Government Announces £4 Million For A Renewed Community Housing Fund

The MHCLG announced it will allocate £4m to help community-based organisations bid for funds to support them to prepare bids for the Affordable Homes Programme. The decision was welcomed by the Confederation of Co-operative Housing (CCH). CCH says the renewed Community Housing Fund will help housing co-operatives and other community-led housing organisations apply for money to support them in preparing their bids for the £11.5bn Affordable Homes Programme. The £4m fund will also help projects to potentially access other sources of funding and help progress those schemes that are stuck at the beginning of the process. Read more on the Co-operative News website.

https://www.thenews.coop/152583/sector/housing/uk-government-announces-4-million-for-a-renewed-community-housing-fund/ 

End Of Year Review 2015: Housing

The housing sector faced uncertainty in 2015 as George Osborne announced new rules on social rents and a Right to Buy policy for housing association tenants. But there was growth in student housing co-ops and the sector expanded in Wales – and, on an international level, the movement came together to help Haiti’s earthquake victims. For housing co-operatives in the UK the year was a challenging one, with co-operative housing organisations worrying that the Right to Buy provisions for housing association tenants could affect community-led housing initiatives.  Read the rest of the round up for the year on the Co-operative News website.

Co-Operative Housing 'Viable Option for Reluctant Renters'

Co-operative housing could help turn "reluctant renters" into home owners, according to a report launched at Co-operative Congress.  The Welsh Co-operative Centre commissioned the research following the Welsh Government's decision to back co-housing as a way to build affordable homes. The research found that “reluctant renters” – those priced out of the owner-occupied sector, but who do not need social housing – wanted a sense of ownership.  The findings highlight a low level of awareness of co-operative housing, but considerable interest in the co-operative approach among respondents who could not buy their own homes.  Most felt it important to have an equity stake in a development. However, affordability was considered more of a factor than equity.  Read more on the Co-operative News website.