Housing ‘Unaffordable For Women’ In Every English Region

Rising house prices and the gender pay gap mean there is no English region where a single woman on median earnings can afford to rent or buy an averagely priced house, a new report has revealed. Released by the Women’s Budget Group and Women’s Housing Forum, the report finds that, across England, average rents take 43% of women’s median earnings and 28% of men’s. That means there is no region in England where the average home to rent is affordable for a woman on median earnings; while the average home to rent is affordable for men on median earnings in every region except London and the South East. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/housing-unaffordable-for-women-in-every-english-region/

Right to Buy Scheme: Females – Parliamentary Written Answer

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to protect women's eligibility for the right to buy discount in situations when they are not entitled to that discount due to their previous tenancy being entirely in their ex-husband or partner’s name.

Kit Malthouse: Where a married couple live together under a public sector tenancy, they individually accrue tenancy periods which count towards eligibility for the Right to Buy. This applies whether the tenancy is in both names; or if the tenancy is only in a single name. The accrued periods still apply individually if the couple separate or divorce. This is set out in Schedule 4 of the Housing Act 1985; and in the department's booklet for tenants: Your Right to Buy Your Home ; and in the guidance for landlords: Right to Buy - A Guide for Local Authorities.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-11-23/195063

Women Facing Homelessness, Domestic Violence and Social Exclusion

On 6 November 2014, the House of Lords is scheduled to debate the following motion:

“that this House takes note of women facing homelessness, domestic violence and social exclusion”

Information presented in this Note has been compiled to provide background reading for Members ahead of the debate. Although there is significant overlap between the issues, the Note has been divided into three separate sections. These in turn consider women’s homelessness, domestic violence and social exclusion. Each section opens with an introduction to the issue, including background and statistics, with the aim of providing some context, before setting out the government policy. The sections then conclude with commentary from charities, interested organisations and research bodies that have put forward further policy recommendations. Download the report from the Parliament website.

Human Cost of Welfare Cuts

The first detailed study into how benefits changes are hitting Manchester has revealed the ‘human cost’ of swingeing welfare cuts.  New research warns of overcrowding, new social ghettos, soaring levels of debt and mental illness – with minorities bearing the brunt.  The analysis finds minority groups – including the disabled, women and certain ethnic groups – are being hit disproportionately hard by the policies. Around two thirds of the 575 households affected by the benefits cap are ethnic minorities. It warns the cap will force people into cramped, overcrowded conditions. Read more on the Manchester Evening News website.

Welfare Reforms Will 'Hit Women Hardest'

Welfare reforms will hit women harder than men, research published by the Welsh Government reveals. The findings show that single parents who are out of work will incur the largest reduction in benefit and tax credit entitlement. Of this group, 90 per cent are female.  Capping the household benefit at £26,000 is likely to have a disproportionate impact on black and ethnic minority claimants because of a tendency for family size to be larger, the research concluded. The national roll-over for the cap began on Monday. The report also suggests carers of disabled people may lose some of their support as a result of the reforms.  Read more on Inside Housing.