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From the archive – sector braces for wave of stock transfers
Inside Housing looks back at what was happening in the sector this week 10, 20 and 30 years ago
30 years ago
The government surprised the housing sector by announcing an increase in Right to Buy discounts.
Junior environment minister David Trippier said that the upper limit for discounts would be raised from £35,000 to £50,000.
The move angered social landlords, which claimed the government did not consult them or notify them of the move. “We have not been able to see the order under the Housing Act 1985 and do not know when the change will be implemented,” said Mike Reardon, principal officer for housing at the Association of Metropolitan Authorities.
The extension was thought likely to boost council house sales in more expensive areas. Department of the Environment estimates based on the previous discount levels showed that sales would fall from 150,000 to 101,000 over the next three years.
20 years ago
The largest voluntary transfer programme ever was set to get under way after the government approved 25 sales of council housing stock.
About 140,000 homes were in the programme, with sales expected to bring in £822m in capital receipts for councils. Meanwhile, the reintroduction of a government levy on transfers was set to raise £85m for the Treasury.
Among those councils transferring stock in the coming year were the first two by metropolitan districts outside London: Coventry and Tameside. Those two councils were set to see 37,000 homes transferred to other social landlords if tenants agreed to the moves.
But the government was also under pressure to help councils left with debt after a transfer of the programme was to continue. Housing minister Hilary Armstrong admitted: “Transfer will depend on the successful resolution of this issue.”
Burnley District Council estimated it would face a £15m debt, as well as £6m in penalties for redeeming other debt early if a transfer went through. It called on government to put some of the money from the transfer levy back into aid for housing departments.
Picture: Getty
10 years ago
The government was set to push ahead with controversial housing benefit reforms, despite advisors warning that they would discriminate against thousands of BME households.
Up to 5,000 families were set to lose out under the reforms, of which 3,000 had children living below the poverty line. Government estimates stated that 40% of those hit would be from non-white communities.
The proposed changes set a cap on the amount of Local Housing Allowance payable for homes of six bedrooms or more at the five-bedroom rate.
The reforms were referred to the department’s Social Security Advisory Committee, which strongly urged the government not to proceed with the changes.