POLICY DEVELOPMENTS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE UK
UK
Government scraps housing support cut for 18-21s
Support for housing costs under universal credit will be restored for 18- to 21-year-olds after a u-turn by the Westminster government.
The controversial policy was first announced by former prime minister David Cameron in 2014 in a bid to force young people to ‘earn or learn’ rather than claim benefits.
Critics attacked the assumption that young people could live with their parents when that was not possible for many of them.
The policy was introduced in April 2017 although with a series of exemptions for vulnerable groups such as care leavers and people at risk of harm if they stay with their parents that meant most claimants were not affected. However, a judicial review was pending from organisations including Llamau in Wales.
Work and pensions secretary Esther McVey issued a written statement at Westminster announcing that the government would amend regulations so that all 18-21s will be entitled to support for housing costs in universal credit but they would have a Youth Obligation support package to look for work.
She said: ‘The change I am announcing today means that young people on benefits will be assured that if they secure a tenancy, they will have support towards their housing costs in the normal way.’
ENGLAND
Slow progress on rehousing Grenfell families
The government is likely to break its pledge to permanently rehouse families who were made homeless by the Grenfell Tower firewithin a year, housing secretary Sajid Javid admitted in March.
A report from the Grenfell recovery taskforce nine months after the firein June 2017 revealed that of 209 families needing rehousing, only 62 had moved in to permanent new homes.
In total, 188 households had accepted an offer of temporary or permanent accommodation but 82 were still in emergency accommodation.
Sajid Javid said progress had been ‘far too slow’ and was ‘totally unacceptable’.
SCOTLAND
Scotland on target on affordable homes
Scotland is on track to meet its ambitious plans for new affordable homes, according to an independent analysis of local authorities’ Strategic Housing Investment Plans.
Commissioned by Shelter Scotland, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and the Human Rights Commission for Scotland, the analysis found that Scotland should deliver between 45,000 and 50,000 affordable homes between April 2016 and March 2021, including 34,850 for social rent.
That compares with the Scottish Government’s target for the period of 50,000 affordable homes, of which 35,000 would be for social rent.
However, the latest edition of the UK Housing Review (see publications) warned of a ‘mixed picture’ on delivery and statistics showed social housing completions fell in 2017.
Backing for Housing First
The Scottish Government has accepted recommendations from the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group including a national system of rapid rehousing.
The approach would involve integrated support from frontline outreach services and local authorities and moving to a Housing First model for those with the most complex needs.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Rethinking social housing
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Northern Ireland has launched a new project to help shape the future of social housing..
Rethinking social housing Northern Ireland will engage with tenants,the general public, the Housing Executive, housing associations and politicians to explore the big questions around social housing. It will combine people’s views with original research to consider the future role and purpose of social housing.
Sponsored by the Department for Communities (DfC), Rethinking social housing Northern Ireland complementsa project CIH launched in England.
The Northern Ireland project aims to stimulate a wide-ranging debate about the future of social housing, understand and challenge perceptions of social housing and influence and shape the direction of future housing policy.
WELSH GOVERNMENT
Action to tackle homelessness
Two new policy documents setting out new approaches to tackling homelessness were launched by housing and regeneration minister Rebecca Evans in a statement to the Assembly in February.
The first outlines how Housing First will be taken forward across Wales after strong evidence that it ‘works best where its core principles are followed – housing with no strings attached, ready and available support services and access to funds to help meet individuals’ needs’.
The second sets out an action plan to reduce rough sleeping. Developed with organisations including Shelter Cymru, and members of Rough Sleepers Cymru it covers a range of activity, supporting people to engage with services and get off the streets as quickly as possible. It also addresses wider issues such as a review of priority need and our guidance on cold weather plans.
The minister said: ‘Rough sleeping is one aspect of homelessness. We can only truly address the issue if we have a system that offers secure housing for all. Building homes and expanding social housing stock can only go so far and I will work with the private rented sector to findinnovative ways to harness their supply and meet demand. I will also be looking at how we continue to reduce the number of homes lying empty.’
