Housing Association Shared Ownership Sales Rise Almost 10% In 2020

Housing association (HA) shared ownership sales saw a near-10 per cent rise across England during 2019-20, with a significant increase seen in sales in outer London. A total of 12,396 first tranche shared ownership units were sold over the period in England – an increase of 1,090 sales. The data is based on the Regulator of Social Housing’s statistical data return (SDR) for 2020. It showed that the bulk of shared ownership sales took place outside the capital (80 per cent), with London accounting for 19 per cent of sales. Read more on the Social Housing website.

https://www.socialhousing.co.uk/insight/special-report-housing-association-shared-ownership-sales-rise-almost-10-in-2020-72787?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60 

L&Q: ‘Virtually All’ Tall Building Inspections Find Significant Defects

In its annual report, the landlord said an intrusive survey programme of its 192 blocks that are 18 metres and taller is “ongoing” and that all “higher-risk” buildings have been inspected. The survey programme of all blocks 18 metres or higher is due to finish next month. “Given that virtually all invasive surveys to date have uncovered significant building defects, this is likely to give rise to the need for significant investment in stock,” the annual report said. Read more on the Social Housing website.

https://www.socialhousing.co.uk/news/lq-virtually-all-tall-building-inspections-find-significant-defects-72225?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60 

Warmer, Greener And Cheaper Homes

Warmer, greener and cheaper social homes are on the way for tens of thousands of people living in social housing in England. Tens of thousands of people across England are set to benefit from warmer, greener social homes, with social housing providers given the chance to bid for government funding to make major improvements to their stock.

·         this investment will help tenants cut emissions while saving around £170 per year on energy bills

·         part of wider £9 billion commitment to increase the energy efficiency of homes, schools and hospitals – driving forward the Prime Minister’s ambitious 10 Point Plan for a green industrial revolution

Read more on the GovUK website.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/warmer-greener-and-cheaper-homes-as-government-opens-a-triple-win-upgrade-for-social-housing

Expert Panel To Advise Government On Social Housing White Paper

A new 15-strong panel of experts has been assembled to help the government deliver its Social Housing White Paper. The so-called ‘expert challenge panel’ is drawn from bodies across the sector, including the National Housing Federation, Shelter and Grenfell United. Individuals from each organisation have not been named. The group is due to meet four times over the next year to provide “scrutiny and advice” on the white paper. Read more on the Social Housing website.

https://www.socialhousing.co.uk/news/expert-panel-to-advise-government-on-social-housing-white-paper-72052?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60 

Social Mobility Advisor Calls For Three Million New Social Homes Over Next 20 Years

 The body which advises ministers on social mobility policy has recommended that three million social homes be built in England over the next 20 years to improve life chances for the country’s poorest. The Social Mobility Commission said every critical measure of low social mobility, including access to stable housing, was poor in the UK in 2019, while the COVID-19 crisis threatens to make the situation worse. On the topic of housing, it recommends that three million social homes be built over the next 20 years, which would mean building an average of 150,000 social homes per year. The government currently plans to fund just 32,000 social homes over the next five years. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/government-social-mobility-advisor-calls-for-three-million-new-social-homes-over-next-20-years-71676?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Social Rented Housing: Succession – Parliamentary Written Answer

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to review succession rules to prevent the next of kin from being evicted in the event that the registered tenant in social housing passes away.

Eddie Hughes: The Localism Act 2011 has made changes to the rules on succession to social tenancies. From April 2012, rather than being limited by law to providing only one statutory succession, social landlords are able to give to new tenants whatever additional succession rights they deem to be appropriate in the tenancy agreement. This means that, for example, adult children who have lived in a property for many years can be provided with the assurance of a right to succeed to the tenancy regardless of whether a previous succession has already taken place. Where family members other than a spouse or partner have a statutory right to succeed to a local authority tenancy, the landlord may seek to evict them if the property is or will become under-occupied. However, the landlord must ensure that suitable alternative accommodation is made available.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2021-05-18/3042 

‘A Lot Of Housing Associations’ Now Looking At For-Profit RP Model

A number of housing associations are exploring launching their own for-profit registered providers to help fund development. The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 allowed such bodies to register with the Regulator of Social Housing for the first time, and 53 have done so in the past decade, many of them developer subsidiaries or backed by equity firms. Read more on the Social Housing website.

