Report Finds Housing Race Inequalities

Stark racial disadvantages and discrimination still exist in housing despite a raft of reforms since the 1960s. A report commissioned by BME National found that the housing circumstances for BME groups are “less favourable” than for white people, highlighting particular disparities in homeownership.  Looking at national Census data, the report found that just 46% of BME groups own their own home compared to 64.4% of groups from white backgrounds. It highlighted data from the CLG showing that 37% of households accepted as homeless were BME households, up from 18% in 1998. Yet, according to the latest Census data, white ethnic groups currently make up 85.6% of the total population in England. Download a copy of the report from the BME National website.

Families Renting Privately Twice As Likely To Have Moved In The Last Year

Almost one in five of London’s privately renting families have moved in the last 12 months, new figures highlighted by the National Housing Federation have shown. By contrast, only 6% of all other families have done the same. The figures, released as part of the Federation’s 100,000 Affordable Homes for London campaign, show how the capital’s housing crisis is affecting children. The campaign is calling on the next mayor to commit to tackling the problem and take up housing associations’ offer to build 100,000 new affordable homes. The last census saw the number of families living in the private rented sector in London shoot up by 156% to 251,000. Read more on the NHF website.

Empty Bedrooms Undermine New Building

The growing trend towards under-occupation is exacerbating Britain’s housing crisis, according to new research from the Intergenerational Foundation. Building on previous studies from IF which have examined the issue of under-occupation, this report uses census data to show that nearly 1 million extra households were classed as under-occupying between 2001 and 2011 in England. In effect, this means that almost a fifth of all the extra space that was added to England’s housing stock throughout this period has been wasted, as the additional capacity it created was cancelled-out by the increasingly inefficient way in which our existing housing stock is being used. Download the report from the Intergenerational Foundation website.

Nottingham Reveals Housing Plight of Families

Nottingham is backing the national 'Yes to Homes' campaign as the housing situation in the city becomes more desperate. To highlight why it is supporting 'Yes to Homes', ALMO Nottingham City Homes released some key housing statistics, including:

·         Almost 3,500 local households registered with Nottingham Homelink who are identified as in need of a new affordable home

·         Around 450 homeless families with children helped by the city each year with many more single or childless couples also facing homelessness

·         The last census indicated around 7,800 households living in the city with not enough bedrooms to meet their needs.

Read more on 24dash.

500,000 Immigrants Given Social Housing in Last Decade

Nearly half a million immigrants have been given taxpayer-funded homes over the past decade.  The revelation comes as the number of families on the waiting list for social housing hits a record 1.8million. Most are British born.

Of the four million migrants who arrived between 2001 and 2011, 469,843 were allocated council or housing association properties.  Around 1.2million foreigners now live in social housing – one in eight of the total. National census statistics highlight fears about increased pressure on public services when Romanians and Bulgarians win free access to jobs in this country in January.  Read more on the Daily Mail website.

Census Reveals Surge in Private Renting

The number of people renting homes from private landlords has almost doubled in 10 years, according to the latest census. The 2011 census shows the number of private renters in England and Wales has jumped from 1.9 million in 2001 to 3.6 million in 2011 – a rise of 88 per cent. People renting from their local authority has fallen 23 per cent, from 2.9 million in 2001 to 2.2 million in 2011. Those renting from other social landlords is up from 1.3 million to 1.9 million over the same period, an almost 50 per cent increase.  Read more on Inside Housing.

Census Reveals Housing Shortage

According to the census, the number of households in England and Wales was 23.4 million in 2011, an increase of 1.7 million since 2001. The Office for National Statistics (ONS), which released the data, said that the 7.5 per cent growth was the second-lowest increase in 100 years.  The figures came as the population of England and Wales saw its biggest surge since records began - by 4 million to 56.1 million in the decade to 2011. Shelter, the housing charity, said that not enough houses are being built to cope with the demands of the growing population and that high rents are deterring young people from leaving their parents’ home.  Earlier this year the English Housing Survey found that home ownership in England has hit its lowest level since 1998 with just 66 per cent of people owning their own home. Read more on the Daily Telegraph website.