Council becomes a social housing landlord again after 20 years

A council is preparing to own social housing again after a gap of 20 years, although its first proposed purchase amounts to just 18 homes.

The council has now been registered as a local authority provider of social housing, clearing a regulatory hurdle so it can build directly owned housing stock.

Preston City Council had transferred its homes to Community Gateway Association and since then, registered providers have supplied the city’s social and affordable homes.

Ambition to own again

Councillor Matthew Brown, the leader of the council, said: “The long-held ambition of the council to hold its own social housing stock again after a long hiatus is one step closer to tackling the shortage of quality, social rented, affordable homes available to Preston residents.

“Demand for social and affordable rented homes remains high, with long waiting lists and pressure from households in poorer quality, private rented accommodation.”

He added: “As seen across the country, the council’s reliance on temporary accommodation has also increased over recent years.

“This helps to redress the balance.”

Supply social rent homes

The council has had an offer accepted by a developer for 18 homes and a registered provider will be appointed to handle housing management, repairs, statutory compliance and regulatory support.

It claims that direct ownership will allow it to increase the supply of homes at social rent and allocate them to priority households.

The council said only a small share of the affordable homes delivered in the city in recent years had been offered at social rent.

More than 1,700 affordable homes have been delivered in Preston during the past five years through registered providers building properties or buying affordable housing from private developers.