Whitehall Must Reform ‘Viability Tests’, Campaigners Say

The Government must amend the definition of ‘affordable housing’ and change its approach to viability testing in its updated planning framework, campaigners say. Two organisations have called on Whitehall to ‘clarify and strengthen’ its commitment to delivering affordable housing by amending the definition and reforming the viability test. The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) and the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) have made the call ahead of the publication next week of the updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). New research from the TCPA and APSE found 60% of councils said the viability test had ‘hindered’ their ability to secure affordable housing in their local areas. Read more on the Local Gov website.

https://www.localgov.co.uk/Whitehall-must-reform-viability-tests-campaigners-say/44833

Public Believes Housing Inspections Should Be In Hands Of Council

The majority of the public believes housing safety inspections should be in the hands of local councils, survey reveals. A survey for the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) found 59% of the public support council Building Inspections, and just 23.4% support private inspectors. The poll, which was carried out by market research agency Survation for APSE, was a ‘wake up call to Government’, APSE chief executive Paul O’Brien, told a housing fringe at the Labour Party conference. ‘The public clearly support a role for local councils in keeping residents safe,’ he said. Read more on the Local Gov website.

Councils Have Whitehall Support Ensuring Safety Of Private High-Rises

The Government will support councils in taking action against private sector building owners who do not cooperate with councils in ensuring the safety of high-rise buildings from fire. Sajid Javid wrote to council chief executives responding to concerns voiced earlier by local authorities that they were in the dark about the safety of privately owned buildings because they did not have access to the relevant information. Mr Javid reminded councils that councils do have the power to ask landlords to take necessary action to ensure that their buildings are safe and can ultimately carry out any necessary work themselves and then charge the landlord for it. Read more on the LocalGov website.

Council Leader Calls For Affordable Housing Tariff

The Government should give local authorities the power to impose tariffs on developers to provide cash for more affordable housing, according to the leader of Westminster City Council. Cllr Nickie Aiken urged Whitehall to allow councils to institute ‘a locally-set charge paid on net increases in floor space’. This would allow the council to charge developers to help ease the burden they place on local infrastructure, he said. It would also help raise funds for affordable housing. Cllr Aiken compared the scheme to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and section 106 planning obligations which contribute towards the creation of sustainable communities and mitigate the negative aspects of developments. Read more on the LocalGov website.

Social Housing Is Becoming ‘Increasingly Commercialised’, Says Study

The social housing sector has become ‘increasingly commercialised’ as housing associations look for new ways to make money, report finds. A new report from Zurich Municipal has found difficult times and dwindling revenue streams has forced Registered Providers (RPs) of housing to turn to ‘non-core’ activities, such as social care or operating leisure centres, to make money. A previous report by the public sector insurer had found that 76% of RPs had introduced new services beyond their core role as a housing provider. Read more on the LocalGov website.

Westminster Denies Sending Homeless Residents To The Midlands

Conservative-led Westminster City Council have categorically denied accusations they are sending residents in need of temporary accommodation to the Midlands. Westminster’s Labour group has accused the council of planning to send residents who have lost homes to cities in the Midlands in order to ‘end any responsibility for Westminster to find them a permanent home.’ The council’s plans argued, according to the Labour group’s interpretation, Coventry, Birmingham and Leicester ‘offer the best opportunities’ for Westminster’s homeless to be rehoused. The council’s rehousing plans show ‘no recognition of the strength of local connections’, the Labour group warned. Read more on the Local Gov website.

Benefit Cap Puts Supported Housing At Risk

Council leaders have called for supported housing to be exempt from the housing benefit cap to prevent the most vulnerable people from losing their homes. The Government will decide in July whether the housing cap will apply to supported accommodation. However, the Local Government Association (LGA) warned those living in this type of housing would be unlikely to have enough money to cover the higher rental costs.This could see councils having to find other suitable accommodation for tenants, and some people may even be forced to remain in hospital due to a lack of homes. The LGA also said the cap could force many supported housing schemes to close if it was applied to them. Read more on the LocalGov website.

Rise In Social Housing Tenants Planning To Buy Home

More than half of local authority tenants who would like to get onto the property ladder intend to buy their current home. The English Housing Survey also shows that the number of people owning their own home in the past year has remained static for the first time since 2003; with the Government claiming is a result of their home ownership initiatives. The number of social housing tenants who expect to buy their current home has risen from 35% in 2010-11 to 42% in 2014-15. The survey also showed that the number of properties failing to meet the government’s Decent Homes Standard has also fallen by 3.1 million compared to 2006. Read more on the Local Gov website.

Funding Increase For Councils To Crack Down On ‘Cowboy’ Landlords

Councils will receive a £5m boost to help them tackle rogue landlords in their area, Housing Minister Brandon Lewis has announced. The extra money will be divided between 48 councils in order to provide them with the means to take on landlords who force tenants to live in squalid and dangerous properties. The funding will allow for more raids, an increase in property inspections, statutory notices, and street surveys. It will also pay for the demolishing of ‘beds in sheds’ and prohibited buildings. The new funding will be included in a raft of proposals designed to protect private renters in the Housing and Planning Bill. Read more on the Local Government website.