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Editor’s comment


Tackling homelessness gets the Royal seal of approval


Patrick Mooney, News Editor


T e worrying rise in the numbers of people recorded as homeless and those who are sleeping rough should be a concern to all of us and not just to Prince William who has made a very public commitment to tackle the issue. It was certainly a bold move by the heir to the throne, but also one for which he should be applauded. Normally members of the Royal family do not get involved with, or do not comment publicly on matters that could be seen as political. However, in this case it is clear that economic forces and a combination of housing policy failures requires something dramatic to happen if we are to eliminate this scourge of modern society and provide all people with a decent and aff ordable home. It is a bit of a hackneyed phrase, but the housing sector really has been hit by a perfect storm, or several of them in fact! Sadly there is no sign of this buff eting from ending anytime soon. A series of interest rate rises has sent shock waves through the home ownership market with the inevitable consequence of falls in demand, sales prices and building rates. T e private rented sector is exhibiting signs of extreme distress aſt er several decades of growth. T at trend is now


reversing, with growing numbers of landlords and investors looking to reduce the number of properties they let. At the same time demand for rentals continues to grow which is pushing rents up to unaff ordable levels for many. In fact people with below average incomes and those reliant on benefi ts are fi nding themselves marginalised and with reduced choices – only able to aff ord the cheapest of properties. T e banning of Section 21 evictions may not be the panacea, it was once hoped for. And Housing Secretary Michael Gove has promised private landlords that he will provide alternative grounds for regaining possession of their properties. Only time will tell if he has managed to get the balance right, or if further reforms will be necessary. T e Ombudsman continues to fi nd appalling cases of property neglect and poor service in the social housing sector,


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with some landlords seem unable to perform even the most basic administration when responding to complaints. It is disheartening to repeatedly read that basic safety requirements are not being performed routinely and timescales for completing simple but essential tasks (like the servicing of gas boilers) are regularly missed. Mistakes will always happen, but where are the systems and processes that identify them and ensure that timely corrections are carried out? T e management of complaints should be a relatively easy and straightforward task, but too many housing associations and councils are still failing to deliver an eff ective and effi cient service. T e housing sector’s leaders and bosses will need to redouble their eff orts, if they are to maintain their credibility and positions of power and infl uence. T e regulatory regimes for both the private and social housing sectors are being reformed and toughed up, and not before


time in the eyes of many. T e legislative changes being made are welcome, particularly if they drive out the rogue landlords, give greater security of


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Patrick Mooney


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HMM_0809_2023 Covers.indd 1


HOUSING MANAGEMENT


& MAINTENANCE AUG/SEP 2023


PRS rents rise, profi ts fall


Ten councils breach regulator’s standards


Ombudsman imposes more fi nes


High rise registration deadline looms


Homeless and rough sleeping rates rise


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Riverside and Countryside Partnerships have completed the aff ordable housing development agreement for the 170-home redevelopment of the Pike Close estate in Bromley. See Page 20.


17/08/2023 09:42 4 | HMM August/September 2023 | www.housingmmonline.co.uk On the cover...


tenure and deliver higher quality homes. But much of the responsibility for policing the changes in the private rented sector falls back on local councils, whose private sector housing teams have been cut back over the past decade. It is imperative that councils’ private sector housing teams have the resources, skills and expertise if they are to deliver the benefi ts intended by the changes. Meanwhile the pressure to deliver will also be increasing on the regulator of social housing. It was very revealing that all of the consumer standards breaches identifi ed at local authorities last year were actually the result of self referrals from the off ending councils themselves – the regulator didn’t spot any of these. Lets hope they perform a lot better under the new regime, with more tools at their disposal otherwise the outlook for tenants does not look anymore rosy. Of course having a home is better than having no home and returning to the topic of homelessness, I think we’ve got to admit we are in the position now where a lot more resources need to be provided for building homes at rents which people can aff ord to live in, backed up by the sort of support which means they can sustain their tenancy. Prince William gets my support for bringing the problem of homelessness to the nation’s attention, I just hope he can maintain his enthusiasm and drive to the point where the Government’s target of ending rough sleeping is achieved by the end of this Parliament.


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