper to maintain; and use the funds freed up from repair budgets to pay down debt over 25 years.
Report Author, Amelia Walker said: “It’s easy to say that freeing councils from Whitehall control will deliver change, but this is only credible when there is a clear plan – a new route map for change.
“This report does what government has consistently failed to do – look at housing in the round. Existing council housing and new build housing are not separate – it all comes from the same diminishing pot of resources. Councils can deliver radical change – but only if they have the freedom to spend with an eye to the future, not to the next target.”
Southwark Executive Member for Housing, Kim Humphreys added: “Getting more and better work done with less money is crucial for this council. The council has an investment programme of some £100m a year, £70m of which is directly spent on housing and over £20m on regeneration.”
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REPORT ADDRESSES CONCERNS OVER REGENERATION
20 January 2010
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A new report suggests radical changes are needed in the way regeneration projects are organised to meet the needs of communities.
The report by Dr Tim Brown and Ros Lishman of the Centre for Comparative Housing Research at De Montfort University (DMU) in Leicester for The Northern Way highlights that, in order to tackle the recession and plan for the upturn, councils and their partners must rethink how the regeneration process is managed.
Co-ordinating Regeneration: Improving Effectiveness in Local Delivery was undertaken in autumn 2009 by the Centre for Comparative Housing Research at DMU in collaboration with Hull City Council as part of a major research programme.
The Northern Way Regeneration Momentum Research Programme, which aims to bring together partners engaged in regeneration to identify new ideas and models of engagement between the public, private and voluntary sectors, commissioned the research.
Based primarily on a case study of Hull, the authors recommended that the duplication and complexity of formal partnerships, or local delivery vehicles (LDVs), should be addressed by either merging existing organisations or setting up an overall local authority-wide agency to co-ordinate the funding and delivery of housing, jobs, new schools and health centres.
Dr Tim Brown said: “Hull has made significant strides in attracting over £1 billion of public investment and significant sums from the private sector over the last decade as well as implementing flagship projects such as the St Stephens Project in the city centre.
“However, Hull, like many towns and cities, has a plethora of partnerships and organisations involved in policy and implementation. This creates high transaction costs for the local authority. More importantly, it creates a confusing and opaque picture for potential developers and local communities.
“There are also lessons that can be learnt from other countries. In the USA, widespread use is made of community development corporations at a neighbourhood level. In Scandinavia, there are many successful examples of city regions, municipalities and local communities working together to achieve successful regeneration projects. If Hull and other cities are to continue to successfully regenerate their areas, consideration should be given to similar initiatives.”
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CALL TO PROMOTE SOCIAL MOBILITY
20 January 2010
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Business Minister, Pat McFadden, has confirmed the Government’s commitment to promoting the aspirations of all young people, whatever their background, and putting social mobility at the heart of plans for growth and success in the global economy.
The Government’s response to Unleashing Aspiration, the final report from the Panel on Fair Access to the Professions, agrees to implement the vast majority of the panel’s 88 recommendations.
The Panel, led by Alan Milburn MP, challenged Government to do more to ensure that people with ability, creativity and talent can succeed in the professions, regardless of their social or economic background. Achieving this aspiration calls for reform in schools, in colleges, in universities and in the professions themselves.
The measures look to harness activity across Government and the professional associations. They include the creation of an online National Internship Service; a guarantee, building on the New Opportunities White Paper published last year, for around 130,000 of the brightest young people from low-income backgrounds to benefit from structured assistance at secondary school; and a new Social Mobility Commission.
They also include the launch of an expanded Gateways to the Professions Collaborative Forum with an increased remit covering a wider range of professions. Chaired by David Lammy, the Minister for Higher Education and involving senior representatives from 60 key professions. The Forum will advise on and implement many of the panel’s recommendations and will ask professional organisations to report on and share work done to improve access in each of their fields.
Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said: “My mission is to ensure that all of Britain’s people, from every background, are given the opportunity to develop their talents and learn the skills which will transform their lives. And this social mobility must be rooted in our core value of fairness.
