You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Morning Briefing: Brexit and market jitters hit new housing registrations
Papers report the latest National House Building Council (NHBC) figures on new homes, and the rest of the morning’s housing news
In the news
A number of national papers have followed up on new figures that show Brexit and political uncertainty have created a decline in the number of new homes being started.
Figures from the National House Building Council (NHBC), which provides warranties for 80% of new homes, found that the number of new homes registered by house builders in England fell by 0.5% across 2018.
The biggest drops were in London and the Midlands, which saw a 10% decrease in the amount of homes registered when compared to 2017.
Steve Wood, chief executive of the NHBC, said that the figures showed the “resilience of the housebuilding industry in a demanding year”.
However, other commentators including National Housing Federation boss Kate Henderson said the trend was worrying and showed that we were not building enough homes.
The Charity Commission has issued an official warning to a trustee of a social housing charity amid concerns about “serious governance issues”, reports Third Sector.
The regulator of the charity sector raised questions about the governance of Birmingham-based charity Expectations, which has not filed its accounts for more than two years, and has now seen one of its trustees receive an official warning because of “a breach of trust and legal duties”.
Leeds city centre is set to undergo a major transformation after councillors outlined plans to build more than 10,000 homes in the middle of the Yorkshire city.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reports that councillors will meet next week to discuss the council’s bid for £85m in government funds to speed up development, which would see the number of homes in the city centre double.
The Chronicle reports that in Sunderland, more than 2,000 people are currently on the social housing waiting list.
Conservatives in the city are now putting pressure on the council to build more affordable homes in the area to try to alleviate the problem.
Cambridgeshire Live runs a story about a group of residents who have started a campaign to try to stop their housing association from demolishing their estate.
CHS Group announced on Monday that it would be demolishing the Montreal Square homes, but has been met with derision from residents who have vowed to fight the decision.
One-third of all letting agents would be unwilling to rent properties to people on housing benefit or Universal Credit, The Negotiator reports.
The magazine followed up on a government survey of private landlords and letting agents and found that in one in 10 said they would not rent to tenants who do not hold UK passports.
On social media
Sadiq Khan reacts strongly to James Brokenshire’s comments on London housing:
Yesterday the Tory Housing Sec told me to focus on luxury private apartments rather than social & affordable homes.
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan)
The answer is no. I’m proud City Hall started building more social homes last year than ever before.
The choice for Londoners has never been clearer. pic.twitter.com/9g5DoFWgSSYesterday the Tory Housing Sec told me to focus on luxury private apartments rather than social & affordable homes.
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) February 6, 2019
The answer is no. I’m proud City Hall started building more social homes last year than ever before.
The choice for Londoners has never been clearer. pic.twitter.com/9g5DoFWgSS
Attendees react to Jim Strang’s speech at last night’s Chartered Institute of Housing Presidential Dinner:
600 homeless people died last year on the streets. ’A national disgrace’ says @strangparkhead in his address and a ’coordinated response is needed’. Proud that @MyGreatPlace is part of starting that coordinated response through projects like @MayorofGM A Bed Every Night pic.twitter.com/Zzfr0mXYrK
— MikeGPHG (@GphgMike)600 homeless people died last year on the streets. 'A national disgrace' says @strangparkhead in his address and a 'coordinated response is needed'. Proud that @MyGreatPlace is part of starting that coordinated response through projects like @MayorofGM A Bed Every Night pic.twitter.com/Zzfr0mXYrK
— MikeGPHG (@GphgMike) February 6, 2019
