9 April 2008 12:37

Publishing the facts about migration and social housing allocations sounded like a good idea when Trevor Phillips of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) proposed it in November. It still is - but it may not be enough to combat the myths and fears surrounding the issue.

The EHRC and Local Government Association published interim research this morning headlining 'no evidence of bias against UK-born families in social housing allocation'. It said that 90% of people in social housing UK-born. Most new migrants to the UK over the next five years were not eligible and there was no evidence of queue-jumping over white families. About 11% of new migrants had been allocated social housing compared to 17% of UK-born residents and 18% of foreign-born residents.

But that does not stop today's Daily Mail from finding its own radically different take on the research. It reported: 'More than a million immigrants live in housing subsidised by the taxpayer, a Government-sponsored report disclosed yesterday. It said the number of foreigners in council or housing association accommodation had soared over the past five years. One in nine subsidised homes is now occupied by a migrant family.'

Two out of three housing managers surveyed for the research were convinced that high house prices were to blame for the shortage of social housing in their area. Only 6% nominated immigration.

But they also had one intriguing explanation for the gap between perception and reality that the Mail may find rather less convenient: the right to buy. About 60% of recent migrants live in the private rented sector, often in appalling conditions. Many of those private rented homes are social housing acquired under the right to buy. Who can blame local residents for believing they are still owned by the council?

Posted by Jules Birch, April 9

Posted in Migration, Social housing, Right to buy

22 October 2007 10:53

THE SCOTTISH executive is about to scrap the right to buy on new council and housing association homes, according to strong speculation in the Scottish media over the weekend.

Reports in the Sunday Herald and on the BBC said the idea would be included in the SNP government's housing green paper next month. And, while the official government line is that this is 'speculation' - and it is not exactly unknown for governments to leak potentially controversial proposals to gauge reaction to them - it has already won the backing of opposition Labour leader Wendy Alexander.

The right to buy was introduced by the Conservatives in 1980 and, thanks to Labour opposition, was widely seen as an election winner in England. Although Labour governments have since reduced levels of discount (in England) and allowed local councils to apply to suspend it temporarily (in Scotland), no party has yet attempted such a radical change in policy.

However, the policy has not led to electoral success for the Conservatives in Scotland even though the effects on the housing stock have arguably been even more dramatic north of the border. More than 400,000 homes - 40% of the stock - have been sold and homeownership has almost doubled from 35% to 67%.

The Sunday Herald quoted a 'government insider' as saying that: 'As part of our consultation on housing in Scotland, we will look at a range of measures with the overarching aim of improving the housing system and achieving better value for money. We will consult on the option of ending the right-to-buy for new-build social housing - only affecting tenants moving to newly-built properties.'

The development comes as Scotland waits on publication of the report of the housing supply taskforce and details of the spending review. Housing organisations are calling for £750m of new investment but the executive has already warned that the overall settlement will be tight. 

Posted in Scotland, Right to buy