“In many ways society is already fairer. Six hundred thousand children have been lifted out of poverty, record numbers of our young people are going to university, one in three people of working age is a member of a profession, and the gender pay gap has narrowed.
“But we can't be a truly aspirational society if some people are still denied the chance to get on, and although we have raised the glass ceiling we have yet to break it. That is why our priority will be to remove all the barriers that are holding people back.”
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EIGHT IN TEN HOMES DO NOT HAVE AUDIBLE CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS
20 January 2010
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More than eight in 10 households do not have an audible carbon monoxide alarm, putting their inhabitants at risk of death or serious injury, according to a new study.
Research into 1,915 adults has shown 81% do not have an audible alarm to alert them to a leak of the highly poisonous gas which can be emitted by faulty and poorly maintained boilers, cookers and other fuel burning appliances.
The findings of the study are being used as part of the Carbon Monoxide - Be Alarmed! campaign headed by TV property guru, Kirstie Allsopp.
At least 30 people a year die in the UK as a result of poisoning by the colourless, odourless gas, with many more suffering serious injuries. The survey showed that of those who do not have an audible carbon monoxide (CO) alarm, 13% believe CO poisoning is rare and do not consider the gas to be a significant risk to their health.
Of those questioned, 18% did not know that CO has no smell; 9% did not know it was invisible to the naked eye and 8% did not know that it was harmful. More than one in 10 - 11% - did not know an alarm was available to detect the gas.
Campaigners have warned that so-called colour change indicators installed in some homes would fail to wake a sleeping household. An alarm could also help people act in time before the gas caused serious injury and disability, a spokeswoman said.
She warned that even where up-to-date appliances had been installed and were checked regularly, CO could leak in from the outside - for example, from a faulty boiler in a neighbouring home.
Allsopp said: "Most people wouldn't dream of not having a smoke alarm, but I'm shocked at how few people realise the risks of carbon monoxide. I want to see an audible alarm installed in every household - it's the only way to be sure of detecting this silent killer whilst protecting you and your family."
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LANDLORDS OPTIMISTIC FOR 2010
20 January 2010
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Landlords enjoyed a 7.6% annual return on their investments by the end of December 2009, according to the latest Buy-to-Let Index from LSL Property Services.
The value of their properties rose three per cent in the year while rental income after void periods added a further 4.6%. This means in 2009, a typical landlord made a return of £12,740. This was a combination of modest capital gains of £4,831 on each property and £7,909 in rental income.
By contrast, in 2008, a typical landlord would have lost 8.8% even after allowing for rental income. They lost £23,000 in capital as the property fell in value, and earned £7,900 in rent for the full year, leading to a total loss of £15,100.
David Brown, commercial director of LSL said: “Despite the worst recession in living memory, and despite house prices continuing to fall for the first few months of 2009, investment returns in buy-to-let were very respectable.
“The £12,700 the average landlord made on a rented property during the year recouped most of the losses in the housing crash of 2008. Brave landlords who added to their portfolios will be celebrating an excellent year.”
The trend in prices continues to be favourable. Landlords’ properties rose in value by 0.4% in December. By contrast, the average UK rent fell slightly in December, down 0.4% to £661 per month. Rents have corrected slightly since September giving up a third of the sharp rent rises in the summer.
However, this was largely driven by falling rents in the large London and South East markets, the only two markets to have seen three consecutive months of rent declines since September. Rents ended 2009 0.2% higher than the previous year.
Yields ended the year at 4.8%. They fell from a peak of 5.1% in March as the recovery in house prices outstripped growth in rents. The remain well above the 4.2% trough at the peak of the housing market at the end of 2007, when interest rates were far higher than today to boot.
