Morning Briefing: empty homes in the spotlight

In the news

The Guardian is reporting today that councils have yet to be granted extra powers to tackle empty homes. The government pledged in the Autumn Budget that councils would be allowed to double the amount of council tax levied on homes if they are left empty.

The newspaper reports that the lack of action on the pledge is “leading to calls on Theresa May to act urgently”.

The article comes as a new analysis of government data by charity Empty Homes shows the number of long-term empty properties rose 2.6% last year, the first rise since 2008.

The Guardian also has more this morning about Manchester City Council and its reported failure to ensure affordable housing is being built in new developments.

The newspaper’s analysis of planning documents shows that of 14,667 homes given planning permission over two years, not one has met the government’s definition of affordable housing.

A piece published this morning looks at how developers are ‘dodging’ affordable housing requirements in the city, including through the use of viability assessments.

The piece is a follow-up to a wider article published by The Guardian yesterday analysing affordable housing percentages in new developments in different UK cities.

The Guardian’s analysis follows yesterday’s announcement that viability assessment rules will be changed as part of a planning policy shake-up.

One aspect of Ms May’s speech yesterday which you may not have noticed was her announcement that the government will make it easier for shops to be converted into homes. Ms May expanded on this in questions after the speech, as reported here by The Guardian, suggesting that as fewer people shop on the high street, disused retail space could be used for housing.

In further reaction to the announcements, Simon Jenkins in The Guardian writes that the government wants to have its cake and eat it when it comes to housebuilding and planning. Myra Butterworth in the Daily Mail argues that the real issue is that there are a lack of places people want to live.

The Islington Gazette is reporting that campaigners are calling for London mayor Sadiq Khan to buy the Holloway Prison site, following concerns about affordability of housing to be built there. The preferred bidder for the scheme is due to be announced on Friday.

Elsewhere today, the Financial Times has a report on how the housing market is slowing at the top end in London.

“The City’s stacks of unsold pricey apartments are becoming a worry,” the paper reports.

Estate agency and valuer Savills has published some graphics showing data on housing asset prices.

­­­The Independent reports that a Premier Inn hotel in Weston-Super-Mare has turned away homeless people who had rooms booked for them by a paying customer.

The Guardian has an article about homelessness charity St Mungo’s work to help identify rough sleepers who are in the UK illegally.

Clare Skidmore of Housing Learning and Improvement Network (LIN) has written this blog calling for a “people-powered spirit” to guide older people’s housing strategies.

Finally, the BBC has done some fact-checking of the claim that house builders land-bank.

On social media

Former Inside Housing journalist Nick Duxbury was one of several people to take issue with Ms May’s comment yesterday that there is nothing “inherently” wrong with renting:

Thank you @theresa_may. Thank you for showing me that I’m not less of a person for renting. I’m not ashamed anymore. pic.twitter.com/9djQXeC9cy

— Nick Duxbury (@nickduxbury)

Thank you @theresa_may. Thank you for showing me that I'm not less of a person for renting. I'm not ashamed anymore. pic.twitter.com/9djQXeC9cy

— Nick Duxbury (@nickduxbury) March 5, 2018

I particularly like the use of the word inherently. It kind of implies that it is still kind of wrong

— David Hatcher (@hatcherdavid)

I particularly like the use of the word inherently. It kind of implies that it is still kind of wrong

— David Hatcher (@hatcherdavid) March 5, 2018

And it’s day two of #CIHCareersWeek:

It’s day 2 of #CIHCareersWeek - be sure to follow the hashtag, as well as @CIHFutures and @Insidehousing for all the latest #ukhousing pic.twitter.com/895SZYtvcB

— Inside Housing (@insidehousing)

It's day 2 of #CIHCareersWeek - be sure to follow the hashtag, as well as @CIHFutures and @Insidehousing for all the latest #ukhousing pic.twitter.com/895SZYtvcB

— Inside Housing (@insidehousing) March 6, 2018

What’s on

• The National Housing Federation’s Comms Event takes place in London
• CIH Careers Week continues