Shelter: Convert empty homes to social rent housing
2 years ago | 9 comments
Shelter calls for 90,000 affordable homes to rent to be built EVERY year
9:53 AM, 2nd May 2024, 2 years ago
42
Homelessness charity Shelter is calling for all political parties to commit to building 90,000 affordable social homes every year – with rents that are tied to local incomes.
It says the move will deliver a ‘lasting and ultimate solution to homelessness’.
Shelter is also pushing for the Renters (Reform) Bill amendments to be ditched – including a delay to banning Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions until the court system is improved.
The charity is now joining with other tenant organisations to say it no longer supports the bill.
Living in temporary accommodation
Shelter is speaking out after new government statutory homelessness figures reveal that 145,800 children are homeless and living in temporary accommodation with their families.
This is the highest figure ever recorded, representing a 15% increase in a year.
The data for England also reveals that 112,660 households were homeless and living in temporary accommodation at the end of 2023, another record high, up 12% in a year.
Also, 317,430 households were recognised as either homeless or at imminent risk of it by their council last year, the highest number since records began, and up 9% on the previous year.
‘The government cannot stand idly’
The charity’s chief executive, Polly Neate, said: “The government cannot stand idly by while a generation of children have their lives blighted by homelessness.
“Decades of failure to build enough genuinely affordable social homes has left families struggling to cobble together extortionate sums every month to keep a roof over their heads.
“Those who can’t afford private rents are being thrown into homelessness and then left for months and even years in damaging temporary accommodation because there is nowhere else.”
She added: “With a General Election approaching, it’s time for all politicians to show voters they are serious about ending the housing emergency.
“To dramatically reduce homelessness, we need every party to commit to building 90,000 social homes a year for 10 years, and an overhaul of the Renters (Reform) Bill so that it delivers genuine safety and security for private renters.”
Tags:
Build 90000 Social Homes Annually, general election, homelessness, Housing Linked to Local Incomes, Renters Reform Bill, Shelter, Shelter Affordable Housing Call, UK
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Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1630 - Articles: 3
2:58 PM, 6th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Carchester at 04/05/2024 – 08:48
I’ve said elsewhere. BTR is the future. Not us little guys!
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1630 - Articles: 3
2:59 PM, 6th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 06/05/2024 – 08:16
I’ve said elsewhere. BTR is the future. Not us little guys!
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1630 - Articles: 3
3:02 PM, 6th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 06/05/2024 – 08:16
We took a look at some local Persimmon homes; just being nosey, and the prices are ridiculous. A number of ‘affordable’ homes were a Planning requirement, and it is clear where the cost has gone. They aren’t yet sold, and ‘problems’ are already noticeable.
Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 616
3:34 PM, 6th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 06/05/2024 – 14:59
Yes the future is BTR .
I have just taken a look at the BTR in London and it is coming on apace.
The preferential treatment given to them by this government has given them a head start.
The little guys are not part of the plan.
Member Since July 2014 - Comments: 57
5:13 PM, 6th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Jo Westlake at 02/05/2024 – 14:22
A local housing association did something similar to this for young, single mums. No reception desk, but small flats and lots of support, and the place was monitored (I can’t recall the details but it was secure as some were at risk from former partners)
The girls did not like it as their boyfriends were not allowed to stay there all day and had to be out by 10pm.
Member Since February 2023 - Comments: 5
7:33 PM, 7th May 2024, About 2 years ago
BTR may be the future but I don’t see how they are the solution. If the PRS dies, BTR will just raise rents as they can control when properties become available just like house-builders control house prices by building just about enough to keep prices rising while still being able to pay millions in bonuses.
On top of that, these BTR companies have shareholders which means they need to cut cost while increasing turnover. That means a very well-paid chief executive with a fat annual bonus all of which will be paid for, directly or indirectly, by tenants. And these companies will borrow on the money markets just like everybody else and when interest rates rise, they can collapse or better still, be bailed out by the tax payer because they are too big to fail.
In the end, an opposition party (Labour) will complain at high rent levels and eventually suggest we nationalise these BTR companies at the expense of the tax payer.
Big corporations sound well and good on paper but they not always are. Thames Water, Post Office, The Banks and the 2008 crisis, train companies to name a few.
Imagine being the tenant who tries to call and is on the line, number 13 in a queue, listening to classical music while waiting for a call centre operator in India to try to sort out their mould problem
Member Since January 2022 - Comments: 267
2:37 PM, 6th July 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 02/05/2024 – 10:57
Now we have a new listening Government, Do you think SHELTER and all the other do gooders would support owners of PENSION FUNDS to explain the benefits of changes in the rules for Pension Funds to allow investing in Residential property as well as commercial? To kick start the building of resi properties or increase the supply of residential properties to either buy or rent from the PRS.
I would love to invest some of my pension fund in residential property rather than stocks and shares!
Member Since September 2015 - Comments: 1013
5:01 PM, 6th July 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by JeggNegg at 06/07/2024 – 14:37
I had to laugh seeing “listening” and “government ” in the same sentence.
Member Since March 2023 - Comments: 1506
10:02 AM, 7th July 2024, About 2 years ago
BTR is mot an issue, they cannot provide 4 million homes. They are not interested in lower income families and anyway they prefer to build flats.
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1630 - Articles: 3
1:04 PM, 8th July 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by JeggNegg at 06/07/2024 – 14:37I’m having a little dabble with Build to Rent. The yield is 5% but the share price is down. However their NAV is low, which is positive for the future. Maybe that’s not bad compared to BTL, where so many will be faced with huge EPC costs, licensing, S24, CGT, and just general hassle from tenants, councils, and government.
However, unless there is real market momentum behind BTR, and/or government ‘encouragement’, it will continue to be considered a risky investment.