Arrears performed very well in 2009, despite the recession. On average 11.7% of rent was unpaid by the date it was due, down from 14.5% in 2008. By the 31st of December 2009, 12.5% of rent was unpaid, far less than last year’s Christmas peak when 15.9% of rent was late. Serious arrears held steady, with 1.1% of rent still unpaid three months after it was due. At the end of 2009, £282m of rent was unpaid by the date it was due, down from £346m at the end of 2008.
2010 is set for stronger returns than 2009. If house prices continue to rise at the current modest rate of 0.4% per month, equivalent to 4.9% for the full year, a typical landlord will make a total return of £16,000 in 2010, equivalent to 9.8%.
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DEVELOPMENT SHOWCASE, THE WOODLANDS, STOKE
21 January 2010
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The Woodlands, Meir, Stoke
Local authority: Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Housing association: Great Places Housing Group
Contractor: J S Seddon
Architect: BM3 Architects
The Woodlands, Meir, Stoke
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Number of homes: Four
Cost: £375,000
The site: The Woodlands was designed to create a new ‘gateway’ into the Meir neighbourhood that will link the area to other developments in the area. Woodville Road is part of the first phase of RENEW North Staffordshire’s comprehensive regeneration programme in Meir, in partnership with Great Places, to transform the neghbourhood.
Long-term aims are to create better housing and amenities, more choice of places to live for rent and to buy both for current and future residents, and brilliant open spaces that families will love to spend time in.
The scheme: The Woodlands comprises the first former council-owned house to be completely refurbished as part of a regeneration scheme to bring affordable homes to Meir. Great Places refurbished and upgraded the four semi-detached houses into family homes - featuring remodelled interiors and three bedrooms instead of the previous two. The project was the result of extensive consultation with local people and driven by local people’s ideas about what they wanted to see in their neighbourhood. It followed an innovative alley gating initiative to create new, private spaces for neighbours to share, and the development of a new community hub, “The Square.”
Features: The 1930s properties now have dramatically improved insulation levels, fresh contemporary interiors including good-quality kitchens and bathrooms and crisp new render and boarding to their exteriors.
Affordability: They were made available for shared ownership through Great Places’ sales division, Plumlife, from £45,000 for a 50% share.
Completion date: July 2009
Websites:
www.stoke.gov.uk
www.greatplaces.org.uk
www.jsseddon.co.uk
www.bm3.co.uk
If you have a new or upcoming development you would like to Showcase, please email: news@housingnews.co.uk for more details.
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HOUSE PRICES LESS AFFORDABLE THAN 50 YEARS AGO
21 January 2010
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Houses are less affordable than 50 years ago although the quality of homes has improved, according to the Halifax, as it looks back on half a century if housing figures.
The lender said that over the last five decades UK house prices have risen by 2.7% a year, allowing for inflation. This was above the two per cent annual increase in real earnings over the same period.
Prices increased the most in the last decade, and separately lenders warned that lending to first-time buyers will be constrained for "some time to come". The Halifax study considered the state of the market in the half century from 1959 to 2009.
Martin Ellis, chief economist at the Halifax, said: "The last 50 years have witnessed some remarkable developments in the UK housing market.”
Margaret Thatcher was voted in as MP for Finchley in 1959, and it was her government's Right to Buy policy when prime minister in the 1980s that brought about one of the most significant shifts in the market.
Owner-occupation in the UK accelerated the most in the 1980s. The Halifax figures show that 43% of homes were owned by their residents in 1961 compared with 68% in 2008. Privately rented homes fell from 33% to 14% over the same period, although it has crept up in the last 20 years or so, probably owing to the increase in student numbers.
Four big house price booms have occurred in the last 50 years, the research concluded. They were: 1971-73, 1977-80, 1985-89, and 1998-2007. Over the last 50 years, the biggest rise in prices was in greater London, whereas the smallest increase was in Scotland. This might have been mitigated, to a degree, by an increase in homes with two incomes rather than just one.
In a sign that buyers might be getting more for their money now, the proportion of households without an inside toilet fell from 14% in 1960 to 0.2% in 1996. A basic hot water supply features in all homes, unlike 22% of them in 1967, and central heating has also become the norm.
