Bolton Fire: Government Downplaying Risks Of HPL Cladding, Say Critics

The government has been accused of downplaying the fire risk posed by the type of cladding that burned ferociously on a Bolton student housing block – and of refusing help to worried residents of other affected buildings. In August, owners of flats in high-rise blocks wrapped in combustible cladding asked the housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, for help to find the money to strip their buildings of all kinds of combustible cladding. It took almost three months for an official to respond that money would be made available to remove only the specific kind of aluminium composite cladding (ACM) used at Grenfell Tower, and not the high-pressure laminate (HPL) cladding used in Bolton and on thousands of other homes. Read more on the Guardian website.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/nov/17/bolton-blaze-housing-and-fire-chiefs-hit-out-over-cladding-lottery

Student Housing Told To Fix 'Awful' Problems

The universities minister has told a summit of student-accommodation providers to sort out the "awful and disappointing" problems that have seen more than 20 student housing schemes not completed on time. Chris Skidmore summoned housing providers after students had been put into temporary accommodation at the beginning of the autumn term. "Students can pay significant amounts for their accommodation and it is unacceptable to let them down at a stressful time," said the minister. Students in Portsmouth were among those affected, when a private housing block was not completed, leaving about 250 without accommodation. Read more on the BBC website.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-50227275

Student Housing Tempts Wealthy Investors

Some of the world’s richest people and sovereign wealth funds are turning their attention to student housing, with the increasingly luxurious and expensive purpose-built accommodation becoming regarded as a must-have part of their investment portfolio. The UK purpose-built student accommodation market is estimated by Knight Frank to be worth £46bn and new developments completed this year are expected to total a record £4.7bn. Last year, £3.1bn worth of student halls were sold – more than double the amount traded in 2013 and 2014. All five of the biggest deals – worth a combined £1.5bn – were sold to overseas investors. Read more on the Guardian website.

Demand For Student Accommodation Exceeding Availability

Student rents look set to increase amid a housing shortage across many of the UK’s main university cities, according to a new study. Student rentals platform, Studenttenant.com, has examined the demand for property around the top universities in the UK, and found that many students starting their studies are struggling to secure living accommodation before doing so. Despite being four months into the current academic year, a number of universities are still ranking extremely high where demand for student property is concerned. Read more on the Home.co.uk website.

End Of Year Review 2015: Housing

The housing sector faced uncertainty in 2015 as George Osborne announced new rules on social rents and a Right to Buy policy for housing association tenants. But there was growth in student housing co-ops and the sector expanded in Wales – and, on an international level, the movement came together to help Haiti’s earthquake victims. For housing co-operatives in the UK the year was a challenging one, with co-operative housing organisations worrying that the Right to Buy provisions for housing association tenants could affect community-led housing initiatives.  Read the rest of the round up for the year on the Co-operative News website.

Increased Student Numbers Are Worsening the Housing Crisis

When George Osborne lifted the cap on how many students each university can take, he fired the starting pistol for increased competition in the higher education sector. But has anyone thought through the effect this will have on the housing market? Traditionally, students lived in halls of residence or shared private houses, but an increasing number of private companies are building and managing bespoke blocks for students. Business is booming. Savills predicts £2.5bn will be spent on student housing schemes this year, significantly more than the HCA invests in affordable housing. Unfortunately, the government’s latest planning guidance allows student housing to be included as part of overall housing targets when local plans are being put in place “based on the amount of accommodation it releases in the housing market”. This is misguided at best. Savills and others argue investment in student housing eases pressure on family housing, but student housing providers may be poaching sites that could have been used for affordable housing. Read more on the Guardian website.

Housing – Parliamentary Written Answer

Mr Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many units qualifying for the New Homes Bonus were student accommodation in 2010-11; and what the estimated cost is over the full six-year period of the New Homes Bonus paid for such accommodation.

Grant Shapps: New homes bonus is paid in respect of net additions to housing stock, and is calculated according to the council tax banding of new supply. The particular proposed uses for new supply are not collected, and it is not therefore possible to provide a precise figure for the number of units qualifying for new homes bonus which were student accommodation, or the associated costs.  As a guide to increasing levels of student accommodation, the number of dwellings qualifying for an exemption from council tax on the grounds of being a hall of residence provided predominantly for the accommodation of students increased by some 4,600 between September 2010 and September 2011 (DCLG Statistical Release—Local Authority Council Taxbase 2011, published November 2011). Increases in dedicated student accommodation will have a beneficial effect on the wider housing supply, by taking pressure off private rented accommodation.

Students Protest at Homes Move

More than 3,000 students have signed a petition against proposed changes to housing regulations. Nottingham City Council is consulting on proposals to force landlords to seek planning permission before converting a property for multiple occupation. The University of Nottingham's Students' Union has accused the authority of "discriminating" against students. They believe it is part of a plan to drive students from houses in popular areas like Lenton into purpose-built accommodation elsewhere in the city. The consultation had been due to end last month, but has been extended to May 31. The council says the move would enable it to manage the delivery of mixed and balanced communities in neighbourhoods throughout the city and drive up standards of accommodation.

Rising Tuition Fees to Increase Empty Homes

The student housing market could be hit badly by the rise in tuition fees leaving private landlords with empty properties. Insurers LV= conducted a survey which showed that more than half of students will choose a university close to home by 2020 to offset the cost of paying for their education. Student accommodation has been one of the best performing sectors for landlords, with strong levels of demand, full occupancy levels and good prospects for rental growth. However, the survey suggests that the increased fees will mean there will not be enough students to support the market. Experts predict that property values in university towns will fall and rents will also decline. Read more on the lv website.