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What was happening in the sector this week 10, 20 and 30 years ago
1990
The sale of a hostel in London by a housing association sparked fears that tenants could end up on the streets. Central YMCA Housing Association sold George Williams House hostel in Great Russell Street to St Giles Hotel.
The sale involved £8m in housing association grant being paid back to the Housing Corporation – with between £3m and £4m being given to Camden Council.
Jacky Peacock, chair of Camden’s housing committee, said: “I am most concerned about the future of the YMCA hostel residents and the pressure that they appear to be coming under to leave. Only two weeks ago I was assured that no pressure would be applied to them. I regret that these assurances now appear to be worthless.”
2000
The housing sector was disappointed by Labour chancellor Gordon Brown’s Budget, claiming that it did not recognise the importance of good housing.
Social housing figures complained that Mr Brown (pictured above) did not deliver the expected harmonisation of VAT between new build and refurbishment (this has still not been done today).
The chancellor did move to exempt all transfers from local authorities and housing action trusts from VAT, including transfers to resident-controlled landlords, transfer between housing associations, and purchases of homes supported by public subsidy.
The ending of VAT was expected to be worth £33m.
But there was outrage that housing was omitted from the Budget’s health, poverty and employment initiatives.
2010
Inside Housing celebrated a victory for its Safe as Houses campaign after the coalition government changed its building regulations to require carbon monoxide alarms to be installed in all new homes with solid fuel heating systems.
The Department for Communities and Local Government said it changed guidance “to ensure that combustion appliances [like stoves and fires] can continue to function safely in more airtight homes”.
Inside Housing campaigned on the issue following the death of shared owner Elouise Littlewood. Her father Alan said the change marked a “giant step forward”.
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