Home ownership schemes launched
Welsh Government has launched two new schemes to help people who cannot afford to get on the housing ladder.
Rent to Own – Wales will help those who can afford monthly payments but do not have enough money for a deposit while Shared Ownership – Wales will help people who cannot afford the cost of a mortgage on a whole property.
Housing and regeneration minister Rebecca Evans launched the two schemes on a visit to a show home at Pobl’s Kennard Point development in Crumlin.
She said: ‘Help to Buy Wales has successfully supported many people in Wales who have a 5 per cent deposit to buy their own home. However, we know there are many hard-working people who findit hard to save a deposit. We are committed to supporting people to take that difficult first step into buying their own home in Wales.
‘There are currently a small number of properties available to buy through Rent to Own – Wales and Shared Ownership – Wales, and we are working with housing associations throughout Wales to ensure that more will be available soon.’
The £70 million investment in rent to own and shared ownership is part of Welsh Government’s commitment to building 20,000 affordable homes
Under Rent to Own – Wales, aspiring buyers will pay market rents for new- build homes from participating housing associations, and will have the option to purchase these from the end of the second year of their rental period.
People who decide to buy will be gifted an amount equivalent to 25 per cent of the rent they have paid and 50 per cent of any increase in the value of the home, to use as a mortgage deposit. This will help them to purchase the home that they are renting. They will be able to purchase the home outright or through shared ownership.
Shared Ownership Wales is a part-buy, part-rent scheme suitable for aspiring buyers who have some deposit but are unable to obtain the level of mortgage to purchase the home outright. They can buy an initial share of 25 per cent to 75 per cent of the value of new-build homes, which are available for this scheme from participating housing associations. They can increase this share up to full ownership at any time. Rent is payable on the un-owned share.
More details are available at www.gov.wales/yourhomeinwales.
Wales set for vacant Land Tax
Welsh Government will test new powers under the Wales Act 2014 with a vacant land tax to incentivise more timely development.
Finance secretary Mark Drakeford the measure was the most suitable of four new tax ideas floated in the draft Budget in October 2017. However, work will continue on the other three ideas for a social care levy, disposable plastics tax and tourism tax.
Professor Drakeford said a vacant land tax has been chosen both because it could help to incentivise more timely development and because it could help prevent dereliction and aid regeneration.
‘Housing is a priority for the Welsh Government,’ he said. ‘A tax on vacant land could prevent the practice of land banking and land not being developed within the expected timescales.’
He said the vacant sites levy in Ireland provided a useful starting point for how the new tax could work in Wales, while its relatively narrow focus made it the most suitable to test the new powers.
Backing for tenant fees ban
More than half of those responding to a Welsh Government consultation have backed proposals to ban letting agents fromcharging fees to tenants in the private rented sector.
The consultation found that where fees are charged tenants face an average bill of £249 to start a tenancy, £108 to renew one and £142 at the end of a tenancy.
Some 56 per cent of all respondents backed an outright ban on unnecessary fees, including a significant proportion of landlords. Six out of ten landlords did not know what their tenants were charged by the agent.
Meanwhile 62 per cent of tenants said fees had affected their ability to move and 86 per cent said fees affected their decision to use an agent.
Housing and regeneration minister Rebecca Evans said: ‘I have already announced my intention to bring forward a Bill which bans fees in the private rented sector. The findings from this consultation add to the evidence that action is needed to address the fees currently charged to tenants. I will now finalise these legislative proposals and introduce a Bill to the Assembly later this year.’
Scotland has already banned letting agent fees to tenants while legislation is pending in England.
Measures to tackle leasehold concerns
Major housebuilders will ensure that leasehold contracts are only used when necessary under an agreement with Welsh Government.
The move follows widespread concern about buyers being sold new homes on a leasehold basis and subsequently facing escalating bills for ground rent.
Housing and regeneration minister Rebecca Evans announced a package of measures on a visit to The Quays in Barry, where she met representatives from Taylor Wimpey and Barrratt.
