NEWSbeat


RURAL Rural homes crisis


Research undertaken by the Countryside Alliance shows how local councils have failed to meet provision targets for affordable housing by over 76 per cent, on average, in the past year.


Wales and Scotland with responsibility for housing, there will be an annual shortfall of 76 per cent or 176,360 affordable units in 2010/11.


in England, on average, only 29 per cent of the identified need for new affordable housing was planned to be built in 2010/11.


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first-time buyers in rural areas, accounting for 27 per cent of all buyers compared with 45 per cent in urban areas.


affordable than in urban areas where average prices are 5.4 times the UK average annual earnings in the countryside.


working in rural communities are £4,655 lower than the national average. A Freedom of Information request to all local authorities asked how many affordable homes were identified as needed in their latest Housing Needs Survey and the date of that survey and how many affordable homes they planned for 2010/2011. Of the 384 councils in England, Wales and Scotland, with


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COMMERCIAL BPF battle on to scrap Empty Property Rates hike


The British Property Federation has urged the property industry to throw its weight behind a


new petition calling for the Coalition Government’s empty rates hike to be scrapped. The petition asks Government


to remove the “unfair Empty Property Rates (EPR) threshold from £2,600 Rateable Value (RV) and reinstate the £18,000 RV threshold under which EPR are not payable for a minimum period of two years.” The Directgov website recently introduced a provision meaning that if the petition attracts 100,000 signatures then it will be debated in Parliament. The empty


8 SEPTEMBER 2011 PROPERTYdrum


rates petition, despite being launched just days ago, has already attracted almost 600 supporters. Dubbed the ‘bombsite Britain’


tax, empty property rates levies full business rates on unoccupied offices, shops and warehouses and has famously led to millions of square feet of property being demolished since its introduction. The coalition government


dramatically lowered the threshold from £18,000 to £2,600 in April this year, costing businesses an estimated £400m a year, putting considerable pressure on SMEs and start ups – the lifeblood of the British economy – and damaging job creation.


Liz Peace, chief executive of the


British Property Federation, said, “The property industry needs to keep fighting this tax on hardship that has had such a damaging impact on both the industry itself and the wider economy. “Property is a fundamental


driver of our economy and taxing empty space acts like a ball and chain as the industry searches for growth and economic recovery. “I would urge everyone to sign


the petition and let government know just how damaging empty property rates have been.” The petition can be viewed and signed here: https://submissions. epetitions.direct.gov.uk/ petitions/318


Average wages for people Rural housing remains less There are significantly fewer


responsibility for housing, 81 per cent responded. In 2010/11 the councils hoped to create just 54,187 new affordable housing units, representing only 24 per cent of identified need. Of the 158 rural and semi-rural councils in England, 135 responded. The delivery targets set for 2010/11 amounted to just 17,208 or 22 per cent of the identified need. Rural housing remains less affordable than in urban areas


For rural and semi-rural councils Among the councils in England,


where average prices are 5.4 times average annual earnings in the countryside. Those young people unable to find homes often move to urban areas, placing a further strain on affordable housing in towns and cities. This can also increase the distance people travel to work with the negative environmental consequences. Homes and jobs need to go together; without homes and jobs there is no community to support local shops, schools and services. Alice Barnard, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, said, “Even in the current difficult economic climate, meeting rural housing need must continue to be a priority for the Government, its agencies and local authorities. “The Countryside Alliance’s


research highlights that affordable housing provision is a huge


challenge in both urban and rural areas. But if the rural need for affordable housing is not


addressed, and urgently, many of those communities upon which our countryside depends will shrivel and die.”


RELOCATION


Relocation to UK on the up


Fully Furnished reports that it has seen significantly increased activity in its


Relocation and Private Rental department following a higher than average seasonal surge in international and domestic relocations, which has led year on year business to increase by a margin of 21 per cent. According to Fully Furnished, this appears to have been driven by a resurgence of corporate lets, especially in London, and optimism for the UK’s economic growth. Christopher Ellison from Fully Furnished Group, says, “There are a number of contributing factors to the surge in relocations we have seen recently. For many overseas companies the current exchange rate makes London a favourable place to be carrying out business.


“In addition, as businesses look to consolidate work forces in the current climate, more and more families are uprooting for fear of turning down jobs in a weak economy”. A large proportion of this


business has come from the US and Canada but also northern Europe and Scandinavia. The focus is on providing a service that is complementary to those of relocation managers and companies, but also convenient and stress free for the customer.


Chris adds, “Many of the


properties we have provided a full furnishing solution to, have been four and five bedroom corporate houses where everything from white goods to bedding and cutlery has been required.


“I think the flexibility of the


rental term and the ability to have everything delivered and installed as well as removed again once the client’s own furniture arrives within a tight timeframe, is appealing to companies who need the capability to relocate staff quickly.”


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