MHCLG’s Latest Homelessness Statistics For 2020-2021

MHCLG has released the latest statutory homelessness statistics, covering the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. The statistics capture data on everyone who has been assessed under the Homelessness Reduction Act. Whilst the Homelessness Reduction Act significantly expanded the number of people eligible for homelessness support from their local authority, the statutory statistics still only capture those who access support from Housing Options services. This data helps explain the wider trends, but not those not engaging with support, people experiencing more hidden forms of homelessness or those not entitled to support because of immigration restrictions. According to the latest statistics, 268,560 households were at risk of or experienced homelessness from 2020-21. Read more on the Homeless Link website.

https://homeless.org.uk/connect/blogs/2021/sep/13/stats-summary-mhclg%E2%80%99s-latest-homelessness-statistics-for-2020-2021 

MHCLG Has No Solid Figures For Homes In Highest Flood-Risk Zone

MHCLG has no solid figures for the number of homes in the highest risk national flood zone and instead works on estimates, a Commons question has confirmed. Shadow Housing Secretary John Healey asked how many homes have been built in National Flood Zone Three in each of the last 10 years, by region. Responding, Housing Minister Christopher Pincher said the MHCLG does not hold figures for the number of homes built in National Flood Zone 3. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/mhclg-has-no-solid-figures-for-homes-in-highest-flood-risk-zone/

Rough Sleeper Count ‘Five Times Higher’ Than Official Figure

More than 28,000 people in the UK were recorded sleeping rough in 12 months, new research by the BBC has suggested. In England, five times as many rough sleepers were seen by councils in the year than reported in official figures, which are a one-night snapshot. The data for 2018 showed 4,677 people slept rough in England on the one night the snapshot survey was taken, down 2% on the year before but 165% up on 2010. However, council responses to the figures showed nearly 25,000 people were recorded sleeping rough at least once in England during the latest year on record. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/rough-sleeping-figures-five-times-higher-than-official-figure/

Rough Sleeper Stats Don’t Add Up

A slight fall in rough sleepers still represents a huge increase in numbers since the Conservative Party took power in 2010 – with frontline charities saying the stats don’t add up. Those stats show rough sleeping had fallen by 9% in England since last year to 4,266 people, the second fall in a row according to a single ‘snapshot’ night. But the total is still up 141% since 2010 when just 1,768 were on the streets. And the number of homeless children is at a 13-year high. Overall, there were 4,677 rough sleepers on a single night in 2018, down 74 (2%) from 4,751 in 2017. Read more on the GovUK website.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rough-sleeping-snapshot-in-england-autumn-2019/rough-sleeping-snapshot-in-england-autumn-2019

New Housing Statistics Show Increase In Affordable Homes

Homes England has published its latest annual housing statistics, which show a significant increase in the number of affordable homes being built in England. Between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019, there were 45,692 new houses started on site under programmes managed by Homes England and 40,289 houses completed. These are the highest levels of starts for nine years and the highest levels of completions for four years. Of the starts on site, 30,563 (67%) were for affordable homes, a 10 per cent increase on 2017-18. These are the highest numbers of affordable home starts for five years. Similarly, 28,710 (71%) of housing completions in 2018-19 were for affordable homes which is an 11 per cent increase on 2017-18 figures and the highest numbers for four years. Read more on the Homes England website.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-housing-statistics-show-increase-in-affordable-homes

Government’s Own Stats ‘Add Up To The End Of Right To Buy’

CIH says the government’s own statistics add up to the end of Right To Buy, with councils selling 2,645 dwellings under the scheme from October to December last year – and only 1,038 replacements started on site or acquired. The MHCLG stats confirm a 9.4% increase in sales on the previous quarter and a 32% fall in starts or acquisitions. CIH chief executive Terrie Alafat CBE said the stats confirmed CIH’s view that the wider costs of Right To Buy exceed its benefits. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/governments-own-stats-add-up-to-the-end-of-right-to-buy/