Social Housing - News - ‘A lot of housing associations’ now looking at for-profit RP model

Ministers Focus On Councils’ Decarbonisation Scheme After Green Homes Grant Scrapped

The government is expecting many councils to bid for an extra £300m funding pot as part of an extended scheme to help decarbonise homes. The government said that 96,000 applications had been made through the Green Homes Grant scheme and 39,000 vouchers had been issued, with vouchers totalling £300m eventually expected to be issued. But MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee said the administration of the troubled scheme seems “nothing short of disastrous”. Read more on the Social Housing website.

https://www.socialhousing.co.uk/news/ministers-focus-on-councils-decarbonisation-scheme-after-flagship-green-homes-grant-scrapped-70236?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60 

Shocking Fall In Numbers Of Social Rented Homes

The number of council and housing association homes being let at social rent fell by 210,000 between 2012 and 2020, the Chartered Institute of Housing’s (CIH) UK Housing Review has revealed. The report found that 280,000 social rent homes have been sold, converted to higher rents or demolished since April 2012, while just 70,000 new social rent homes have been built. Right to Buy sales, which accounted for 120,000 homes, and conversion to higher affordable rent tenures, which accounted for 116,000 homes, were the two biggest reasons for the loss of social rent homes. Read more on the CIH website.

https://www.cih.org/news/uk-housing-review-2021-highlights-shocking-fall-in-numbers-of-social-rented-homes

Almost 40% Fewer Social Homes Let During First Six Months Of Pandemic

 The number of new social housing lettings in England fell by 39% between April and September last year compared with the same period in 2019, the latest government data shows. A total of 76,458 social homes were let during the first six months of 2020/21, compared with 125,149 in the first six months of 2019/20. The data covers the majority of the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, starting just eight days after the first national lockdown was announced on 23 March 2020. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/almost-40-fewer-social-homes-let-during-first-six-months-of-pandemic-70260?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Social Housing Owned By For-Profit Providers Increases By 75%

Data collected by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) showed that 49 for-profit providers reported having 9,313 social homes compared with 5,342 in the year to March 2019. The data reflects the growth of the for-profit sector in recent years, with a number of high-profile private companies registering for-profit arms in recent times. These include asset management giant Legal & General setting up L&G Affordable Homes and Sage Housing which is owned by investment giant Blackstone. Both of these providers have begun delivering hundreds of homes through Section 106 and direct delivery. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/social-housing-owned-by-for-profit-providers-increases-by-75-69680#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20social%20housing,2020%2C%20new%20data%20has%20revealed.&text=Data%20collected%20by%20the%20Regulator,the%20year%20to%20March%202019.

Affordable Housing: Construction – Parliamentary Written Answer

Mick Whitley: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of funding for the Affordable Housing Programme will be allocated to the construction of low-cost, social rent housing.

Christopher Pincher: We do not ringfence the funding for the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) by tenure. As part of the AHP 21-26, Social Rent homes can now be funded across the country at the same grant rates as Affordable Rent. Additional funding to deliver Social Rent is available in local authority areas where affordability pressures are highest. This will ensure that Social Rent homes are built where they are most needed. The new AHP will deliver around 32,000 social rent homes, more than double the delivery of the current programme.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2021-02-02/148011

House Builders Face New Code Of Practice

 All builders of market sale homes will be expected to sign up to a new government-backed code of practice aimed at boosting new build standards and giving better protection to consumers. The ‘New Homes Code’ will be overseen by an independent body called the New Homes Quality Board (NHQB). The code, which is expected to be launched within six months following a consultation, will “place considerably more responsibility on developers to deliver quality homes and better consumer outcomes on all”, the NHQB said. Read more on the Social Housing website.

https://www.socialhousing.co.uk/news/news/house-builders-face-new-code-of-practice-to-tackle-quality-of-new-build-69456

Social Rented Housing: Construction – Parliamentary Written Answer

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to encourage housing developers to build more council and other forms of social housing.

