Housing Association Spend Per Home Plummets By Nearly A Fifth During Pandemic

Social housing providers have reduced their spending on repairs and maintenance by 16% during the pandemic. The drop in ‘major works capital spend per unit’ reflects a downturn in all but essential repairs during 2020, when the sector was hit by successive pandemic-induced lockdowns. The slow in repairs meant that the overall cost by housing associations per home fell from an average of £3,664 in 2019-20 to £3,565 during 2020-21 – a drop of 2.8%. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/housing-association-spend-per-home-plummets-by-nearly-a-fifth-during-pandemic-73239 

Pincher: Replacement Of Section 106 To Put ‘More Ammunition In The Hands’ Of Councils

Speaking to the House of Lords Built Environment Committee, which has been undertaking an inquiry into meeting the UK’s housing demand, Christopher Pincher said the “new system that we develop should provide at least as much affordable housing as the present one”. The government’s proposed planning reforms include replacing Section 106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy with a single new levy in a bid to ensure that affordable housing and infrastructure agreed by a developer is delivered “as expected” and on time. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/pincher-replacement-of-section-106-to-put-more-ammunition-in-the-hands-of-councils-73170 

Right To Buy Sales Drop By A Third In Past 12 Months

Right to Buy sales dropped by 35% in 2020/21 to the lowest yearly figure in eight years, according to newly published statistics. The government has put the decline, from 10,572 to 6,850, largely down to the restrictions introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.  A seven-week freeze on the housing market was introduced in March 2020 to stop the spread of coronavirus, effectively preventing most purchases and sales. This also stopped valuations, which make up a key part of the Right to Buy sales process. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/right-to-buy-sales-drop-by-a-third-in-past-12-months-73138

Formal Investigations By Housing Ombudsman Up By 65%

 Formal investigations by the Housing Ombudsman have risen by 65% compared with last year, while enquiries and complaints to the service have surged by 139 per cent in the last year, the body has revealed. The figures were published as the ombudsman launched a consultation on its three-year corporate plan from 2022 to 2025, in which it sets out how it will tackle an “unprecedented increase” in casework and to “reinforce the importance” of complaint-handling in the social housing sector. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/formal-investigations-by-housing-ombudsman-up-by-65-72864?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Housing Played ‘Significant Role’ In Higher COVID-19 Rates Among BAME People

Housing was an important factor that led to “unacceptably high death rates” among BAME communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, a report from a cross-party group of MPs has said.  Titled Coronavirus: lessons learned to date, the report said the death rates among people from BAME communities was “unacceptably high” and pointed to housing, working conditions and “possible biological factors” as things that contributed to “unequal outcomes”. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/housing-played-significant-role-in-higher-covid-19-rates-among-black-and-minority-ethnic-people-says-official-report-72831 

Housing associations and their wholly owned subsidiaries are set to be made exempt from the developer cladding tax after lobbying efforts by the sector. Lawyers had warned that not-for-profit registered providers that own development companies could be liable for the Residential Property Development Tax (RPDT), due to take effect next April. But in an updated note on the legislation, the Treasury said that non-profit housing companies will be excluded. The note added: “Wholly-owned subsidiary companies of a non-profit housing company are also excluded from being treated as residential property developers for the purpose of the tax.” Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/housing-associations-to-escape-cladding-tax-72806

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 

Housing Association Housebuilding Completions Drop By Fifth

 The number of homes built by housing associations fell by almost a fifth in the 2020/21 financial year due in part to the pandemic. Data collated by the NHF showed that approximately 44,000 homes of all tenures were started in 2020/21, with 38,200 completed. In terms of homes built, housing associations completed 4,240 social rent homes, a decline of 13% on 2020. Affordable rental home completions fell by 19% to 16,038 and affordable homes for sale fell by 19% to 11,959. Total affordable home completions stood at 32,237 a drop of 18%. Market rent completions stood at 1,095 during the year, a drop of 12%, and market sale homes dropped 19% to 4,910. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/housing-association-housebuilding-completions-drop-by-fifth-72715

