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Morning Briefing: UN official says housing crisis is caused by use of homes as investment
United Nation (UN) special rapporteur hits out at those who see housing as a way “to grow wealth”, as an inspector focusing on poverty visits the UK
In the news
Al Jazeera carries an interview with Leilani Farha, the UN special rapporteur for adequate housing.
Ms Farha says that the global housing crisis is being caused by the fact housing is viewed as a way “to grow wealth”.
The UN’s wider investigation into the effects of austerity has also just begun, with the arrival of Philip Alston, the organisation’s special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights.
The Guardian reports that Mr Alston will tour some of the UK’s poorest towns and cities for two weeks to examine the impact of Universal Credit, welfare changes, local government cuts and rising living costs.
Yesterday’s Observer said it had seen analysis of one of these changes, the benefit cap, showing that it has left poor families with mounting debt.
According to the paper, two-thirds of households to have had their benefits capped for more than six months were found to have a shortfall between monthly income and estimated costs.
The same paper reports that Frank Field MP, chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, is calling for MPs to vote down new rules on Universal Credit.
Mr Field tells the paper that his committee has not been given the chance by ministers to scrutinise new regulations.
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Elsewhere, The Independent reports that the number of councils with Housing Revenue Accounts (HRAs) is 160.
It points out that this means the remaining 166 councils with responsibility for housing but no HRAs will not benefit from Theresa May’s recent announcement that the cap on borrowing against the HRA will be scrapped.
Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle suggests another solution for reviving council housing: giving local authorities first refusal on homes for sale on the private market, the Daily Mail reports.
Top Conservatives responded to Mr Russell-Moyle’s suggestion, which already applies to former council homes, with typically restrained language.
Former housing minister Grant Shapps called it “pure madness”, adding: “Cuddly Corbyn wants to nationalise your home.”
Meanwhile, Steve Douglas, co-chief executive of consultancy Altair, writes for Building magazine on last week’s budget.
Mr Douglas asks, is government creating a sustainable housing policy framework? He argues that uncertainty is still strong in housing policy and the success or failure of government measures is difficult to gauge at present.
Housebuilding levels, Friday’s Guardian reported, have fallen and hit the construction industry as a whole, with builder blaming uncertainty around the government’s Brexit talks.
On social media
Private Eye reports on changes in the government’s approach to leasehold reform:
A great little piece in @PrivateEyeNews on @JBrokenshire trashing @sajidjavid’s original leasehold reform plans. If govt does force ground rents on new leases to be set at a tenner, it is supporting the shadowy offshore investor over the consumer homebuyer. #LeaseholdScandal pic.twitter.com/0FbSN2npK6
— Harry Scoffin (@HarryScoffin)A great little piece in @PrivateEyeNews on @JBrokenshire trashing @sajidjavid’s original leasehold reform plans. If govt does force ground rents on new leases to be set at a tenner, it is supporting the shadowy offshore investor over the consumer homebuyer. #LeaseholdScandal pic.twitter.com/0FbSN2npK6
— Harry Scoffin (@HarryScoffin) November 4, 2018
What’s on
- The Grenfell Tower Inquiry will today continue to hear evidence from the bereaved, survivors and residents of the tower
- The Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee, meanwhile, will take evidence on leasehold reform
- Chancellor Philip Hammond will also face the Treasury Select Committee to answer questions on his Autumn Budget
