Government Reforms Raise Issues On How Poorest Will Be Housed

Stonewater, a leading UK social housing provider, has said that the Government’s new housing reforms which aim to make housing associations more efficient and business-like, will fundamentally change the way associations meet housing needs, raising issues on how the nation’s poorest will be housed in the future. Giving evidence to the CLG inquiry into housing associations and Right to Buy, Stonewater Deputy Chief Executive Nicholas Harris said: “The Government has called on the sector to become more commercially minded and efficient [but] reforms such as Right to Buy, Pay to Stay, changes to S106 agreements, and the 1% reduction in social housing rents, will force the pace and direction of the sector and require substantial structural change. This shift in focus will prevent associations from housing poorer parts of the community.” Read more on the Stonewater website.