Residents Hit By Care Homes Rip-Off

Middle-class families are facing rip-off tactics from care home owners desperate to stay in business, according to a report. The ratio of care home residents who pay their own bills has risen to 41 per cent, and sharp practice against them by owners and operators has been multiplying, Age UK said. The tricks used to extort thousands of pounds from residents include demands that their families should take responsibility for paying their bill, and long notice periods that mean families must pay for weeks of care that have not been given. Families also face arbitrary hikes in fees; and unexpected charges for extras such as providing entertainment or hospital visits. Read more on the Daily Mail website.

Tenants To Vote On Plans To Transfer Housing Stock

Steps to transfer Hammermsith and Fulham housing stock to a new housing organisation have taken a step forward after gaining council backing. A Cabinet meeting voted to back the recommendation of the Independent Residents’ Commission on Council Housing , which was published last month.

H&F will now give a vote on whether or not to pass the ownership of all of its 17,000 homes to council housing residents. The findings of the report suggested the council may struggle to raise the money needed to adequately repair and maintain council homes, whereas a new resident-led housing association should be able to secure the investment needed. However, a transfer will not take place unless a majority of tenants vote in favour of the transfer. Read more on the H&F website.

Affordable Housing – Parliamentary Written Answer

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how his Department defines what constitutes affordable housing.

Brandon Lewis: The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (sections 68 – 70) defines social housing as low cost rental accommodation and low cost home ownership accommodation. In the Act, a low cost rent is simply defined as below the market rate. Low cost home ownership is defined by its availability for occupation on a shared ownership or equity percentage basis. This provides flexibility to support a range of people with different housing needs through our affordable housing programmes. Read more on the Parliament website.

ALMO's New Homes Built By Future Repairs Team

An ALMO has built five new homes using the same staff that will carry out the buildings' future repairs and maintenance. Nottingham City Homes' craft workers began building the new homes in Clifton last year. In a first for the ALMO, NCH actually owns the new houses. Up till now, the provider has only managed 29,000 homes on behalf of Nottingham City Council. Thirty eight experienced tradespeople worked alongside 20 apprentices to build the new energy-efficient family homes on a disused garage site in the south of the city. The properties are part of the council and NCH's Building a Better Nottingham programme, which will see more than 400 new homes built across the city over the next four years. Read more on 24dash.