Fri 9 May 2008
Social housing waiting lists to soar
The Local Government Association (LGA) projects that the number of people on social housing waiting lists could ascend from four million to five million or two million households by 2010, as a consequence of the credit crunch.The credit crunch has hindered many peoples’ ability to obtain mortgages, while it has also had an adverse affect on housebuilders and social landlords’ ability to secure finance to construct more homes.
In a report due out later this month, the LGA is expected to call for measures to increase councils' housing supply, such as easier access to finance, similar to that of housing associations, to allow them the means of securing loans on town halls and other council buildings.
Show House online asked the Housing Corporation to comment, but they declined to do so, until the official LGA report is released.
However, in regard to increasing housing supply. The Housing Corporation was keen to pint out that it is investing £8.4 billion of government money to find over 155,000 new affordable homes for rent and sale over the next three years to help meet the demand for affordable housing.
Housing Minister Caroline Flint said: "We need more homes in every region – to ensure first-time buyers and families have decent affordable housing to buy or to rent.
"This money will go towards doubling the amount of affordable, sustainable homes being built over the next three years, and will increase the number of family-size and rural homes."
Housing Corporation Chief Executive Steve Douglas (pictured) commented: "This is only the beginning. There will be more opportunities for housing providers to bid for housing grant throughout this three-year programme.
"As well as delivering the larger numbers of homes that the country needs, this will ensure we maintain our focus on raising both value and quality, creating a legacy of thriving.”
Posted by Marc Da-Silva
in Caroline Flint, Housing Corporation, Local Government Association, News, Steve Douglas on Fri 9 May 2008
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