Housebuilding levels have fallen, but the proportion of households that were occupied by just one person rose from 19% in 1971 to 33% in 2009, the Halifax said. This is likely to have added to pressure on affordability of smaller homes for first-time buyers.
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NEW RESEARCH SHOWS GARDEN GRABBING IS NOT A MAJOR PROBLEM
21 January 2010
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John Healey
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Housing and Planning Minister, John Healey has published new, independent research that shows inappropriate building on back gardens is not a widespread, national problem and is often linked to councils' failure to have local policies in place.
He told the small minority of councils who reported issues in "hot spot" areas that the power to act is already in their own hands if they establish clear, local policies.
In total, 363 local planning authorities were approached for their views. Of the 127 who responded, less than half (50 councils) considered it an issue in their areas. Of those who reported a problem, only five per cent (7) had specific, local policies in place.
The report concludes that councils with local plans in place were more successful at stopping inappropriate development on garden land. In 2007-2008, 6892 dwellings were refused on appeal and 1739 were granted permission (approximately only one in five), demonstrating that independent Planning Inspectors uphold decisions to stop development if local policies are in place.
Nevertheless, Mr Healey promised action to head off any current or future problems by strengthening national policy advice, to make crystal clear that previously developed land, which can include garden land, is not necessarily suitable for development, and that the decisions to stop unsuitable building on gardens rest at a local level.
The intensive, countrywide review by Kingston University was commissioned last year to assess the nature and extent of the issue across the country and how it could be tackled. Garden grabbing can affect the character of an area if very different properties are built alongside family homes. The research concluded that although the issue is not a widespread national problem, a minority of councils in London, the South East and West Midlands had reported an impact in their areas.
Mr Healey has issued strengthened national planning guidance and instructed the Chief Planning Officer, Steve Quartermain, to write to planners across the country outlining how councils can identify and deal with garden grabbing through local plans, in turn giving them greater discretion to refuse inappropriate development.
He said: "Councils are leaving an open door for inappropriate development if they do not have local plans in place, and the power to stop this lies in their hands. Councils already have the tools they need to deal with this issue and this evidence shows that when they have a local policy in place they can accurately judge the need for new homes on previously developed land, using their own discretion, and protect the essence of a neighbourhood.
"If those areas that have reported a problem don't want to see developments on garden land, they are tying their own hands by not having a local plan in place. This evidence shows that planning inspectors will support local authorities in rejecting inappropriate buildings in gardens if there is a clear idea of what the area needs.
"Over time, so-called 'garden grabbing' can change the look and feel of a community without giving local people a choice, so it is good news that councils have told our independent experts that it is not a problem in the large majority of areas. I am determined to keep it that way and to see tougher action in a small number of garden grabbing hotspots.
"For my part, I am changing the official guidance for planners to make it crystal clear that previously developed or former garden land is not necessarily suitable for development, and that the impact on the surrounding area should be considered."
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TENANTS, MPs AND UNIONS TO FIGHT FOR COUNCIL HOUSING
21 January 2010
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Tenants, MPs, local councillors and trade unionists from across Britain will come together on March 19 to defend the future of council housing and demand that politicians listen to council tenants in the run up to the general election.
Defend Council Housing (DCH) campaigns against ‘privatisation’ and for direct investment to provide decent, affordable, secure and accountable housing. Despite decades of attempts to privatise and destroy it, a robust council housing sector has never been more important.
Five million people are now on council housing waiting lists. Millions more live in sub-standard, overcrowded, energy inefficient homes. Still more can’t afford a home, or live in homes they can’t afford.
Eileen Short, chair of DCH said: “Tenants from across Britain will join with trade unions, councillors, MPs, experts and campaigners to discuss government's latest proposals and demand action on decent homes and a sustainable financial future. In areas where privatisation is threatened, and in the run up to elections, tenants will be keeping up the pressure.”
