Councils Combat HMO Conversion Scam

A housing benefit scam forcing people to live in poor and dangerous accommodation needs shutting down and more rogue landlords should be jailed, councils urge. The Local Government Association (LGA) is calling on government to close a legal loophole which allows landlords to convert properties into multiple tiny “units” which are marketed as self-contained flats in order to secure the maximum level of housing benefit payments. The loophole abuses legal exemptions and the lack of clarity in environmental health, planning and housing benefit rules to avoid detection and is resulting in widespread abuse of taxpayers’ money, as well as housing tenants in poor and often dangerous accommodation. Read more on 24housing.

Granny Flats To Be Exempt From Stamp Duty

Granny flats will be exempt from stamp duty after a Government U-turn in a major victory for pensioner groups and elderly campaigners. New plans to tax granny flats were dubbed as “morally wrong and economically illiterate” and will force grandparents to move away from their families and into care homes. Homeowners with self-contained accommodation designed to house elderly relations face being classed as having a "second property" under changes to stamp duty rules. The increase in stamp duty was intended to hit buy-to-let investors and second home owners, but accountants and estate agents say the small print will also embroil tens of thousands of families looking after elderly relations. Read more on the Daily Telegraph website.

The 26 Sq Metre Cubes Used To House Homeless People

This week the YMCA launches Y:Cube, an accommodation project in Mitcham, south London. The development is made up of 36 self-contained, one-bedroom flats, each with their own bathroom, living room and kitchen, inside a compact 26 sq metre unit. They are factory built off-site and installed for just £55,000 each. The YMCA developed the scheme to provide move-on homes for young people who are ready to leave their accommodation, but cannot move into the private rented sector due to high costs or lack of availability. Meanwhile, nine out of 10 YMCAs have turned a young person away due to capacity issues. Read more on the Guardian website.