Labour’s ‘Land Grab’

A report - ‘Land for the Many’: Changing the way our fundamental asset is used, owned and governed - produced for the Labour Party sets out recommendations around an issue - land is the hidden issue behind the housing crisis - which has huge implications for people who want affordable homes. The report is not yet Labour policy. The key proposals include;

·         free and open access to data on land ownership

·         an explicit government goal to stabilise house prices

·         reforms to private renting with a cap on rent increases

·         replace council tax with a progressive property tax payable by owners not tenants – with surcharges for empty and second homes and non-UK residents

·         phase out stamp duty land tax

·         enable public bodies to buy land at closer to current use value

Read more on Red Brick.

https://redbrickblog.wordpress.com/

Landlords Call For Supported Housing Funding Changes

The government should cap supported housing management costs and stop funding them through housing benefit, a group of 100 housing associations has recommended. Umbrella body Placeshapers said the management costs charged by supported housing providers “would require a new, separate funding stream outside of ongoing housing benefit… capping management fees and clear parameters for eligible services”. In its response to the National Housing Federation’s (NHF) consultation on the future funding of supported housing, Placeshapers said such a move would address fears that the housing benefit bill is “out of control”. Read more on the Placeshapers website.

Santander And Barclays Reveal Help-To-Buy Isa Rates

Santander and Barclays have become the latest help-to-buy Isa providers to unveil the interest rate it will pay savers who sign up to the government’s latest scheme for homebuyers. Santander said it would pay up to 2% on accounts, while Barclays will pay 2.25%. These rates are in line with those offered by Nationwide and NatWest, but just half the rate available at Halifax, where savers can earn 4%. Help-to-buy Isas are available now, offering first-time buyers who pay in up to £200 a month the chance to boost their savings with a 25% government subsidy. The subsidy, which is capped at £3,000, is available to each first-time buyer, so a couple can get up to £6,000 towards their first home. Read more on the Guardian website.

HB For Social Tenants To Be Capped At LHA Rates

Housing benefit for social housing tenants will be capped in line with the private sector to stop social landlords charging “inflated rent”, George Osborne has announced. The policy, which was announced by the chancellor in the Spending Review, will limit housing benefit for social renters taking up new tenancies to Local Housing Allowance rates. It is expected to save £225m each year by 2020/21, according to the Spending Review and Autumn Statement document. The move means that housing benefit for single people in social housing under 35 without children will be restricted to shared accommodation rates. This means they will only be able to claim the same amount of benefit as a private tenant is able to claim for a room in a shared house. Read more on Inside Housing.

New Cap on Charges to Leaseholders for Major Works

In October 2013, the government consulted on capping the charges to leaseholders for major works. There were already directions in place that capped leaseholder for future major repair, maintenance, or improvement works at £10,000 when they were wholly or partly funded by specific named government funding programmes.  These directions, last revised in 1999, have been updated to include all future central government assistance for works of repair, maintenance or improvement provided by the Secretary of State or the HCA.  From 12 August there will be two caps:

·         £15,000 for homes in London

·         £10,000 for homes outside of London.

This acknowledges the higher prices in the capital, and that the nature of the stock, with many homes in tower blocks, makes it more expensive to repair and maintain. Read more on the Housemark website.

Pressure To Slash Benefits outside Richer South-East

Policy Exchange says lowering the limit would reflect the difference in the cost of living – and save the nation’s coffers £100million a year. Piling pressure on the Government, the think-tank says the cap should be reduced by 10 per cent – to £23,400 – for those living in the rest of the UK. It comes ahead of a major piece of research this month examining how a future government could find further savings in the welfare budget. The Policy Exchange paper will also say that child benefit should be capped at four children and payments progressively reduced after the first child. It says the collective benefit changes would lead to savings of £1billion by 2020. Read more on the Daily Express website.