The package means that for houses and flats that qualify for support under Help to Buy – Wales:
- new criteria will require a developer to present a genuine reason for a house to be marketed as leasehold
- leasehold contracts will have to meet minimum standards, including limiting the starting ground rent to a maximum of 0.1 per cent of the property’s sale value
- leasehold agreements will have to run for a minimum of 125 years for flats and 250 years for houses.
Meanwhile a Help to Buy Wales – Conveyancer Accreditation Scheme will ensure that trained and registered conveyancers provide clear advice to all Help to Buy – Wales purchasers.
Rebecca Evans said she was delighted that major developers will no longer offer houses for sale on a leasehold basis ‘unless absolutely necessary’ but is also setting up a new group to recommend reforms to the leasehold system and putting a voluntary code of practice in place to underpin the measures.
She went on: ‘This is only the start of my plans to address concerns around leasehold. I have not ruled out the possibility of legislation in the future, which may well be needed to make leasehold, or an alternative to it, fitfor the modern housing market.’
Royal Assent for end to Right to Buy
Legislation ending the Right to Buy in Wales became an Act after Royal Assent and an official sealing ceremony at the end of January.
The Abolition of the Right to Buy and Associated Rights (Wales) Act was introduced in March 2017, following a White Paper consultation in 2015, and abolishes all variations of the right to buy, including the preserved right to buy and the right to acquire.
Right to buy will finally be abolished on January 26 2019 for existing properties, one year after Royal Assent. However, to encourage investment in new homes, the rights ended for homes that are new to the social housing stock two months after Royal Assent, on March 24.
Consultation papers
Open consultations of interest to WHQ readers include:
- Planning Policy Wales: edition 10 – Responses by May 18
- strengthening local government – delivering for people – Responses by June 12
- nation of sanctuary – refugee and asylum seeker plan – Responses by June 25
WALES
Cladding on Cardiff towers fails new tests
Additional safety checks carried out by Cardiff Council revealed that cladding systems on six of its high-rise blocks of flats do not meet current safety standards despite being given a clean bill of health in the immediate aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire.
Initial tests by external consultants last year showed that the blocks did not have the aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding that was used on Grenfell Tower.
However, the consultants recommended further testing on the cladding to give complete assurance on its safety and so the authority decided to carry out additional tests to establish if the cladding, installed in the 1990s, would meet today’s more stringent firesafety standards.
The new tests showed that the cladding systems consist of veneered, fibrous-hardwood, rainscreen panels that fail today’s combustibility standards.
The council said its checks had also revealed that there are no firebreaks built into the cladding system on the exterior of the buildings in question. It said that while this was not required by regulations at the time of installation, today’s standards are much higher and it was also taking this into account.
The flats affected are Lydstep Flats, Llandaff North (three blocks), Loudoun and Nelson House, Butetown and Channel View, Grangetown.
Additional safety measures have been put in place in the blocks including round-the-clock fire warden patrols and increased CCTV monitoring. The council had already taken the decision to upgrade firedoors to above set standards in all of its high-rise blocks, replacing the 30-minute integrity doors with higher specification 60-minute firedoors. This will be completed by May. All of the Council’s high-rise blocks are also set to be fitted with sprinklers.
Cabinet member for housing and communities Cllr Lynda Thorne said: ‘I believe we are the first council in the UK to carry out these additional checks on cladding. Because of this and because of the results we have informed Welsh Government and we will also be informing the UK Government.’
The council said it is likely that the cladding on all blocks affected will need to be removed and it was looking at the best way to achieve this.
Social prescribing contract extended for another year
United Welsh has been re-awarded a contract to deliver a community wellbeing service on behalf of NHS Wales in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
The new contract for 2018/19 started on April 1 and is an extension of the Wellbeing 4U service that United Welsh launched on behalf of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board in May 2016.
