ROOF Blog

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has said private developers, local councils and housing associations must work better together to manage land supply more efficiently to boost the supply of affordable housing. It argues that a poor grasp of land economics, an over reliance on section 106 agreements and an aversion to risk is hindering the provision of land, and added that housing organisations must invest in skills to value land, assess a project’s viability and negotiate better.

A panel has been set up to ensure that new homes meet the needs of an increasingly ageing population. The housing our ageing population panel for innovation comprises of architects and specialists who will research good practice across Europe that will create housing for older people and improve the availability and choice of sustainable homes and neighbourhoods.

The Institute for Public Policy Research, which has been researching housing allocation for the Equalities Commission since last year, has concluded that Gordon Brown’s pledge to provide more social housing for local people is ‘flawed’ and could open up councils to legal challenge. Its unpublished interim report notes that there was no evidence that allocation policies discriminate against white groups and there was only a small amount of evidence that some policies unintentionally discriminate against minority ethnic communities, but the perception otherwise could trigger legal challenges against local authorities by those who feel unfairly treated.

New research from the Business Development Research Consultants has found that private landlords are increasingly renting to housing benefit claimants even though they are concerned about the upkeep of the property and payments. The proportion of private landlords in Britain letting to benefits claimants more than doubled, increasing from 9 per cent in the last quarter of 2008 to 20 per cent in the first quarter of 2009. However, as many as 24 per cent of landlords said they were worried benefit claimants would not look after the property, 15 per cent said they’d had previous bad experiences, and 10 per cent said they were worried about payments.

A study into the effects of CCTV indicate that it has little significant impact on crime levels on housing estates, and in fact may increase offences by giving victims a ‘false sense of security’. The review found that the cameras had the best impact in cutting break-ins in car parks which are well lit and have attendants on duty. It also reported on the ‘huge’ cost of installing the cameras, finding CCTV spending accounted for 75 per cent of the Home Office crime prevention budget in the last decade.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has produced a new guide on housing disabled children. The guide lists ways of adapting a family’s existing home, outlines the role of frontline workers, and has a summary of the relevant law in England.

The government is considering widening the choice-based lettings scheme. The government wants all local authorities to set up choice-based letting schemes by 2010, but a spokesperson for the department for Communities and Local Government said it was interested in hearing if any areas had obstacles in the way of the scheme being extended.

Park and mobile home residents will receive better protection from site owners and easier access to justice if they have a dispute under new proposals unveiled by housing minister Iain Wright. The proposals aim to ensure all reputable sites and owners are licensed and can be challenged on issues such as excessive pitch fees without having to go through the courts system. There are currently around 200,000 park home residents across the country.

Rents are cheaper than a year ago, but rents on larger houses are increasing because of a lack of supply. In figures from website findaproperty.com, the average rents stood at £819 a month in April, down from £827 in March and £873 a year earlier. The growing supply of flats on the market – increasing for the sixth month in a row – has pushed down prices. The overall number of properties available to rent has fallen for the second month in a row. On average a property was on the market for an average of 63 days, 15 days longer than a year ago.

A lack of new sites is forcing Gypsies and Travellers to live on housing estates against their will, new research from the London Gypsy and Traveller Unit has found. Up to 80 per cent of Travellers living in permanent homes said they wanted to leave, but a shortage of authorised sites meant they had to stay put.