Social Landlords Fear For Tenants Amid Energy Price Surges

Social housing providers and sector bodies have urged the government to reconsider the cuts to Universal Credit and step up support to tenants who could face the stark choice between heating their homes or eating, due to soaring energy prices. Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng warned that some households face a “very difficult winter”. But prime minister Boris Johnson played down the issue, saying that the energy price surges were a “short-term” issue and that people should not worry about putting food on the table. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/social-landlords-fear-for-tenants-amid-energy-price-surges-72619?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60 

LFB ‘Closed-Minded And Parochial’ Before Grenfell

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) was “unacceptably closed-minded”, “isolationist” and “parochial” in the years before the Grenfell Tower fire and was beset by a culture that left it unable to cope with an emergency “beyond the normal or standard fire”, lawyers acting for bereaved and survivors said. The claim came as the Grenfell Tower Inquiry heard opening statements for the section of its investigation focusing on the LFB’s actions in the years before the blaze. Speaking for one group, Danny Friedman QC said that the blaze saw the brigade face “the limits of its competence”. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/lfb-closed-minded-and-parochial-before-grenfell-and-unable-to-cope-with-emergency-beyond-normal-fire-lawyers-for-community-say-72584?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60 

Cladding Systems Failed Government-Commissioned Fire Tests In 2004

A series of cladding systems failed fire tests carried out for the government in 2004, but the results were never revealed before the materials were installed on thousands of buildings. A research report first obtained by the BBC shows 10 external wall systems were subjected to fire tests as officials sought to develop a new testing methodology for cladding in the mid-2000s. The document shows systems containing materials such as high-pressure laminate (HPL), expanded polystyrene and phenolic insulation failed the tests. These systems are currently being removed from thousands of buildings around the UK, in many cases at the cost of individual leaseholders. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/cladding-systems-failed-government-commissioned-fire-tests-in-2004-leaked-document-reveals-72558?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60 

Jenrick Exits As Housing Secretary In Cabinet Reshuffle

Robert Jenrick has lost his job as housing secretary in a major cabinet reshuffle and been replaced by Michael Gove. The former housing secretary announced his departure in a tweet which made no reference to a new ministerial post - suggesting he has been removed from the cabinet. The reshuffle brings to a close a two-year run in the position for Mr Jenrick. It makes him the longest serving secretary of state in this role since Eric Pickles, who left office in 2015. Former education and justice secretary Mr Gove was announced as his replacement, moving from his current role as chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/jenrick-exits-as-housing-secretary-in-cabinet-reshuffle-72531 

Government Brands Housing Conditions ‘Unacceptable’ After ITV Documentary

 The documentary Surviving Squalor: Britain’s Housing Shame revealed the disturbing conditions some social housing tenants have been exposed to, and showed homes owned and managed by a number of councils, as well as housing associations including L&Q and Clarion. The conditions included leaks which led to near-fatal ceiling collapses, rodent infestations, persistent and chronic mould and fungus – in some cases within the homes of tenants who have breathing difficulties. An MHCLG spokesperson said: “It is completely unacceptable for people to be living in the unsafe homes we have seen in this investigation and we are committed to doing all we can to support tenants.” Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/government-brands-squalid-housing-conditions-unacceptable-after-itv-documentary-72494

More Than One In Six Social Homes ‘Uneconomical’ To Upgrade To Net Zero

In its annual Housing Sector Survey consultancy Savills identified a significant shift towards investment in existing homes. A poll of 138 social housing providers found that 30% expect the need to increase spending in current stock to affect their development programmes. Stock investment, driven by the building safety and zero-carbon agendas, was cited as a top priority by 85% more respondents than in the 2020 survey. Those which have crunched the numbers expect an average cost of £20,600 per home to get their housing stocks to net zero, the research found. But 37% of providers have not yet factored these huge costs into their business plans. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/more-than-one-in-six-social-homes-uneconomical-to-upgrade-to-net-zero-research-finds-72443 

