Welfare Reform on the Web (March 2002): Social Housing - UK
THE CARE STANDARDS ACT 2000: CHANGING FOR THE BETTER?
C. Greathead
Housing, Care and Support, vol. 4, Nov. 2001, p.17-19
The Care Standards Act 2000 is informed by the principles of promoting service users' rights, choice and independence, performance measurement and social inclusion. Article goes on to discuss practical and strategic steps that supported housing providers can take to prepare for the implementation of the Act.
DON'T BLAME US
G. Cutting
Roof, Jan./Feb. 2002, p. 38-39
Argues that proposed selective licensing of private landlords will not solve the problem of anti-social behaviour by tenants or the question of who will house tenants evicted from social housing if the private rented sector does not.
EXTRA CARE HOUSING: CAPITAL AND REVENUE FUNDING
N. King
Housing, Care and Support, vol. 4, Nov. 2001, p. 24-28
Outlines how capital can be raised to fund the construction of extra care housing for older people. People living in such housing once it has been built occupy their own self-contained properties and are entitled to the full range of social security benefits, including Housing Benefit. This shifts costs from a cash limited local authority social care budget to central government budgets or the individual's own resources.
GROUND CONTROL
I. Hargrave
Housing, Dec./Jan. 2002, p. 40
Presents arguments for and against the transfer of council stock to housing associations in Scotland.
JOINING UP THE DOTS
S. Nickalls
Roof, Jan./Feb. 2002, p. 26-27
Communities Scotland's chief executive Bob Millar discusses his agency's involvement in regeneration, regulation and inspection of social housing, and local investment in housing.
JUST A MIRAGE?
M. Delargy
Roof, Jan./Feb. 2002, p. 36-37
Article discusses progress of private finance initiative (PFI) schemes for council housing refurbishment. Pilot schemes have run into problems concerning:
- fluctuations in housing subsidy;
- need to accommodate the tenants' right to buy;
- tenant opposition;
- uncertainty over the legality of using a preferred bidder.
MANION OF THE PEOPLE
L. Thompson
Housing, Dec./Jan. 2002, p. 16-18
Introduces Irwell Valley's Gold Service scheme which offers social housing tenants incentives to avoid rent arrears and look after their properties. In order to qualify to join the scheme, tenants must have a clear rent account and must not break their tenancy agreement.
A NEW FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY HOUSING: RESOURCE ACCOUNTING IN THE HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT: HRA SUBSIDY AND RENT RESTRUCTURING: A CONSULTATION PAPER
Department for the Environment, Local Government and the Regions
London: 2001
The Housing Revenue Account subsidy system needs to be changed so that it supports rent restructuring. Changes will also be made to relieve stresses in the system arising from the way in which the rent rebate subsidy limitation is operating.
ON THE MOVE
C. Jones
Roof, Jan./Feb. 2002, p. 35
It has been contended that encouraging tenants to buy their council houses would lead to a greater social mix in large public sector estates. In fact, sales on unpopular estates have been minimal. The higher volume of sales in desirable areas has limited tenants and waiting list applicants' access to good housing.
SELECTIVE LICENSING OF PRIVATE LANDLORDS: A CONSULTATION PAPER
Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions
Wetherby: 2001
Proposes that councils should be allowed to seek powers from the Secretary of State to license private landlords in areas of low housing demand, where property is being poorly managed, and where there is anti-social behaviour.
SOCIAL EVICTIONS: WE'RE COUNTING
M. Delargy
Roof, Jan./Feb. 2002, p. 22-24
Local authorities and housing associations evicted around 5.5 tenants per 1000 homes in England and Wales in 2000, according to a Roof survey of local authorities and a National Housing Federation survey of housing associations. In England and Wales 94.3% of evictions were for rent arrears, while anti-social behaviour accounted for only 3.3%.