The conference will discuss proposals for the future funding of council housing and hear from local campaigns fighting to insist Government meets its commitment to bring all housing up to a decent standard with no strings attached. To ensure a fair and democratic debate, councils should ensure that tenants facing proposals for stock transfer, PFI, mass demolition or sell offs of council housing have an opportunity to attend.
Contributors include Austin Mitchell MP, Jack Dromey (Deputy Secretary Unite trade union), Shelter, Scottish tenants organisation, Leeds tenants fed and Professor Peter Ambrose. A Tenants Question Time with the political parties is also planned, to grill the parties on housing manifestos.
The conference in central London welcomes delegations from local tenants, trade unions, councillors and housing campaign organisations. Delegations will attend from across Britain, and from tenants keen to campaign against threats of privatisation.
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RECESSION HAS WIDENED THE GAP BETWEEN CITIES
21 January 2010
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The recession has widened the gap between UK city economies, with cities already suffering before the recession being hit hardest, according to Centre for Cities' annual economic index.
Over the past two years, the difference between the two cities with the highest and lowest shares of residents claiming Jobseeker's Allowance - Hull and Cambridge - has nearly doubled.
Cities Outlook 2010 finds that, as we move out of recession, the UK will face an uneven recovery. Already-robust city economies like Brighton are more likely to grow stronger, leaving others like Doncaster further behind. This raises tough questions about how they can carve out a future that's economically sustainable.
The turnaround of our largest cities will be critical to the national recovery. More than one in three jobs (39%) in England is based in just five cities - Greater London and the City Regions of Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Liverpool.
Brighton, Milton Keynes, Reading, Cambridge and Edinburgh have the right ingredients to succeed after the recession has passed. They have strong private sectors, high levels of entrepreneurship, highly educated workforces and large shares of knowledge-intensive jobs.
Brighton added the highest number of private sector jobs over the past decade - an extra 20,000 jobs. Over a third of its workforce is graduate-level - and one in five of its jobs are part of the knowledge economy.
Other cities, like Stoke, Burnley, Barnsley, Newport and Doncaster, with their weaker business base, have a much tougher outlook. These cities all lost private sector jobs over the pre-recession decade. Their rate of business start ups is low and many of their residents have no qualifications.
Between 1998 and 2008 Stoke, for example, saw a net loss of over 20,000 private sector jobs from its economy. One in five of its population have no formal qualifications and the city has a low rate of entrepreneurship.
The Centre for Cities is calling on the party leaders to recognise that the economic recovery will be very uneven. The UK may well be emerging from recession. But many cities will continue to feel the effects of the downturn for years to come, especially those with a weak private sector.
Dermot Finch, Chief Executive of the Centre for Cities, said: "We face an uneven recovery. The national economy may be emerging from recession but cities like Brighton are likely to recover more strongly than the likes of Barnsley.
"Party leaders need to wake up to the reality that some cities will still feel in the middle of a recession until well after the election. The next Government needs to help these struggling cities fix the basics - like improving schools and public transport so they can attract new business and jobs."
Cllr Margaret Eaton, Chair of the Local Government Association, said: "The recession is affecting different parts of the country very differently to others, which underlines how a national, one-size-fits-all solution to getting us out of the downturn simply isn't going to work. The fastest way to move from recession to recovery is for more decisions about the economy to be made at a local level, which means councils continuing to work with local people and businesses."
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AUDIT COMMISSION UPDATES KLOE
21 January 2010
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The Audit Commission has published a revised key line of enquiry (KLOE) for strategic housing services.
The updated KLOE, strategic approach to housing, assesses how well local authorities work with their partners and other parties to address the challenge of meeting housing need in their areas.
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HOUSING NEWS: INNOVATION ROUND-UP
22 January 2010
Click the picture to see who is tuning in
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TENANTS TO GET GREATER HOUSING CHOICE
22 January 2010
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John Healey
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More tenants across the country will have a greater say over where they want to live and what housing options are available to them after Housing Minister, John Healey announced over £500,000 extra funding to create more choice based lettings schemes across the country and expand several others already in place.
