Disabled People in Britain Face a Hidden Housing Crisis

Disabled people are experiencing a hidden housing crisis, says a new report suggesting that many are having to wash in their kitchens and sleep in their living rooms because their homes are ill-designed for their needs. The charity Leonard Cheshire Disability claims that as many as five million people now need a disabled-friendly home, a number set to rise as the population ages. A survey for the charity's Home Truths campaign finds that almost three-quarters of people with mobility problems do not have an accessible door into their building. More than half say their buildings do not have doors and hallways wide enough for a wheelchair. Download the report from the Leonard Cheshire Disability website.

Extra 310 Working People a Day Go Onto Housing Benefit

England may finally be emerging from recession but the recovery is distorted and leaves the country with two broken housing markets, according to a new report. Whilst economic growth has returned to many areas, this has caused the already over-stretched housing market there to overheat. Meanwhile, in parts of England where green shoots are nowhere to be seen, high unemployment and low wages mean families are desperately struggling to make ends meet and communities are at a standstill. Home Truths, by the National Housing Federation, shows that rising rents in growth areas such as London are pushing more and more working people over the edge, forcing an extra 310 people every day – one working person every five minutes1 - to turn to the Government for housing benefit to keep the roof over their heads. Download a copy of the report from the NHF website.

Workers Claiming Housing Benefit Up 86% As Rents Soar

There has been an 86% increase in workers claiming housing benefit in the last three years as private rents across England soar, according to a new report.  The National Housing Federation’s (NHF) Home Truths report warns that the number of working housing benefit claimants, currently 903,440 of the 5.03 million caseload (as of May 2012), is rising by 10,000 more people every month.  It found the future of the country’s housing market is looking even bleaker forecasting a sharp rise in private rental and house prices from 2015 as a result of the failure to tackle the under-supply of housing. Rents, it warns, have risen by 37% in the last five years and are set to soar a further 35% over the next six years, while house prices – which are predicted to fall modestly into 2013 – are forecast to grow between 5-6% from 2015 to 2017. Download a copy of the report from the NHF website.

Major Housing Crisis 'Heading For Midlands'

The housing market in the Midlands is ‘heading for a major crisis’, the latest figures show. 'Home Truths' Reports released by the National Housing Federation have found that high house prices, rising rents and a lack of affordable housing are making living in the Midlands harder than ever. The research shows that the average home in the West Midlands costs £177,913 - nine times the average regional income of £19,864. The East Midlands did not fare much better, with the average home costing £164.921 – more than eight times the average regional income. Private sector rents in the East Midlands also made the area expensive to live with an expected rise of 25 per cent over the next five years - the steepest rise of any English region. There are nine regional reports to be found on the NHF website.