Council Pays Homeless To Leave With One-Way Rail Tickets

A local authority has bought one-way train tickets for rough sleepers to move them out the area. Bournemouth Borough Council said nine people had been funded to leave in recent months. The authority said it was part of a new £200,000 strategy using "assertive techniques and procedures". Cabinet member for housing, Councillor Robert Lawton, said: "There's a chance they'll come back and that's something we'll have to live with." In April, councillors were told a new homelessness strategy was being prepared in light of figures showing the number of people sleeping rough in 2015 had risen to 47 from the 2014 figure of 31. Read more on the BBC website.

Council May Buy Properties to House Homeless

Bournemouth Borough Council would set up a private sector landlord company to allow it to rent directly to people in need of emergency accommodation. It is thought the plan could cut spending on bed and breakfast accommodation. If the proposals are agreed, the authority said it expects to buy about 60 properties over three years at a cost of £10m. They would also include the purchase of further properties for its own housing stock to rent. The scheme would be funded using a combination of council funding and a loan. Read more on the BBC website.

Council Mortgage Scheme Will Help First-Time Buyers

 A council on the South coast of England is offering first-time buyers a mortgage to help them onto the property ladder – but only if they intend to buy in the town. Bournemouth Borough Council is offering residential mortgages to first time buyers with a minimum 5% deposit, have lived in the town for the last 12 months, and who are intending to buy in the Bournemouth. They’ll also need to demonstrate their ability to repay the loan. As well as first time buyers, the mortgage initiative will also be available for key workers in the town. Loan periods will range from 10 to 30 years. The mortgages are offered under the Housing Act 1985, as part of the Community Finance Initiative. The borough council committed £15 million investment to the initiative in July 2013.It is already lending to businesses and is now offering mortgages to residents. Read more on the Housing Excellence website.

Councils Restrict Access to Housing Waiting Lists

Councils are preparing to bring in tough new allocations policies that will restrict access to their housing waiting lists.  Councillors in Newham approved plans to make sure people have lived in the area for two years or have a ‘strong local connection’ to the area before they can go on the list.  They also agreed proposals that will give applicants who are in work greater priority than those who are unemployed, and to give current and former members of the armed forces the highest level of priority.  Councillors in Hammersmith and Fulham will vote on some of the toughest proposals brought forward since councils were given greater freedom to set their allocation policies through the Localism Act.  These include introducing five-year fixed-term tenancies for all new tenants, with two year tenancies for under 25s, and a £40,200 cap on household income for anyone who wants to go on the waiting list.  Bournemouth Council has written to all 10,000 residents on its waiting list asking them to re-apply.  Read more on Inside Housing.