The schemes offer tenants greater mobility, choice and flexibility when looking at their housing options enabling them to move across different local authority areas, for example if they were looking to move for a job opportunity.
Since the programme began in 2005, more than £6.5m has been given to councils to work with H.A.s to provide increased choice and mobility for thousands of new and existing social housing tenants. Over 80% of local authorities across England or 265 local authorities, now have a scheme in place or in development and Healey said that the government remained on target to ensure choice based lettings were rolled out across the whole of the country by the end of this year.
Healey said: "Thanks to this funding more councils and housing associations will be able to offer their tenants more choice in where they want to live beyond the traditional boundaries. These schemes mean that local authorities have another tool to manage their waiting lists more effectively, by ensuring each home is matched to tenants more suited to the property.
"This is not just a good deal for local authorities but a good deal for tenants too, enabling those who need to move, perhaps for work, to do so. This comes alongside other measures I have put in place to ensure that social housing is better meeting the needs of communities. I have recently launched guidance for local authorities to ensure fairness in the allocations system as well as a clampdown on housing cheats illegally subletting homes, and I will continue to look at more can be done."
The announcement comes just weeks after John Healey announced new statutory guidance designed to give councils more freedom and flexibility in the way they allocate their housing, exploding myths and ensuring that people have greater confidence that council homes in their area are allocated fairly.
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FEDERATION CALLS FOR MORE SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING
22 January 2010
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David Orr
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Millions of older people could be spared traumatic hospital stays and costly long term care if they were given more help to live independently in their own homes, according to a new report from the National Housing Federation.
In your lifetime warned older people were often denied the support they needed to continue to live at home – increasing the risk that they will end up in hospital or in a care home in the long run. Around 2.86 million people aged over 65 in England need help with at least one routine task – and are continuing to rise rapidly.
The Federation said hundreds of millions of pounds could be saved by diverting more funding into preventative measures rather than caring for older people only when they become ill or immobile. The number of people aged 65 and over is expected to increase by 60% over the next 20 years to almost 15.8 million, with the number of over 85s doubling during the same period.
But despite the rapidly ageing demographic and the huge need for specialised housing and support for older people, the options available remain limited, the report found. Housing associations provide homes for almost one million older people, and are ideally placed to deliver tailored care and support services for the elderly in their local community.
But the Federation, which represents England’s housing associations, said its members faced a number of barriers which limited the number and range of services they could offer older people. Investment should be focused on preventing hospital admissions and reducing the number of older people who need to be cared for in nursing homes, the report argues.
Services such as adapting older people’s homes to make them easier to use, regular visits from a support worker and personal alarms systems which allow users to alert a support worker when they need help – are just some of the simple measures which can help people to remain in their own homes.
But currently the system fails to balance preventative measures with acute services – meaning older people usually receive support when they end up in hospital. People who need to be cared for in a nursing home are likely to remain there once admitted.
The average annual fee for a single room in a nursing home is £35,100. The number of people in residential care is meanwhile expected to rise to nearly 500,000 by 2025.
Federation chief executive, David Orr said: “All too often older people can only access care and support services once they reach crisis point – when they end in hospital or in a care home.
“By investing more widely in simple preventative measures which help older people live safely at home for as long as possible, the number of hospital admissions and care home places could be cut significantly as a result. This would ease the burden on the NHS, save the public purse £1.4bn, and most importantly allow people to live where they want to be – in their home.”
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PROPERTY PROFESSIONALS HEAR FROM PARTIES AT RICS HUSTINGS
22 January 2010
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Around 100 property professionals have had the chance to question housing spokespeople from the three main parties at the RICS, Building and Property Week pre-election hustings.
The event gave former housing and construction minister Nick Raynsford MP (standing in for CLG Minister Ian Austin MP) and Conservative and Liberal Democrat Housing Shadows Grant Shapps MP and Sarah Teather MP, the opportunity to present their key policies to the property sector, before the floor was opened for questions.
