Welfare Reform on the Web (March 2005): Social Housing - UK

MARGINALISED VOICES: RESISTING THE PRIVATISATION OF COUNCIL HOUSING IN GLASGOW.

G. Mooney and L. Poole

Local Economy, vol.20, 2005, p.27-39

Paper explores the campaign against the wholesale transfer of council housing in Glasgow to a registered social landlord and the controversies that have continued since tenants voted in favour of the scheme in 2002. It agrees with the Vote No Campaign that stock transfer represents the privatisation of social housing, but points out that they did not promote a valid alternative in the shape of rejuvenated public sector housing provision.

"NEIGHBOURS FROM HELL" TO LOSE HOMES

N. Morris

The Independent, Feb. 15th 2005, p.18

The Home Office has announced a £1.25m initiative to rehabilitate nuisance neighbours. Problem families in 50 areas will be given treatment for drug and alcohol problems and encouraged to send their children to school. Those who refuse to co-operate could be evicted.

(See also The Times, Feb. 15th 2005, p.14; The Guardian, Feb. 15th 2005, p.4)

THE PRIVATIZATION OF COUNCIL HOUSING

N. Ginsburg

Critical Social Policy, no.82, 2005, p.115-135

Direct provision of affordable rented housing is fast disappearing in Britain as council housing is transferred en bloc to registered social landlords. Article describes the process as it has unfolded since the late 1980s, and suggests that it imposes long-term risks on tenants and town hall staff, while also generating considerable costs to the taxpayer.

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: HOMES FOR ALL

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

London: TSO, 2005 (Cm6424)

Proposals include:

• Social Homebuy scheme for council and housing association tenants to acquire a 50-70% stake in their homes with a discount of up to £16,000. Landlords would be able to spend receipts on new homes and have the first option to buy the properties back;
• the First Time Buyer's Initiative which will build up to 80,000 starter homes on public land by 2010, to be sold for £60,000 each;
• four main growth areas for new housing will be Stansted, Milton Keynes and the South Midlands, Thames Gateway and Ashford;
• building of 10,000 extra social housing units each year by 2008;
• numbers in temporary accommodation to be halved by 2010;
• choice-based lettings to be extended nationwide by 2010.