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Short on time? Tuesday’s housing news in five minutes
A round-up of the top stories this morning from Inside Housing and elsewhere
Top story: Next Affordable Homes Programme will be ‘even larger’ than before, confirms Jenrick
During a Q&A session at parliament yesterday, housing secretary Robert Jenrick suggested the sector could be in line for a funding increase, promising an “even larger” grant programme than before.
The current Affordable Homes Programme, the primary source of grant for the development of affordable homes, is worth £9bn and is scheduled to end in 2021.
The Conservative manifesto promised to extend the programme, however Mr Jenrick’s comments yesterday were the first indication that more money could be committed to it.
Yesterday’s questioning session was the first for Mr Jenrick in his role as housing minister. He also fielded questions from MPs on cladding and the increase in Public Work Loans Board borrowing rates.
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Government will consider more £200m cladding fund bids despite deadline passing
Inside Housing has learned that the government will continue to consider applications to its £200m private sector cladding remediation fund despite the deadline closing at the end of last year.
The £200m fund was opened in September for leaseholders to claim back the money spent on the removal and replacement of aluminium composite material cladding.
However, the fund has been criticised for the onerous conditions required for applications, such as carrying out a full survey and securing signatures for all leaseholders within the building.
Lunchtime long read
As the housing secretary calls on landlords to make it easier for tenants to have pets in their homes, Dasos Christou, executive director for customer relations at Silva Homes, discusses why his organisation has changed its policy to allow tenants to live with their pets.
Quote of the day
“It always amazes me how many people you speak to who don’t understand the importance of social housing and the impact a lack of affordable housing can have on our society.”
Gail Hatchett, care and supported housing asset manager at Hightown, talks about what it’s like to do her job in Inside Housing’s ‘From the frontline’ series.
In the papers
Picture: Getty
Several national newspapers, including the Mirror and The Sun, report on the government’s decision to end the freeze on Local Housing Allowance rates. Read Inside Housing’s coverage here.
Meanwhile, The Guardian reports on a stock market update from Savills which says UK house sales are rising following a post-election “Boris bounce”.
Also in The Guardian is an interesting piece about the legacy of racist housing policies in the US that have created areas more exposed to deadly urban heatwaves.
Local news
Picture: Getty
Dozens of social housing residents are living in temporary accommodation after being evacuated from a block in Stretford over the weekend following a power outage, Manchester Evening News reports.
The Construction Index reports that Sheffield Council will spend £500m on building and improving council housing over the next five years, according to its new Housing Revenue Account business plan.
North Ayrshire Council has become the first in Scotland to adopt a new Simplified Planning Zone to stimulate development, according to Scottish Housing News.
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