In quick fire question and answer rounds, the panel fielded questions from the audience on subjects ranging from delivering the required housing numbers within localist policies to space standards for new private housing.
Raynsford’s priorities were that the Government should equip the property sector to help lead the UK out of recession, while ensuring that targeting public investment at sustainable infrastructure helps to address the challenges of climate change. He also called for the introduction of space standards for new private housing is not appropriate, since there is more choice and mobility for tenants and owners than in the social rented sector.
Shapps highlighted the need to create a nation of homebuilders by showing communities that accept new development real improvements in their local area, funded through match funding council tax receipts for local authorities which choose to develop. He also called for the reform of stamp duty. Although reform to the existing slab structure may be a good idea it was unlikely this could be paid for in the short term. However, support for new purchasers could come through raising the lower threshold for stamp duty for first time buyers to £250,000.
Teather said there is a pressing need to support the construction industry to deliver more social housing, whilst addressing the issue of poor quality dwellings and landlords in the private rented sector and bringing empty homes back into use.
She said that, as a system, S.106 is broken and other ways need to be examined to pay for infrastructure associated with development - such as local housing bonds for councils to build infrastructure. She also called for the reform of stamp duty.
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CHARITY WARNS OF MORE DEATHS AS TEMPERATURES SET TO PLUNGE AGAIN
22 January 2010
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National Energy Action says latest government figures are a worrying sign of the toll colder weather could be having on the nation's health.
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics estimate that 11,013 people aged over 65 died during the first week of January 2010, up 36% on the 8,089 that died during the last week of December 2009.
NEA director of communications, Maria Wardrobe said: "These are early statistics and we won't get the full detailed picture until later in the year - but we know that cold is a killer and it appears that the cold snap is taking its toll on the elderly and the vulnerable in their homes.
"Temperatures in parts of the UK are likely to fall again this week and over the weekend. Our message to the vulnerable remains clear - keep your heating on and, if you are worried about bills, contact your energy supplier or the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99."
Being cold in your home can worsen or cause a range of potentially deadly health conditions including heart attacks and strokes. Government statistics published late last year revealed that there were an estimated 36,700 excess winter deaths in England and Wales during the winter of 08/09 - a 49 per cent increase on the previous year, and largely attributable to cold weather.
Maria added: “As temperatures start to fall again, it is vital that people keep their heating on and get help if they are worried about paying their bills. They could be risking their lives by being cold in their homes.
“The Home Heat Helpline is a simple one-stop shop where people can get help to make a home warmer or discover whether they are entitled to a discount on their bills because of circumstances.
“High energy bills are now a fact of life, bills are likely to rise further over coming years, but they can be managed and the help is out there.”
Meanwhile, NEA continues to lobby the Government to widen the scope of the Winter Fuel Payment to other vulnerable groups, currently it is only paid to people over 60 years old, and continues to make the case for a National Energy Efficiency Strategy that brings together the myriad of different energy efficiency and funding pots.
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CALL TO HELP THE HOMELESS REGISTER FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION
22 January 2010
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The Electoral Commission is reminding people living in temporary accommodation that they don’t need a permanent address to have a say at the next General Election.
The Commission, the independent elections watchdog, has produced a poster encouraging residents in shelters, hostels and B&Bs to discuss how to register to vote with their accommodation managers.
Peter Wardle, Chief Executive of the Commission said: “People eligible to vote who are living in temporary accommodation may not realise that they can still register and vote using their temporary address. By displaying this poster and providing a point of contact, accommodation managers can encourage those who are often disconnected from society to have their say.”
The project is being supported by Homeless Link, whose Chief Executive, Jenny Edwards said: “Homeless Link believes it is crucial that those who are experiencing homelessness use their political voice to influence the environment in which they live and the services they use.
“We welcome the recognition of the importance of homeless people’s votes and are working to increase awareness of voter registration procedures.”
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NEWS 