Housing Stats Slip Out Amid Brexit Chaos

With the government in meltdown over Brexit, eyes are off interpretations of the latest home building figures. The stats slipped, with Secretary of State for Housing James Brokenshire welcoming over 222,000 new homes delivered in 2017/18. To MHCLG, this represents the highest level of new homes delivered across England in all but one of the last 31 years and brings the total number of additional homes delivered since 2010 to 1.3 million. But a leading modular homes developer has already offered his own take on the stats as showing the growth rate in the number of new homes being built has slumped from 11.9% in 2016/17 to 6.4% in 2017/18. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/housing-stats-slip-out-amid-brexit-chaos/

Help To Buy Helps More Than 240,000 First-Time Buyers

At least 240,000 first-time buyers have been able to purchase a home using Help to Buy, according to government statistics. The Help to Buy: ISA has in total helped more than 960,000 people save towards their own home, according to the government. The statistics also suggest that at least 285,000 completions have taken place using one or more of the Help to Buy schemes, with 90 per cent of them taking place outside of London. More than 240,000 first-time buyers have purchased their first home using the schemes. The Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme has seen more than 120,000 completions. This scheme offers buyers up to 20 per cent of a newly built home’s costs so they only need a 5 per cent deposit. Read more on the Planning Portal.

Number Of Homeless In Temporary Accommodation Up 61%

“Worrying” homelessness statistics show that the number of households accepted by local authorities as statutory homeless is on the rise. The data reveals that between 1 January and 31 March 2017 local authorities accepted 14,600 households as being statutorily homeless, up 1% on the previous quarter and down 1% on the same quarter last year. Households in temporary accommodation on 31 March 2017 was 77,240, up 8% on a year earlier, and up 61% on the low of 48,010 on 31 December 2010. There were 6,590 households living in bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation, an increase of 11% from 5,960 as at 31 March 2016. Of these 3,010 (46%) had dependent or expected children. Read more on Welfare Weekly.

Help To Buy Helps Over 220,000 People Buy A New Home

The latest Help to Buy statistics show that over 220,000 people have been able to buy a home using the government’s Help to Buy products. The schemes are a central to the government delivering on its commitment to help people into home ownership. People have benefitted from the following Help to Buy schemes: ISA, Shared Ownership, Mortgage Guarantee, Equity Loan and London Help to Buy.The statistics show that:

·         over 220,000 completions have taken place under the schemes

·         over 180,000 first time buyer households are now on the housing ladder after using a Help to Buy Scheme

·         the average house price across the schemes is £191,000, showing that it is those buying smaller properties who are really benefitting

Read more on the Gov UK website.

Ministry Of Justice Eviction Figures ‘Sober Reminder’

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has released updated statistics on mortgage and landlord possession actions in the county courts of England and Wales in July to September 2016. The report reveals:

·         In the last twelve months 137,733 renting households in England were put at risk of eviction – equivalent to 316,900 renters

·         A total of 39,723 renting households in England were evicted by bailiffs in the last twelve months

·         The loss of a private tenancy remains the single biggest cause of homelessness in the country

Read more on 24housing.

22,592 Private Renting Households Evicted Over The Past 12 Months

Shelter says the “terrible impact” of welfare cuts and “chronic lack” of affordable homes is reflected in the 22,592 private renting households in England evicted by bailiffs in the last twelve months – the equivalent of 56,480 people and 88% higher than the number five years ago. Shelter spoke out on the release of latest mortgage and landlord repossession statistics from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) this week. The loss of a private tenancy remains the single biggest cause of homelessness in the country.  Read more on 24dash.

UK Housing: Rents Rising Faster Than Wages In England And 'Will Peak In Autumn'

Rents are still rising faster than earnings in England, according to figures from the ONS. In the year to March 2016, private rents grew 2.8% on average, well ahead of the 1.8% growth in weekly earnings. A housing shortage is pushing up rents. Housebuilding is running well below the estimated 200,000 new homes needed a year. Government statistics show there were just 142,890 housing completions in 2015, though this was a 21% annual increase. Landlord groups warn that tax hikes on the buy-to-let sector as well as a 3% extra levy on stamp duty, will result in a smaller supply of rental housing — forcing rents higher. But the Treasury says it is levelling the market's playing field for struggling first-time buyers. Read more on the International Business Times website.

