Landlords Plan Repairs Cuts

Three quarters of landlords are planning changes to their maintenance services, with half of these planning to cut planned repairs in the face of government cuts, a survey has found. More than 40 landlords owning a total of 400,000 homes answered a survey by Build Recruitment and Housingnet, revealing they are considering a significant shake-up of repairs in light of changes such as the 1% rent cut. A fifth said they are planning redundancies in their repairs section, while a fifth were also planning to bring repairs in-house. Two-thirds of the respondents to the survey were housing associations, almost a fifth were local authorities and the rest include ALMOs and a housing co-op. Read more on the Build website.

Housing: Cooperatives – Parliamentary Written Answer

Gareth Thomas:  To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will exempt housing co-operatives from the right to buy scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: Under the voluntary agreement with the National Housing Federation, there will be a presumption that housing associations will sell tenants the property in which they live, but there will be some broad circumstances where a housing association can exercise discretion to decline a sale. These circumstances include properties held by co-operative housing associations.

Anger over Decision to Sell-Off Housing Co-Ops

Campaigners against Lambeth Council's decision to evict residents of housing co-operatives and auction off the properties are to stage a protest.  Lambeth United Housing Co-op and other groups claim the council is "destroying" 40 years of history by dismantling the housing co-ops, which were set up in the late 1970s and early 1980s when abandoned and decrepit council homes were handed over to residents.  One resident’s efforts have boosted the value of a small house in Stockwell from almost nothing in 1980 to around £700,000. In a statement ahead of the protest, Lambeth United said: "Lambeth’s ‘recall’ of ‘shortlife’ housing means that members of these co-ops (including OAPs and other vulnerable people) are being taken to court so that the council can gain possession of their homes – homes that co-op residents have maintained across this 40-year period – and sell them on the open market, at auction.”  Read  more on 24dash.

Co-Operative Housing 'Viable Option for Reluctant Renters'

Co-operative housing could help turn "reluctant renters" into home owners, according to a report launched at Co-operative Congress.  The Welsh Co-operative Centre commissioned the research following the Welsh Government's decision to back co-housing as a way to build affordable homes. The research found that “reluctant renters” – those priced out of the owner-occupied sector, but who do not need social housing – wanted a sense of ownership.  The findings highlight a low level of awareness of co-operative housing, but considerable interest in the co-operative approach among respondents who could not buy their own homes.  Most felt it important to have an equity stake in a development. However, affordability was considered more of a factor than equity.  Read more on the Co-operative News website.

Housing: Co-operatives – Parliamentary Written Answer

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State what recent steps he has taken to promote more co-operative housing; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Prisk: The new neighbourhood planning regime provides an opportunity for housing co-operatives to shape developments in their area. In conjunction with the recently announced support funding for custom-build projects, these proposals should prove an attractive proposition to the co-operative housing sector.  In a bid to ease the regulatory burdens on co-operatives, the Localism Act 2011 exempted houses in multiple occupation that are controlled or managed by a co-operative society from the houses in multiple occupation licensing regime. The Government and the HCA is currently engaging with the Mutual Housing Group, which includes the Confederation of Co-operative Housing and other community led housing groups, on their proposals for an investment fund to support development in the sector.