Delivered by Thrive, the team that manages specialist accommodation and support services for United Welsh, Wellbeing 4U uses a social prescribing model to deliver public health priorities through social intervention.
With the team based across seven GP surgery hubs in Cardiff and Barry and taking referrals from 10 other surgeries, the service has already supported over 1,000 patients and reduced unnecessary GP appointments and pressure on GPs’ time.
Karen Tipple, specialist housing and wellbeing lead for United Welsh said: ‘As our team don’t have the same time constraints as GPs, we are able to offer a mixture of outreach, one-to-one work and signposting to community activities and the third sector while freeing up medical appointment time.
‘The programmes of intervention which we establish alongside the patients can last as long as they are needed, from signposting people to wellbeing and community activities such as parenting courses and exercise options through to helping people with issues such as substance misuse or depression.’
The main areas of focus for the Wellbeing 4U service are increasing physical activity, improving diet, improving immunisation and screening uptake and helping to reduce harmful habits such as substance misuse, heavy alcohol consumption and smoking.
Helen Worgan, 56, from Grangetown used the Wellbeing 4U service after her anxiety and depression were compounded by a seizure.
She said: ‘When the GP referred me to Wellbeing 4U I thought it would offer a few sessions and they would listen to me working through my issues. I never imagined how much more there was on offer.
‘The connections the team made for me in my local community have been really beneficial, such as the mindfulness groups which have helped me to manage my day-to-day anxiety better.
‘To build my confidence, the team helped to involve me in local activities like a book club and yoga classes at my community centre and a local foundation. As a result, I’mattending a retreat in the next few weeks – something I would never have done before.’
Karen Pardy, GP and community director for South West Cardiff Cluster and social prescribing lead for Cardiff and Vale UHB said: ‘As a health board we are committed to caring for people and keeping them well and enabling patients to access help, advice and support within their local community can help with this.
‘It is estimated that 20 per cent of patients who present to their GP have underlying social problems and we want to do our best to help our patients in all aspects of their lives which impact on their health and wellbeing.’
Wellbeing 4U is available to anyone registered at the designated GP surgeries.
Cymorth launches PATH training programme
Free training on creating psychologically informed environments (PIE) for people working in the housing and homelessness sector is available from Cymorth Cymru working in partnership with the ACEs Hub and Welsh Local Government Association.
The PATH training is funded by Welsh Government and aims to support the prevention of homelessness through trauma- informed approaches to meeting people’s housing and support needs.
PUBLICATIONS: 10 TO LOOK OUT FOR
1) UK Housing Review
Chartered Institute of Housing, March 2018
www.cih.org/publication/display/vpathDCR/templatedata/cih/publication/data/UK_Housing_Review_2018
2) Poverty in Wales 2018
Bevan Foundation/Joseph Rowntree Foundation, March 2018
www.bevanfoundation.org/publications/poverty-wales-2018/
3) The tenant voice on value for money
TPAS Cymru, March 2018
www.tpas.cymru/blog/the-tenant-voice-on-value-for-money
4) Housing Adaptations
Wales Audit Office, February 2018
www.audit.wales/publication/housing-adaptations
5) Using incentives to improve the private rented sector: three costed proposals
Joseph Rowntree Foundation, March 2018
www.jrf.org.uk/report/using-incentives-improve-private-rented-sector-three-costed-proposals
6) Life on debt row
Royal Society for Public Health, March 2018
www.rsph.org.uk/our-work/policy/wellbeing/life-on-debt-row.html
7) The decline of home ownership among young adults
Institute for Fiscal Studies, February 2018
www.thinkhouse.org.uk/2018/ifsdecline.pdf
8) Overcoming the stigma of social housing
London School of Economics, February 2018
sticerd.lse.ac.uk/dps/case/cr/casereport116.pdf
9) Setting social rent
Capital Economics, February 2018
t.co/4whIRvSr4F
10) Using Housing First in integrated homelessness strategies
St Mungos and University of York, February 2018
www.mungos.org/publication/using-housing-first-integrated-homelessness-strategies/