More Than 23,000 Households' Benefit Capped

The number of households subject to the benefit cap has increased to more than 23,000 for the first time since February, the latest government statistics reveal. At August, 23,397 households were capped, up from 22,866 in July and the highest figure since January. Overall, 66,900 households have been capped since the policy, which limits overall benefit payments to £26,000 per year, was introduced in 2013. Of the 43,528 who are no longer subject to it, 18,000 have moved into work while almost 10,000 are no longer claiming housing benefit, or have reduced their housing benefit claim. Download the data from the DWP website.

Watchdog Slams Government Efforts to Free Up Land for Homes

A Government programme designed to free up public land for new homes has been criticised for misleading statistics, a lack of monitoring and the absence of any economic rationale. The damning report from the National Audit Office (NAO) said while on the face of it the Government had met its target to release enough land for up to 100,000 homes by 2015, closer examination revealed fundamental flaws. Among them were the CLG’s 'wide interpretation of the land that could be counted towards the target'. This included land for 15,740 homes that had been disposed of before the programme began. A further 10,783 were included despite being on sites owned by the Royal Mail and British Waterways – which have since left the public sector – and have not been developed.

Read more on the LocalGov website.

Homelessness Shows 'Troubling' 6 Per Cent Rise over Past Year

Latest Government statistics show that 13,650 households were accepted as homeless by their local council in England from October-December 2014 – a 6% rise on the equivalent quarter last year. Throughout England, the proportion of acceptances due to the ending of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy was 30% - up from 25% last year. Figures show soaring numbers of people becoming homeless following the loss of a privately rented home. Read more on the Crisis website.

Almost 125,000 Fewer Homes Built In 2014 than Needed

According to the latest housebuilding statistics released by the ONS, we built 118,760 new homes in England in 2014 – almost 125,000 short of the 243,300 new homes experts have projected we need each year to keep pace with demand. But the story doesn’t finish there. Projections have also indicated that of this 243,300, 78,500 need to be social homes. In 2014, we built just 25,100 (less than a third of what we need). The gap between the number of homes we need and the number of new homes we build is stark even when we only look at annual figures, but the problem is not new and is compounded each and every year. Read more on the NHF website.

Housing Statistics 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2014

These statistics present the housing starts on site and housing completions delivered by the HCA between 1 April 2014 and 30 September 2014. The key points were:

·         There were 13,040 housing starts on site and 14,176 housing completions 

·         In addition, 14,515 new homes were sold with the assistance of a Help to Buy equity loan in the six months to 30 September 2014 

·         The majority (9,811 or 75 per cent) of the housing starts on site in the six months to 30 September 2014 were for affordable homes

·         7,803 affordable homes started in the six months to 30 September 2014 were for Affordable Rent, a decrease of 2 per cent on the same period of 2013-14

Read more and download the statistics from the HCA website.

Inner To Outer London HB Cleansing Is All There In DWP Figures

HB cleansing from Inner to Outer London characterises the coalition welfare reforms and the figures which prove it are the latest official DWP HB statistics, published a few weeks ago and accounting for a full 4 year period from May 2010 to May 2014. In that time the overall number of HB claimants has increased by 4.93%. Here are the regional increases in HB claimants since the election:

North East 4.93 % : North West : 4.49% : Yorks & Hum 6.43%:  East Mid : 5.36%: West Mid 4.2% :

East : 5.69% : South East 5.81% : South West 6.02% : London (Inner & Outer) 4.93%

Notice how very similar they are and no marked regional differences in England?  Now look what has happened in Inner London and Outer London and note the average increase in Inner London is a mere 0.1% in the HB claimant count yet in Outer London it is 8.55% and way above any other area of England. Read more on the Speye blog.

IDS Doubts 'Bedroom Tax' Disability Figures

Iain Duncan Smith has cast doubt on statistics showing two-thirds of people hit by the so-called ‘bedroom tax’ are disabled, saying they are based on tenants’ “self-declaration”.  The Work and Pensions Secretary said there is no “check” on the figures which appear to show almost two-in-three council houses affected by the policy are occupied by someone with a disability. The two-in-three figure is drawn from a DWP equality impact assessment on the policy, which has been cited by the Labour Party and campaigners as evidence that the policy is hitting disabled people the hardest. Some 63 per cent of those affected have a disability, the study suggests, compared with 66 per cent of all social housing benefit claimants. Read more on the Daily Telegraph website.