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Short on time? Friday’s housing news in five minutes
A round-up of the top stories this morning from Inside Housing and elsewhere
Top story: Hundreds of vulnerable people refused temporary housing, exclusive data reveals
Hundreds of vulnerable people, including domestic abuse survivors and individuals with physical and learning disabilities, were denied access to temporary accommodation by English councils in the space of one year, Inside Housing can reveal.
The data, acquired through Freedom of Information Act requests, provides the most comprehensive picture to date of how many vulnerable people are missing out on housing.
Melanie Rees, head of policy and external affairs at the Chartered Institute of Housing, said the figures are a “legacy of years of failing to invest in building new homes of all kinds”.
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NIHE rents to rise for first time in five years from April
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), which owns the majority of the region’s social housing stock with around 84,000 homes will increase its rents for the first time in five years from April.
The landlord, which is in the midst of a severe funding crisis, has previously warned that it may need to start “de-investing” in around half its huge housing stock from this year if a solution is not found.
NIHE rents are currently around 25% lower than housing associations in the region and lower than council rents in comparable parts of England and Wales.
Lunchtime long read
As the climate crisis moves further up the agenda for social landlords across the country, Peter Apps explores how sustainability is influencing procurement practices.
Quote of the day
“The fluctuating legislative landscape poses a real problem in relation to buildings over 18m which are under construction or being refurbished now, ie before the new legislation takes effect.”
Charis Beverton, senior associate at Winckworth Sherwood, discusses how the lack of clarity on the government’s building safety plans is having an impact on buildings being designed or refurbished now.
In the papers
Picture: Getty
An analysis by The Guardian has revealed the areas in Britain where Airbnbs have become the most prevalent. Top of the list is Edinburgh’s Old Town, where 29 in every 100 properties were listed on Airbnb.
Morgan Sindall’s latest results show that the construction firm lifted revenue 3% to £3bn last year, the Construction Enquirer reports.
The Independent runs a comment piece by a woman who was homeless for a year, calling for better mental health services ahead of more housing.
Local news
Picture: Getty
Building is set to resume on a half-finished estate in Blackpool, as the council hopes to take control of the site following the collapse of the original developer last year, the Blackpool Gazette reports.
A £1.3bn regeneration plan has been unveiled by Edinburgh Council for the Granton Waterfront area. According to Scottish Housing News, the proposals include plans to build 3,500 new homes.
Around the sector
The Homes for Cathy alliance of housing associations, charities and councils has announced the details of its annual conference, which will take place in London next month. Working in partnership with Inside Housing, Crisis and the Chartered Institute of Housing, the event – on 23 March 2020 at the Congress Centre – is the third annual conference for the Homes for Cathy group, which brings together organisations to discuss how the sector can better tackle homelessness.
The line-up of speakers spans national and local government, housing associations, healthcare and the charity sector, including a keynote address from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Tickets for the conference can be booked via the Homes for Cathy website.
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