industry news Editor’s comment Must try harder


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Patrick Mooney, News Editor


Although the Government keeps applying more pressure on social and private landlords to ‘up their game’, the housing sector could just as easily direct the same message back to our political masters. The Autumn Statement contained some welcome policy changes – including dropping the compulsory imposition of Pay to Stay and enforced sale of higher value council properties, as well as being more flexible over how the investment in new affordable housing can be spent. But it has also been seen as a missed opportunity in many social policy areas and we await details of the new housing White Paper with bated breath.


Regulator


The social housing regulator is about to change again or is it? It’s possible the change will only amount to gaining its independence from the HCA – apparently the current regime will stay the same, but with landlords being charged thousands of pounds each year for the benefit of being regulated. Tenants in particular may challenge what the point of all this is, if it doesn’t result in a much sharper focus on customer experiences. Of course introducing fees could see landlords being more critical of the regulator’s performance, impact and transparency. What’s good for the goose is also good for the gander and all that… The private rented sector is growing fast in numbers of homes and profits being made – by some large landlords in any case, despite the complaints about the impact of recently made and yet to come tax changes. Predictions tell us the rents will continue to outstrip property prices and it’s clear more housing associations want a piece of the PRS action. Afterall what better way is there to bolster their balance sheets and provide some form of safety net from political interference.


Homelessness


But are any of these changes benefitting existing tenants and those desperate to become tenants? The threat of homelessness remains very real with many thousands of families without a permanent home over Christmas and more than a hundred households evicted from their home every working day. And what future is there for the many thousands having their benefits cut, despite their continuing struggles to manage? Financial pressures caused by BREXIT are unlikely to ease the pressure on the public purse, so sadly it appears we probably have more of the same nasty medicine in store. If the Housing Minister has made any New Year’s Resolutions then let’s hope he has committed himself to tampering less, supporting more and being a better listener to landlords of all types. Prioritising help for vulnerable households would also be a really worthwhile policy objective with practical benefits. It is noteable that the only times in our recent past when sufficient housing was being built, was when councils were building at least half the number of new homes. With a new infrastructure budget it would be great to think local authorities were being encouraged to play their part in solving the country’s continuing housing crisis. Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has said he is going to unlock the building potential and ensure volume builders increase their output. Apparently he is determined to make a real difference. No doubt we all wish him every success and a happy new year.


Patrick Mooney HOUSING&


MANAGEMENT MAINTENANCE January 2017


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