Report uncovers rise in unemployed tenants
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The proportion of people living in social housing who are unemployed is increasing, a study has found.
The report says the trend is being driven by a shortage of housing, because only people with the most acute needs qualify for homes.
However the study, which was produced by the Housing Corporation and the Chartered Institute of Housing, also uncovered a reluctance to apply for social housing among some groups.
It found 85 per cent of private rental households with incomes of less than £25,000 had not applied for social housing.
This was either because they aspired to home ownership or because of the stereotype of ‘bad neighbourhoods’ on social estates.
The report states: ‘This seems to suggest a great many households are unrealistic about their housing options or many believe their incomes will increase.
‘People who perceive themselves as middle class may be less likely to apply because of negative attitudes towards social rental housing and a belief it is not for “people like them.”’
The report says average household income of those entering social housing is between £100 and £300 a week.
It also says more single people are moving into social housing – about 50 per cent of the total. It attributes this to the shortage of affordable family housing.
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Readers' comments (2)
john harrington | 11/08/2008 1:24 pm
In 1937 my mother bought a new two bedroom detached bungalow. It cost £450 which was three times her annual pay she had no problem getting a mortgage as the price after depoaite was less than three times her annual pay. she was a cashier at a local grocery. How many checkout staff working in supermarkets today can buy a similar property for 3 times pay which would be £30,000?
The price of property has gone up, but more important wages in real terms have dropped drastically. Unless your the boss of a housing Association!!!! To keep pace shop assistants need a annual salary of £60,000.
When I first went to work in the 50's shopassistants could still buy there own homes and send their children to university.
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Michael Barratt | 11/08/2008 5:57 pm
It is necessary for employers to pay fair wages, especially in regards to low skill workers. There was a time not so long ago when employers were obliged to pay a minimum adult wage that might just support a worker and their small family. Over recent decades wages paid by employers to unskilled workers have shrunk to being barely sufficient to support an 18 year old living at home with their parent(s)
Low paid workers are frequently employed on temporary contracts with varying and often unsocial hours of work. Few holiday or sickness entitlements result in affected workers experiencing a bureaucratic nightmare of continual adjustments and recalculations of their family tax credits, housing benefit and council tax entitlements with a frequent self perception of losing out. Whereas jobseeker allowance claimants are paid 24/7 with no rent (until recently) or council tax payments worries
With little or no monetary benefits between working and not working, those in receipt of jobseeker allowances etc. have the advantage of their children receiving free school meals, representing a saving for a family of three children in excess of £20.00 per week, plus school uniform and outing allowances. Job seeker claimants are entitled to enrol without payment in many courses at colleges and other institutions of further education and enjoy free entry to many local authority leisure centres and gyms
THe Government should cease tenants bashing and remember the biblical saying that the labourer is worthy of his/her hire. Stop paying peanuts and all would be resolved.
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