13 December 2007 20:01
WINDING DOWN for Christmas? Forget it, if yesterday is anything to go by. If 2007 was the year of the review - step forward Hills, Cave and Callcutt - then 2008 looks like more of the same. Housing minister Yvette Cooper yesterday announced reviews of the housing revenue account (HRA) subsidy system and the private rented sector alongside a working group on regulation, new pathfinders on overcrowding and new pilot projects on housing options and bringing together housing and employment advice.
Her speech yesterday covered much of the government's response to Hills and Cave and the aftermath of the spending review but also signalled five central themes for the future: investment; regulation; housing options and mobility; social mobility; and mixed communtiies.
And if that wasn't enough to be going on with, it came on the day it emerged that Judith Armitt has quit as chief executive of the Thames Gateway - reportedly after clashes with Cooper - that the Housing Corporation called for more larger homes in the investment programme, and the National Housing Federation published a glossy investment manifesto setting out how associations can deliver on new homes (seemingly by the government giving it what it wants on issues such as rent increases, building for outright sale and retention of surpluses).
The review of the HRA system will be carried out jointly by officials from the Treasury and Communities and Local Government, a statement to parliament confirmed. They will look at what's happened in the six pilot areas and will not make a final report until Spring 2009. However, early conclusions will feed into decisions on the housing regulator and rent and subsidy determinations. It was immediately welcomed by the Chartered Institute of Housing.
The review of the private rented sector will be 'independent' and 'comprehensive' with full details being announced next year. This appears to be in the context of increasing housing options for people on the waiting list as opposed to wider issues of regulation.
And an advisory group chaired by Ian Cole of Sheffield University will be charged with the tricky task of working out how to bring council and ALMO housing under Oftenant in line with housing associations.
The pilots on overcrowding are part of an attempt to address a key issue raised by Hills - the slowdown in the turnover of social tenancies. Ideas include helping people who are under-occupying to move to smaller homes - although the political dangers of being seen to target pensioners can be seen in the Daily Mail this morning - as well using the bedroom standard rather than the outdated statutory overcrowded definition in the pilot areas.
Social mobillity will be addessed in five housing options pilots that will develop better advice not just on housing but (another key Hills theme) training and employment too.
Cooper summed up: 'Our challenge now in terms of policy development is around these
themes. How we do more to increase opportunities for those living in
social housing, or those who want to live in social housing but can't
get in through the door at the moment? On supply - how
can we do more to build the family homes as well as the additional
units we need? On the institutional structure - how can we rapidly
extend to local councils and ALMOs the new regulatory framework? And
what should we do to improve the housing revenue account? On housing
options and mobility - how can we better cater for the needs of
different groups, for families, for older people, and to promote
greater choice and mobility within the system? On social mobility - how
can this be better promoted through social housing, particularly
through helping people into work but also helping them to build up
assets? And finally what more can we do to promote mixed incomes and
tenures in existing communities as well as in new developments.'
Posted by Jules Birch, Dec 13
Posted in Cave review, Finance, Hills review, Private renting, Social housing, Thames Gateway