UK 'Breaching Human Rights' Over Housing

The UK is in breach of its international human rights duties by failing to provide people with adequate homes in the face of a severe housing crisis, leading charities have claimed. A reduction in social housing in England and inadequate, unaffordable rental accommodation in the private sector is driving a growing number of families into homelessness, the organisations warn in a report. Produced by the group Just Fair, whose members include Crisis, Oxfam, Amnesty International, Save the Children and UNICEF UK, the report argues that the fact the number of individuals forced to sleep rough has risen by 55% since 2010 - with 280,000 households at risk of homelessness - is a breach of the UK's international obligations. Read more on the Sky News website.

Ageing Population Facing Housing Crisis

Households of over-65s are set to grow dramatically over the next 10 years - and the country's housing market is not equipped to cope with the dramatic rise, a new report has revealed. Think tank IPPR North's study - which shows that the number of over 85s will grow the most, rising by 33% over the next 10 years - argues that the English housing market is ill-equipped to cope with an ageing population and that older people are being let down by inadequate choice. The report shows that 95% of the national housing stock is not fully accessible for older people and 1.7 million people over 60 are already living in houses which do not meet the government’s decent homes standard. Download the report from the IPPR North website.