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From the archive - government leasehold reforms attacked
Inside Housing looks back at what was happening in the sector this week five, 15 and 25 years ago
25 years ago
The then-environment secretary (and future Conservative leader) Michael Howard was facing protests from Conservative and Labour MPs during the second reading of the Housing and Urban Development Bill.
Government plans to give some leaseholders the right to collectively purchase the freehold of their properties were attacked by Tory backbenchers.
Former junior defence minister Jerry Wiggin was one of the most outspoken, querying damage payments for freeholders and stating: “Surely Conservative Party policy should not condone robbery.”
Shadow environment spokesperson Jack Straw argued for leasehold reform to be more radical and attacked the bill for doing nothing to solve the housing crisis.
He said that “not a single line in the bill will build a single home”.
15 years ago
Much like today, the quality of housing in the public and private sectors was the target of government attention 15 years ago.
In November 2002 the sector was waiting on a new bill to raise standards, due to be unveiled in the Queen’s Speech. Tackling anti-social behaviour was another focus of Tony Blair’s government, set to be a key feature of the legislative programme.
The Queen was due to announce a Housing Bill, Planning Bill, Criminal Justice Bill and Local Government Bill. The Housing Bill was expected to introduce a licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation, and selective licensing of landlords in low-demand areas. The Planning
Bill would tighten up compulsory purchase orders and was designed to speed up the planning process in general (sound familiar?). Local development frameworks would replace unitary development plans.
A Local Government Bill was set to give councils a greater strategic role in housing and regeneration.
John Perry, policy director at the Chartered Institute of Housing, said John Prescott had “done well if he has secured three bills for just one department”.
Five years ago
Inside Housing revealed that the flagship rough sleeping initiative of then-London mayor Boris Johnson (whatever happened to him?) had been forced to procure temporary bed spaces to prevent its assessment centre “silting up” with homeless people.
No Second Night Out procured 34 temporary bed spaces that June to help meet its aim to move people on from its assessment centre within its target of three days.
A shortage of private rented housing, delays in benefits and difficulties finding deposits had made it difficult to move everyone out of the hub within the desired time.
Petra Silva, director of the project, said she feared the situation would get worse due to cuts to welfare benefit and soaring rents in London.
