Welfare Reform on the Web (November 2004): Social Housing - UK

MORE FOR LESS

M. Delargy

Roof, July/Aug. 2004, p.16-17

Ian Rouse, Housing Corporation Chief Executive, faces the challenge of increasing the number of homes built by housing associations while bearing down on costs.

SOCIAL HOUSING PROVISION IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

London: TSO, 2004 (House of Commons Papers, Session 2003/04; HC493)

The paper concludes that urgent action needs to be taken to avoid a crisis in social housing supply. Its key findings were:

• there has been a significant increase in the number of people on the Common Waiting List for social housing;
• 26,700 people are currently seeking social housing, of whom nearly half are under housing stress;
• the number of homeless households increased by 16% last year to 16,426;
• the supply of social housing is falling dramatically due to a Right to Buy scheme;
• targets for new building have not been met.

SUPPLY, SUPPLY, SUPPLY

E. Hawkey and M. Delargy

Roof, July/Aug. 2004, p.22-24

A survey of local authority housing directors in England and Wales has shown widespread concern about that lack of good quality affordable housing. The combination of tackling homelessness with restrictions on where households can be placed, rising house prices and fewer social homes means councils cannot handle demand for housing.

WHOSE HOME IS IT ANYWAY?

S. Povey

Roof, July/Aug. 2004, p.29

If one party serves notice to quit unilaterally due to relationship breakdown or any other reason, then the whole of a joint tenancy comes to an end. Remaining tenants become unlawful occupiers, liable to eviction and homelessness.