Quality Of Social Housing ‘Scandalously Poor’, Says Gove

Speaking at a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference Mr Gove hinted at the possibility of new incentives for social landlords to improve their stock. He told delegates “The quality of social housing, particularly in some parts of the country, remains scandalously poor. That there are people who are living in conditions which are overcrowded, there are people living in conditions affected by damp and other factors.” He remarked that “we do need to look at the condition of social housing, and the way in which we can make sure that there is a proper incentivisation for those who are social housing providers both to improve stock and to increase numbers”. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/quality-of-social-housing-scandalously-poor-says-gove-72749?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60 

Jenrick Says Ending Rough Sleeping ‘Isn’t High Enough On The Government’s Agenda’

Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has warned there is not enough political will in the government to hit its target of ending rough sleeping by 2024. Jenrick, who was sacked last month, told a Conservative Party Conference fringe event that getting other departments to “step up” will be a challenge his successor Michael Gove faces if he is to deliver on the Conservative manifesto promise. “Some issues stay with you long after you have left a job. For me, this is true of homelessness,” said Jenrick at the event. Read more on the Big Issue website.

https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/robert-jenrick-says-ending-rough-sleeping-isnt-high-enough-on-the-governments-agenda/ 

Housing Secretary Hints At War On Inheritance Tax

A cabinet minister dropped another strong hint about cutting inheritance tax last night as he attacked its ‘fundamental unfairness’. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said it was ‘particularly unpopular’ because it involved ‘paying tax twice’ when property is passed to children and grandchildren. He also argued that well-off families used tax-avoidance schemes to ‘ensure they don’t pay’. The remarks are the second in a week from a senior minister floating the idea of reforming inheritance tax. At the Conservative Party conference last week, Chancellor Sajid Javid floated the idea of abolishing death duties. Read more on the World News website.

https://twnews.co.uk/uk-news/housing-secretary-hints-at-war-on-inheritance-tax-after-attacking-its-fundamental-unfairness

Housing Secretary Says He’ll Have ‘No Ugly Homes Built In The UK’

At the Conservative Conference, the Housing Secretary of State, Robert Jenrick, said that ugly homes have no place in his future vision for UK housing. “The government is committed to building the homes this country needs, but it is not all about bricks, mortar and numbers. Too often, new developments come at the expense of beauty, quality and design. This shouldn’t be the case and the Conservatives are determined to deliver homes that families and communities are proud to call their own,” he said. Read more on The Negotiator website.

https://thenegotiator.co.uk/housing-secretary-says-hell-have-no-ugly-homes-built-in-the-uk/

Social Housing Snubbed At Tory Conference

After the snub of the Spending Review, the sector had another let-down at the Tory conference. At face value, a ‘major new initiative’ apparently being announced by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick was little more than a reiteration of plans to boost shared ownership purchase. Jenrick went with the “new national model for shared ownership” allowing the purchase in 1% increments while paying a subsidised rent on the rest – helping thousands of lower earners step on to the housing ladder. Which is what was announced last month as a “new national model” for shared ownership. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/social-housing-set-for-another-snub-at-tory-conference/

Shared Ownership Right To Buy ‘Will Worsen Housing Crisis’

Sector bodies have said that proposals to offer housing association tenants the right to buy upwards of 10% of their homes could “worsen the housing crisis”, and warned the government to understand the impact on lenders before pushing ahead. At the Conservative Party conference, housing secretary Robert Jenrick announced plans to offer housing associations “an automatic right to buy a share of their home”. New build homes would be automatically included, with existing homes added via voluntary agreements with associations, Mr Jenrick said. But the NHF and PlaceShapers warned that the proposals could have consequences for loan deals and make the housing crisis worse. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/shared-ownership-right-to-buy-will-worsen-housing-crisis-sector-bodies-warn-63505?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Housing Minister: Announcement Soon On Reforms To Help To Buy

The government will make announce reforms to its Help to Buy scheme “quite soon”, the housing minister has said. Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference, Kit Malthouse confirmed speculation that the government plans to adjust the policy. The scheme, under which the government loans money to buyers of new build homes, has come under fire recently and there has been widespread speculation that the government is seeking to change it. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/housing-minister-announcement-soon-on-reforms-to-help-to-buy-58437?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Could Landlords Be Offered Tax Relief For Offering Longer-Term Tenancies?

Landlords are set to benefit from new incentives if they offer longer agreements to their tenants.  Perks could include clawing back tax relief that is currently being withdrawn from thousands of landlords, a leading property expert has suggested. The government wants to offer greater support to those who rent, as the number of people who do not own their own home continues to grow. Policies introduced could benefit landlords who comply.  Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid indicated in his Conservative party conference speech that details will be revealed in the Autumn Budget on November 22.  Read more on the Daily Mail website.

Work And Pensions Committee Calls For More Detail On UC Changes

The chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee has asked how the government will decide if a Universal Credit claimant is in “immediate need” for a same-day payment. Labour MP Frank Field has written to David Gauke, secretary of state for work and pensions, following his speech at the Conservative Party conference where he said that claimants in “immediate need” will be able to receive a same-day payment to cover their living costs before their Universal Credit payment arrives in their bank account. Read the letter on the Parliament website.

Tory Housing Policy Overhaul Could Include Rent-To-Buy

The government is considering a shift in its housing policy away from a primary focus on home ownership in an acceptance that many people on lower incomes cannot afford to buy a property and instead need help with renting.  An announcement on housing is expected at the Conservative party conference, sources connected to housing policy have said. While it remains unclear what this will involve, ministers are understood to be interested in the idea of rent-to-buy schemes. This general trend has already been signalled, with housing minister Gavin Barwell saying in a speech earlier this month that the country needed more homes for rent below market rates, as well as homes to buy. Read more on the Guardian website.

Government Unveils £3bn Home Building Fund

At the Conservative Party conference the government will announce details of the long-awaited £3bn Home Building Fund that will combine cash from several existing funding streams and provide £1.15bn of new loan finance. Sajid Javid, communities secretary, will also confirm a further £2bn of funding for a scheme called ‘Accelerated Construction’ under which the government will take direct action to build homes. Of the £3bn Home Building Fund, £1.15bn will consist of new loans, the government has confirmed. The Homes and Communities Agency runs several funding streams to support building, including the £525m Builders Finance Fund, the £1bn Large Sites Infrastructure Programme and Build to Rent. Read more on Inside Housing.