Complaints To Housing Ombudsman Rise By 21%

Complaints and enquiries to the Housing Ombudsman increased 21% in the first three months of 2020/21, having already risen sharply last year. The complaints arbitration service revealed that it received 7,276 enquiries and complaints over the period, up from 6,010 in the previous three months. The number is also 230% higher than for between April and June 2020 – although that quarter saw a 41% drop compared with the previous year amid the first coronavirus lockdown. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/complaints-to-housing-ombudsman-rise-by-21-72385?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60 

Ministers Must Commit To 30-Year Social Rent Increases To Tackle London’s Housing Crisis

The government must “immediately” introduce a 30-year commitment to increase social rents by 1% above the consumer price index (CPI) annually to help tackle London’s affordable housing crisis, a new report has argued. The report highlighted that the annual need for extra affordable housing in London is 7.6 times greater than supply, compared to 2.6 across the whole of England. Housing associations, particularly those in London, are grappling with major long-term costs as a result of the post-Grenfell building safety crisis and decarbonisation, forcing them to rethink their development plans. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/ministers-must-commit-to-30-year-social-rent-increases-to-tackle-londons-housing-crisis-argues-report-72130?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Clarion Cleared By RSH Following ITV Investigation

 Clarion, which owns and manages around 125,000 homes across the country, referred itself to the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) after the report aired in June. ITV News and My London spoke to unhappy residents at Clarion’s Eastfields Estate in Merton, south London, with images showing vermin infestations and widespread disrepair. In many cases, residents had to wait long periods for issues to be rectified by the landlord. In an unusual statement, the RSH said: “While there were clearly individual repairs issues which required resolution, our investigation did not find evidence of systemic or organisational failure which indicates a breach of the consumer standards.” Its conclusion means Clarion will retain its G1/V1 regulatory grading, the highest possible. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/clarion-cleared-by-rsh-following-itv-investigation-72111?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Government Allocates £578m To Fix Dangerous Cladding Through Building Safety Fund

More than £578m has been allocated to high-rise blocks covered in dangerous cladding through the Building Safety Fund, latest figures from the MHCLG have revealed. The figure was published in a monthly update on the government’s Building Safety Programme and showed that private sector blocks have secured £499m to remove dangerous materials, while social housing buildings have received £78.7m. However, as of 30 June, only £109m had actually been given to these blocks. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/government-allocates-578m-to-fix-dangerous-cladding-through-building-safety-fund-72107?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60 

Help To Buy Leaseholders Can Now Sell Homes At ‘Cladding Affected’ Value

Leaseholders who used the Help to Buy programme to purchase their homes in blocks affected by cladding will now be allowed to sell their properties at reduced prices after the organisation in charge of the programme reversed its policy. Homes England has shifted its advice to those carrying out valuations, stating that surveyors should now take into account the impact that dangerous cladding will have on the value of the property before a leaseholder sells or redeems the loan on their home. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/help-to-buy-leaseholders-can-now-sell-homes-at-cladding-affected-value-says-homes-england-72058?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60 

Four In Five Social Housing Tenants On Universal Credit Struggle To Pay For Essentials

Four out of five social housing residents (79%) claiming Universal Credit have struggled to pay for at least one essential item such as heating, council tax or clothes, a survey has found. Nearly half (43%) have struggled to afford food, according to the National Housing Federation (NHF) study, which it claims is the largest of its kind to date. As well as reporting difficulties meeting basic living costs, 84% of respondents said they had borrowed money from friends and family, applied for loans or visited food banks while claiming the benefit. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/four-in-five-social-housing-tenants-on-universal-credit-struggle-to-pay-for-essentials-71967?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60