HCA on Track to Meet 2012/13 Target

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is on track to meet its 2012/13 new home delivery targets.  The HCA says that it completed 11,981 homes in the first half of the year and made 5,243 starts.  Of the homes completed, 6,375 were affordable – with a further 3,499 delivered under FirstBuy – equating to 38% of the annual targets for affordable housing and FirstBuy combined.  The Agency is now predicting that it will meet its combined affordable housing and FirstBuy corporate plan target of 26,250 completions by the end of March 2013.  Read more on the HCA website.

Mark Prisk’s Speech to the NHF Conference

I should like to speak about how we can increase the supply of homes.  In the Spring, we introduced a series of key policies, including New Buy, which has the capability of helping up to 100,000 people.  And two weeks ago we set out a comprehensive set of measures to accelerate progress. Those measures include:

    *Building up to another 15,000 new affordable homes and bringing an extra 5,000 empty homes back into use;

    *Putting an additional £280 million into FirstBuy - so around 27,000 will now be able to buy their first home; and

   *Confirming Government Guarantees of up to £10 billion, for the development of many more new rented homes.

It shows that this Government is absolutely committed to providing the policies and resources needed to build the homes people want.  All of us need a home, somewhere that families can be secure and where children can grow.  And I shall want to address those social issues, whether it is the scourge of neighbours from hell, or the plight of the homeless.  However, increasing the housing supply, especially of affordable homes, also has an important economic purpose. Building affordable homes is a great economic multiplier - and your buying power can help sustain local businesses.  You also provide jobs and help tackle worklessness.   So, while the issue of building new affordable homes is clearly front and centre - I also want to say that I recognise the vital role you play in helping to protect the homeless, the vulnerable and the marginalised in society.  Read more on the CLG website.

Mark Prisk Writes about His New Job as Housing Minister

Writing in his local newspaper, Mark Prisk sets out his thoughts on his new job.

*Too Few Homes - The population is rising.  It is true that migration contributes around 40 per cent of this population growth. That’s one of the reasons why this Government is committed to cutting the numbers of migrants from hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands per year.  However the main reason for the growth is that we are, thankfully, living longer.  If the housing market were functioning properly then you would expect it to respond to this rising demand and deliver the homes needed. But the truth is the housing market is highly volatile, while often failing to deliver the homes where people need them. This has driven prices up and priced many first-time buyers out of the market.

*Kick-Starting the Market - To kick-start the market, we have helped create a new and innovative scheme. Called NewBuy, it enables homebuyers to secure mortgages with at least 5 per cent deposit on new-build houses and flats.  Alongside this we are helping young first-time buyers by providing a further £280m for the FirstBuy equity loan scheme.  There are also many publicly-owned sites which have yet to be unlocked for new housing and development. Some 40 per cent of previously used land, suitable for development, is in Government hands with local or national government. 

*Helping Tenants - The next challenge is how we can reform social housing to help those on lower incomes.  I am determined that we increase the total investment in this sector, by levering in much more private investment, and by giving social landlords much greater freedom over the type of tenancies they can offer.  The current rigid rules often mean that the social housing stock we have is underused, because of old rules that don’t work today.

*Tackling Neighbours from Hell - We need to make it simpler and easier to tackle this behaviour.  That means ensuring social landlords can act decisively and that those who break the rules know that they will be evicted if they don’t mend their ways. 

*Helping the Homeless - It’s true that the level of homelessness is still roughly half what it was just a few years ago. Yet it’s still wrong that tens of thousands of people will tonight be without a home, often through no fault of their own. My predecessor has already acted to cut the number of households in temporary accommodation.  Homeless people often have many other problems in their lives, involving family breakdown, drugs and so on which need to be addressed in the round. The Home Secretary is taking the lead on this and I want to be an active part of that approach, so we can deal with the causes of homelessness.

Read more on the Hertfordshire Mercury website.

Armed Forces (Housing) – Parliamentary Oral Answer

Rebecca Harris (Castle Point) (Con) and others: What recent steps he has taken to support former members of the armed forces in respect of housing.

Grant Shapps: I am determined to help current and former members of the armed forces gain the housing they deserve. I have given service personnel priority for the Government’s affordable home ownership schemes, including Firstbuy, and on Friday last week I issued new statutory guidance to make it easier for service personnel to get access to affordable homes for rent.

Henry Smith: I am pleased to hear that that guidance is coming forward because my local housing authority has up till now seemed to be confused about where it stands in relation to the military covenant and its obligations under it.

Grant Shapps: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving me the opportunity to explain to the House that that new guidance makes it clear to his and every other local authority that this nonsense of people returning, often without a base back in this country because of the amount of time they have served overseas, and then not being able to apply for housing in their area because of some trumped-up allegation that they have no locality—in other words, that they do not have a residency requirement —is to end. That is what the guidance makes absolutely clear.

Homelessness: Veterans – Parliamentary Written Answer

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department has taken to prevent homelessness among veterans.

Grant Shapps: This Government are committed to preventing and tackling homelessness and protecting the most vulnerable, including among veterans. The Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness will shortly publish its second report on preventing homelessness which will include veterans. The latest figures from CHAIN highlight that only 4% of rough sleepers from the UK have experience of the armed forces.  I am determined to ensure that current and former members of the armed forces gain the housing they deserve, recognising the sacrifices they have made for the country. I have therefore introduced measures to place members of the armed forces at the top of the priority list for home ownership schemes, including FirstBuy and instructing special agents to visit military bases to promote such schemes. We are also working with credit reference agencies and Royal Mail to standardise forces' post office addresses so personnel are not disadvantaged when applying for mortgages.  We have also recently finished consulting on proposals to change the law to make it easier for service personnel to access social housing so that former personnel with urgent housing needs are always given high priority on waiting lists, and that personnel who move from base to base do not lose their qualification rights. Under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 priority need is granted to a person who is vulnerable as a result of having been a member of Her Majesty's regular naval, military or air forces.

Response edited, read the full answer in Hansard by clicking on the link below.

Shapps in Cash Pledge for Councils Adapting Homes for Wounded Soldiers

Cash payments for councils who have adapted the homes of wounded soldiers injured in the line of duty have been announced by Housing Minister Grant Shapps.  16 councils will receive a share of more than £200,000 funding for helping injured military personnel return to a home that meets their needs and adapt to their new life.  These councils serve areas that include armed forces bases, and together have helped 26 injured servicemen and women by making adaptations to their homes.  As well as funding vital adjustments to the homes of injured personnel, serving and recently retired members of the armed forces are being put at the front of the queue for social housing and for assistance to buy their first home through the Government's FirstBuy and HomeBuy schemes.  Read more on the CLG website.