Empty Properties Will Be Seized For Homeless Families, Private Landlords Warned

No-nonsense housing bosses in Wolverhampton are warning private landlords that any homes in the city left empty for long periods of time will be seized and used to provide much-needed accommodation for homeless families. The city council’s ‘Empty Properties Strategy’ is designed to provide additional housing for people while at the same time generating additional civic income by reintroducing vacant properties to the market. Read more on the Express & Star website.

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/wolverhampton/2019/01/09/wolverhampton-housing-bosses-warn-private-landlords/

Tenants Facing Rent Rise Of £15 Per Week

In July ministers ordered that all social landlords, including councils and housing associations, reduce rent by one per cent per year each year for the next four years. But Wolverhampton council has based its long term strategy for building maintenance on rents going up. Bosses have launched a consultation featuring a series of options aimed at making up for the shortfall. They include charging 'affordable rent' instead of 'social rent', meaning rents will go up by £15 per week for new tenants. Another proposal is to increase service charges by £2 per week, meaning garage rents and hostel charges would go up by one per cent, along with concierge charges. Read more on the Express & Star website.

45,000 Residents at Risk of Losing Their Homes

Almost 45,000 people were on the verge of losing their home in the West Midlands last year, shock new figures have revealed. Homelessness charity Shelter said more than 840 residents a week were at risk of eviction or repossession across the region – with Sandwell the worst affected area. There, one in every 74 properties contained residents under threat of losing their homes, followed by Birmingham with one in 82, Wolverhampton with one in 93, and Coventry with one in 100. The list of hotspots was based on possession claims issued in county courts between April 1, 2014 and March 31 this year.  Read more on the Birmingham Mail website.

Over 200,000 Homes in England at Risk

1 in every 105 households in England is at risk of repossession or eviction, according to new statistics released by Shelter. The research found hotspots up and down the country where the risk of losing your home is even higher. These include Nottingham and Luton, both with 1 in 60 homes at risk, Salford (where 1 in 61 homes are at risk), and Newcastle upon Tyne and Wolverhampton (both with 1 in 63 homes at risk). The research also highlights the extent of the capital’s housing crisis, with London boroughs – where there is a serious lack of affordable housing – dominating the top twenty. Shelter’s research found that the London borough of Newham has the highest risk of repossession or eviction in the country, with as many as 1 in every 35 homes at risk. Read more on the Shelter website.

All You Need To Know About the New Housing Appointments

Pen pictures of the new junior minister for housing and his shadow in the Labour Party.

Kris Hopkins

Before entering the political arena, Mr Hopkins was a member of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment and served in Kenya, Northern Ireland and Germany. As a former Bradford council leader, Mr Hopkins was elected as the MP for Keighley in 2010 after standing twice before, Halifax in 2005 and Leeds West in 2001. During his time as a local councillor, Mr Hopkins covered social services and council housing, and he oversaw the delivery of housing stock transfer in Bradford.

Emma Reynolds

Emma was elected as the MP for Wolverhampton North East in 2010 and since October 2011 she has covered the shadow minister for Europe role. An Oxford University graduate, studying philosophy, politics and economics, Emma has previously worked for the Party of European Socialists in Brussels as an adviser to Robin Cook and was later appointed as political advisor to Geoff Hoon in his role as Europe minister and then chief whip.

Read more on Inside Housing.