Tuesday, 15 July 2014

US-Style Finance Model Could Replace Social Housing Grant

A US model involving private investment supported by tax credits could be an alternative to the current system of social housing grant funding in the UK, a report has found. Funding Affordable Housing, written by Vic O’Brien development director at Greensquare Group, looks at the system of Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) in the US.  Under this system, private corporations invest funds into affordable housing projects and receive tax credits over 10 years, creating a return on investment. The report suggests this avoids the present difficulties caused by low grant rates and the need for developers of affordable housing to have enough asset cover. The LIHTC model means providers do not need to make repayments from rental streams within the project. Download a copy of the report from the Winston Churchill Memorial trust website.

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