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Morning Briefing: three-year tenancies ‘could be killed off by Number 10’
A plan to guarantee private renters three-year long tenancies could be killed off by the prime minister’s office, The Sun claims
The paper reports that there is nervousness in Number 10 and Number 11 about the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government plan for three-year tenancies.
This policy was one of the first to be launched by new housing secretary James Brokenshire, but The Sun reports the upper echelons of the party have gone cold on the idea.
The Treasury, it says, are concerned it would scare off investment in private rented housing and the prime minister is worried it would trigger a defeat in the House of Commons among backbenchers hostile to the idea.
A senior government source (presumably in favour of the idea) told the paper: “Hammond and May are both losing their bottle on three-year tenancies, for different but equally pathetic reasons.
“It’s a proper election winner but they’re going to blow it.”
Elsewhere, The Guardian today publishes a case study of a woman who was forced to turn to her local foodbank despite earning above minimum wage.
Paula Walton, 46, is an administrator at Nationwide Building Society but sank into debt trying to feed her children after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Lower levels of income while she was on sick leave meant Ms Walton had to take out payday loans to keep meeting the bills, while benefits failed to provide a safety net.
Meanwhile, the same paper also ran an opinion piece yesterday calling for an end to the demonisation of beggars.
The writer, Mark Johnson, who has produced a documentary for BBC Radio 4 about begging, is sceptical about the existence of so-called “professional beggars”.
It comes as Wales Online reports on the problem of “aggressive begging” in Cardiff, where two police officers have been appointed to tackle the problem.
In other news, the Grenfell Inquiry returned this week, with national newspapers still following proceedings.
The Times reports on a grisly account of a victim who attempted to escape by tying sheets together and climbing out the window, while The Independent focuses on the concerns of a lawyer representing bereaved and survivors, who claims they have been shown less than 5% of the inquiry’s evidence.
Inside Housing continues to produce daily round-ups of the inquiry.
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Elsewhere, Barratt has doubled its estimate of the cost to replace dangerous cladding at the Citiscape development in Croydon to £4m, according to The Construction Index.
The developer has agreed to foot the replacement works bill at the scheme, which could otherwise have been forced on leaseholders.
Cheltenham Borough Council is considering an ambitious plan to borrow £100m from the Public Works Loan Board to build around 500 affordable homes, according to Gloucestershire Live.
And Wales and West Housing has named its preferred development partners for a £300m new build programme, Construction Enquirer reports.
Up in Scotland, Moray Council has proposed changes to its housing allocations which would see extra priority given to applicants looking to downsize, per The Press and Journal.
The authority claims the move would help reduce its 3,500-household waiting list.
And finally, City Metric has taken a look at the impact of the rise in short-term lets on Britain’s regional cities.
On social media
Mental health charity Mind has launched a campaign about housing:
New research from @MindCharity reveals the toll inadequate social housing can take on someone’s mental health.
— Crisis (@crisis_uk)
We urgently need to see a significant increase in the supply of social homes to ensure those on the lowest incomes have a safe and stable place to live. t.co/XAqcVj5tc9New research from @MindCharity reveals the toll inadequate social housing can take on someone’s mental health.
— Crisis (@crisis_uk) September 5, 2018
We urgently need to see a significant increase in the supply of social homes to ensure those on the lowest incomes have a safe and stable place to live. https://t.co/XAqcVj5tc9
Why are those of us with mental health problems not getting the homes we need to stay well? Find out more about our housing campaign > t.co/HlyRPPBNJt pic.twitter.com/8eWq11712l
— Mind (@MindCharity)Why are those of us with mental health problems not getting the homes we need to stay well? Find out more about our housing campaign > https://t.co/HlyRPPBNJt pic.twitter.com/8eWq11712l
— Mind (@MindCharity) September 5, 2018
What’s on
- Prime Minister’s Questions will return to the House of Commons at 12pm
- Housing minister Kit Malthouse will appear before the housing, communities and local government committee at 10am to be quizzed on land value capture
- MPs will debate the Tenant Fees Bill this afternoon
- The Grenfell Tower Inquiry continues, with more firefighter evidence