Christopher Pincher: The new Affordable Homes Programme will deliver more than double the number of homes for social rent than the current programme, with around 32,000 social rent homes due to be delivered. We are reforming the planning system and have set out our ambition that the new Infrastructure Levy will raise more than the existing system of developer contributions, and deliver at least as much onsite affordable housing. We propose that local authorities should be able to specify the forms and tenures of onsite provision, working with a nominated affordable housing provider.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2021-01-26/143833 

Social Housing Rent Arrears Hit Record £1bn

Figures collected by HouseMark showed a 30% increase in outstanding rent arrears since March 2020, with forecasts suggesting that arrears levels may not return to pre-pandemic levels until March 2022. Many renters have faced extreme financial hardship as a result of the repeated lockdowns that have been put in place throughout the pandemic. The increase equates to an additional £300m in arrears since March, which contributed to the record total of £1bn. The data is based on figures from 104 social housing providers for the month of December 2020, with trend data since March 2020. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/social-housing-rent-arrears-hit-record-1bn-69364?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

White Paper: RSH To Take Up Consumer Regulatory Function

 The government’s long-awaited Social Housing White Paper has outlined a host of changes to the regulatory regime within which social housing providers operate, revolving around a new consumer regulatory function to be delivered by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH). The document, titled The Charter for Social Housing Residents, sets out that a new consumer regulatory regime should “hold landlords to account” and “build the links between economic and consumer regulation – giving the regulator a full rather than partial view of the landlord”. Establishing the new consumer regulatory function within the existing regulator is therefore seen as the “best approach” to delivering the changes required by tenants while avoiding confusion and complexity. Read more on the Social Housing website.

https://www.socialhousing.co.uk/news/white-paper-rsh-to-take-up-consumer-regulatory-function-that-is-proactive-proportionate-outcome-focused-and-risk-based-68629?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Lease-Based Provider Downgraded To Lowest Governance Rating By Regulator

 A second lease-based provider has been given the lowest possible governance rating – G4 – by the Regulator of Social Housing. The regulator downgraded Prospect Housing in a regulatory judgement after finding “issues of serious regulatory concern”.  These included: a failure to understand its assets, contractual arrangements and the needs of tenants; and significant weaknesses in its control framework around rent-setting and collection. The regulator also found that Prospect had carried out reviews into “two serious safeguarding incidents” that revealed weaknesses in procedures that it could not remedy through its third-party service providers. Read more on the Social Housing website.

https://www.socialhousing.co.uk/news/lease-based-provider-downgraded-to-lowest-governance-rating-by-regulator-68212?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Lease-Based Providers Found To Have Breached Rent Standard

Two lease-based providers of specialised supported housing (SSH) have been found to be in breach of the regulator’s new Rent Standard in what was described by the watchdog as “a serious matter”. Trinity Housing Association and Westmoreland Supported Housing both breached the standard after their respective boards agreed that there was insufficient evidence that they should be exempt from rent-setting because they provide either SSH or, in the case of Trinity, temporary supported housing (TSH). “It is a serious matter if an exception from rent requirements is inappropriately applied,” said the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) in its regulatory notices. Read more on the Social Housing website.

https://www.socialhousing.co.uk/news/lease-based-providers-found-to-have-breached-rent-standard-68177?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

 

Government Rejects Calls From MPs To Set Social Rent Targets

Ministers have failed to commit to a number of recommendations put forward by a group of cross-party MPs concerning the long-term delivery of social housing, including a refusal to provide grant to fund the purchase of unsold homes during the coronavirus pandemic. In its response to a report from the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee looking at the long-term delivery of social housing, the government rejected calls to set targets for affordable housing tenures and failed to commit to putting social housebuilding at the top of its COVID-19 recovery agenda. Download the report from the Gov UK website.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/924573/Long-term_Delivery_of_Social_and_Affordable_Rented_Housing_WEB.pdf 

Henry Boot Puts Social Housing Arm Into Liquidation

Henry Boot has put the social housing contractor it acquired last year into voluntary liquidation. Henry Boot acquired a majority stake in Starfish Commercial last August. But the business has now been placed into creditors’ voluntary liquidation after not performing in line with expectations.Henry Boot said: “Whilst we have been encouraged by recent increases in activity within our construction division, which is now at over 90% of pre-Covid-19 levels, unfortunately, we have not seen the same level of recovery in Starfish. “Furthermore, there is no visibility as to when it might reach a sustainable level. Read more on the Construction Enquirer website.

https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2020/09/15/henry-boot-puts-social-housing-arm-into-liquidation/