Join us every two weeks when we'll be taking a look at the UK housing headlines making the rounds. Breaking down the key information and giving you our thoughts!
Social Housing interventions by the Ombudsman more than triple in a year in England
The Housing Ombudsman in England has reported a significant increase in interventions, with cases rising from 6,590 to 21,740 within one year.
Common issues include landlords: neglecting repairs, overlooking health needs of tenants, and failing to meet basic standards. This has resulted in consequences for residents such as having to live in unsafe conditions and children missing school.
The Ombudsman also highlighted findings of maladministration had risen sharply to 8,619, in comparison to 2,430 in the previous year. Ombudsman Richard Blakeway has called for improvements in services landlords provide and welcomes the upcoming Decent Homes Standard aiming to set social housing minimum conditions.
Lumensol says: "We believe there are at least three solutions needed here, where one is a general improvement in stock condition that can lead to less significant repairing issues and, ultimately, interventions. Increased service capacity and productivity is another key requirement we believe is needed to reduce the propensity for large volumes of outstanding repairs.
A continued focus on how complex repairs are managed within the right operating models, within the right contracting/delivery solutions. With case management accountability, process and supporting IT solutions is another key requirement we see to promote a reduction in issues and interventions in the future.
Mat Bishop - Chief Executive Officer
Tenants may not be able to buy new counsil homes - Rayner
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has suggested stopping new council houses in England from being sold under the Right to Buy scheme.
This Scheme has allowed social housing tenants to buy their homes at discounted prices since 1980. Rayner has raised concerns that this scheme has contributed to the housing crisis, resulting in a loss of social housing stock.
Rayner also highlighted the crucial need to address homelessness, particularly as the number of rough sleepers reaches record highs. The Government has pledged £10M in response to support rough sleepers throughought the winter as part of a larger £233M budget aimes at tackling homelessness throughout 2025. Labour supports the Renters' Rights Bill to end no-fault evictions, a key factor leading to homelessness.
Lumensol says: "It's exciting to see plans being put into place to deliver the much needed new homes in the UK. It's important that these homes are a variety of tenures, to support the growing population, and enable people to secure the right accomodation that meets their specific needs.
The right to buy can be an important step in the property cycle, however there are more things to balance when making these policies. For example, ensuring the funds are used for reinvestment into new homes so that stock numbers don't diminish. I think we also have an opportunity to explore new ways of structuring right to buy arrangements, and to consider profit sharing, or the right to buy back if the right properties come back onto the open market"
Vicky Fordham-Lewis - Director of Operations, Transformation Services