Thursday, 02 September 2010

Work should not affect social rents

22/01/2010

Howard Farrand, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing, has made the suggestion that new social housing tenants should be charged more for their rent if they start to earn above the higher rate of tax (Inside Housing, 8 January).

There is a real issue insomuch as there is a shortage of social housing stock and the challenge is how to achieve more of it or from it. I’m sure I don’t need to tell Mr Farrand that much of the stock was sold via right to buy and, as a result, the mix of social housing has changed dramatically over the years.

I don’t agree that people should be charged a different amount should their circumstances improve. Surely this is what we would like to happen to all people living in social housing? If social housing is to become the housing of choice for people then it needs to attract and maintain residents that earn more money than many current tenants. Other services do not usually charge variable rates depending on income and I don’t think social housing should start.

While it may be a personal view of Mr Farrand’s, I certainly would not wish it to become CIH policy.

I believe it is better to safeguard the achievement of security of tenure and decent affordable rents rather than look to tamper or tinker with them. It would be better to consider how the private sector could be changed for the better, for example, by offering better security of tenure to private tenants and by considering ideas such as right to buy for them.

Rupert Brandon

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