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Morning Briefing: reaction to green paper announcements
The sector reacts to Social Housing Green Paper proposals trailed by the government overnight
In the news
Several news organisations are reporting on the Social Housing Green Paper proposals announced by the government overnight.
A report by HuffPost puts an emphasis on the plans to tackle bad landlords and boost shared ownership schemes, and also mentions proposals for social housing league tables. It reports criticism from homelessness charity Shelter and others about the absence of new funding for social homes.
Similarly, The Guardian reports the criticism, from Shelter, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and others, noting “campaigners… said the reforms would not be effective without substantial new funding for council housebuilding”.
The I newspaper focuses on the government’s proposals to “make it easier for tenants to progress into homeownership” by buying as little as 1% of their home each year through shared ownership. The I notes this means “social housing residents will be able to get a foot on the property ladder for just a few hundred pounds”.
In addition to the green paper itself, which is due to be published later today, the government is also set to publish a consultation on changes to rules on Right to Buy receipts. As we note here, councils are hopeful that this will lead to reforms that will make it easier to replace homes sold.
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While today will see a big focus on the green paper proposals, many are still digesting yesterday’s ‘housing week’ announcement of a £100m plan to strategy rough sleeping. The HuffPost reports that housing secretary James Brokenshire has admitted the money is not new.
The Manchester Evening News has reported comments from the region’s deputy mayor that the rough sleeping problem in the area cannot wait until 2027 – the year by which the government is aiming to end rough sleeping.
The Guardian meanwhile reports that “thousands of ex-prisoners” are likely to be sleeping rough, based on an interpretation of official figures.
Away from the government’s housing week announcements, the BBC is reporting that housebuilding is slower than it was before the 2008 financial crisis, according to its own analysis. The report also helpfully offers four ways of tackling the housing crisis: simplify planning, build in cities, attract developers and drop nimbyism.
Repairs and maintenance contractor Mears has reported a 4% annual increase in pre-tax profit for the first six months of the year, in an announcement to the stock market this morning.
Local news site Kent Online has reported “controversial” plans for 800 homes near Herne Bay have been approved by Mr Brokenshire.
Finally today, The Guardian tells the tale of how the housing crisis inspired a show that will be performed at the Edinburgh International Festival later this month.
On social media
Our blogger Jules Birch raises an important question about Right to Buy:
As well as press release details reported this am, ‘news story’ confirms scrapping of higher-value council house sales levy - does that mean end of housing association right to buy it was going to pay for? New 1% shared ownership a substitute?
— Jules Birch (@jules_birch)As well as press release details reported this am, ‘news story’ confirms scrapping of higher-value council house sales levy - does that mean end of housing association right to buy it was going to pay for? New 1% shared ownership a substitute?
— Jules Birch (@jules_birch) August 14, 2018
While Jenny Osbourne, chief executive at Tpas, has been feeling poetic:
Real change for today and new homes for tomorrow
— Jenny Osbourne (@TPASJenny)
Something positive please to help our Grenfell sorrow
Tenants listened to, kept safe and a voice loud and strong
Let’s get social housing respected, back up where it belongsReal change for today and new homes for tomorrow
— Jenny Osbourne (@TPASJenny) August 13, 2018
Something positive please to help our Grenfell sorrow
Tenants listened to, kept safe and a voice loud and strong
Let’s get social housing respected, back up where it belongs
KEY PROPOSALS IN THE SOCIAL HOUSING GREEN PAPER
- New 'league tables' of housing providers based on key performance indicators, surrounding services such as repairs and neighbourhood management. This could be linked to housing grant.
- Consideration to scrapping of the current 'serious detriment' test, to allow 'Ofsted-style' tougher consumer regulation
- New home ownership options such as allowing tenants to buy as little as 1% of their property each year through shared ownership. This would only apply to new shared ownership purchases.
- Ditching of plans to force social landlords to offer fixed term tenancies rather than lifetime tenancies in social housing
- Ditching of plans to force councils to sell off their most valuable social housing when it becomes vacant
- The potential introduction a new stock transfer programme from councils to 'community-led' housing associations
- The return of guaranteed debt funding to help the development of affordable homes, and longer term 'strategic partnerships' for developing housing associations
