For once, a piece about a national issue.  Because it has profound local consequences. 

The government have put together a huge number of ideas for changing the way council housing and housing association housing (“social housing”)works.

They have – correctly – identified a number of problems.  There aren’t anywhere near enough properties for the number of people on the waiting list.  Some people are on the waiting list who are unlikely ever to get a house.  There are a lot of houses standing empty which people could live in if they were brought back into use.  Lots of people are in overcrowded accommodation – but many more are occupying houses which are now too big for them.    It is very hard for people to move once they are in a council house.  The way council houses are funded is a mess and can’t carry on as it is.    Some people are in social housing who could easily afford market rents, whilst many more people who have no money can’t get a place in a council or housing association property.  

All these problems are not just national problems.  They apply locally here in Wokingham Borough.  

We have some empty properties which no-one lives in at all.   Some of our council tenants live in houses which are too small for the size of their family – whilst others live in houses which have several spare bedrooms, but – understandably- don’t want to move because it is their home.

We have a long housing waiting list and if you are say, a single man with no dependants it is very very unlikely that you will every make it to the top of the list.   The council points a lot of people at the private rental market simply because there are not enough council or housing association properties in the area – and in some cases that means they have to have their rent subsidised by benefits because their earnings are not enough to pay the rent.

The council has to pay over to the government about half of all the rent it collects from its tenants and the half that’s left barefly covers the cost of keeping the council houses wind and watertight.  And as the amount that has to be handed over increases every year, the situation will get worse.

So the problems are real.  But is the government proposing the right solutions?   You can read what their proposals are at

 http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/socialhousingreform 

I will be posting my thoughts on the consultation paper in another post in the near future.  Meanwhile I would be happy to hear from anyone who has views on what’s being suggested – for or against.

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