Councils to set up Local Housing Companies under new package to bolster UK housing market » Housing » 24dash.com

A series of further measures and reforms designed to help alleviate the current challenges in the housing market and to support the vital delivery of more homes over the long-term, are being announced today by Housing Minister Caroline Flint.

The measures are part of a new update, published today, on progress to delivering more homes, helping first time buyers, supporting existing home owners, assisting the industry which is currently facing tougher conditions, and ensuring that the right foundations are in place for a recovery in new build starts.

Housing Minister Caroline Flint said: "The package being announced today will both help people facing difficulties right now, and lay the foundations to help meet the long term housing needs of the country.

"That means being ambitious, but also practical and realistic, acknowledging not only the difficulties faced by individuals and families, but for those who work in the house building industry.

"We are determined to continue to do everything possible to promote long-term stability and fairness in the housing market. The international credit crunch has created significant challenges not just for the UK housing market, but in other parts of Europe and the United States.

"However, the long term need to provide more homes has not gone away. We have a growing and ageing population and will only see worsening affordability unless we increase housing supply."

The measures include:

• A new scheme to support first time buyers into affordable home ownership by renting first and buying later. Under the scheme, eligible households earning £60,000 a year or less will to able to rent a new home at a discounted rate for a period of two to three years. They will have the option to buy a part share in the home. The affordable rent, which will be 80 per cent of the market rent or less, will enable the household to save for a deposit to buy the share in the home. The new pilot scheme, called Rent to Home buy, is designed to give more choice and flexibility to first time buyers, and is part of the Government's low cost home ownership schemes
• New partnerships between the public and private sector that will put councils back at the centre stage of providing homes. The first four Local Housing Companies will be announced today, in Barking and Dagenham, Newcastle, Nottingham, and Manchester. Under this new partnership between councils and the private sector, councils put forward their surplus land into the Local Housing Company and have a full part in agreeing the development, which must include at least 50 per cent affordable homes. In return, private sector partners, provide the equivalent investment and homes and skills needed to build the homes.
• New proposals to deliver up to 75,000 homes in 20 more towns and cities, with £100 million into these areas for the schools, hospitals and other facilities needed to support homes. The councils in these areas of high demand, from Northumberland to Cornwall, have been selected as New Growth Points and have pledged to increase the number of homes in their local areas by up 20 per cent by 2016, delivering a total of up to 75,000 extra homes.
• Allocating the first tranche of a £510 million funding pot to reward councils who are working to bring land forward for development, helping to provide more homes and give the house building industry greater certainty that suitable land will be available when the market picks up.
  The Housing and Planning Delivery Grant is a direct incentive for councils who are taking action to meet the housing needs in their areas and rewards those putting plans and land allocations in place.
• Confirming that more funding, beyond the £200 million already allocated to buy unsold stock from house builders for affordable homes, could be made available, should the properties by in the right place, at the right price, and offering good standards. The Government believes this is the right approach rather than setting an arbitrary cap on the figure, to avoid the purchase of inappropriate properties. The Housing Corporation is now in discussion with many of the major house builders to discuss options for bringing unsold homes into the affordable housing sector.
• New plans to work with local authorities and housing associations to examine proposals for mortgage rescue schemes and the wider role they could play in supporting home owners. Some councils, for example, are assisting housing households through an emergency hardship fund, usually in the form of loans, as part of their homelessness prevention work.
• The National Housing Advisory Service will shortly publish a new advice leaflet for home owners, pulling together all the up-to-date contact details of major national money, debt and legal advice agencies into one consumer friendly document. The leaflet will be distributed in August by local authorities, CAB, Shelter, and money advisers.

The National Housing Federation has welcomed today's announcement of further measures to boost the delivery of affordable housing and support current homeowners.

David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said, "It is good that the Government is thinking creatively about addressing our affordable homes shortage, supporting current homeowners and assisting housebuilders in the current challenging environment.

"'Try before you buy' schemes make a lot of sense - and as the homes involved in this new pilot will be provided by housing associations, they will be of higher quality and better for the environment than homes built for sale on the open market.

"We'll be analysing the new proposals closely to make sure they are financially viable for homebuyers and housing associations, but we are encouraged by the details we have seen so far.

"We are glad that the Government is considering our proposals for a nationwide mortgage rescue scheme run by housing associations, and for them to be given greater resources to buy homes from private housebuilders. We urge ministers to bring forward these measures as soon as possible."

Adam Sampson, chief executive of homelessness charity Shelter, said: "This package of measures shows the Government is committed to finding practical solutions to Britain's housing crisis, from help for first-time buyers and struggling homeowners to ensuring the housebuilding industry keeps building.

"But solutions can only be achieved if the private sector works with local authorities to make best use of public land being made available for development.

"Buying up surplus housing stock offers a quick-fix way to generate more affordable and social rented homes - but they must be the right homes in the right places if they are to make a difference to hard-working families.

"The Government is moving in the right direction, but to make real progress they and mortgage lenders must work together to get the market moving by making mortgages available again for first-time buyers and anyone else wishing to move."

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) welcomed today's announcements.

Sarah Webb, CIH Chief Executive, said:  “Outright home ownership is a heavy commitment and may not be right for everyone, and we welcome a range of options such as the rent to Homebuy scheme that is proposed today.

"The criteria for eligibility will be key and are yet to be clarified, but this scheme as one of a range of measures is good news.  Sensible savings schemes that help people save a deposit and plan for appropriate home ownership should be the norm not the exception.

“CIH has also been calling for intervention to support homeowners facing repossession to stay in their own homes, and is pleased the government will examine proposals for local authorities and housing associations to operate mortgage rescue schemes.”

Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister, Lembit Öpik, was less optimistic about the proposals.

He said: “Another day, another new affordable housing announcement. The Government’s hot air will not hide the fact that 10% fewer shared ownership homes were provided last year than in 2006.

“What is strangely absent from this announcement is any suggestion of how the Government imagines the rent-to-buy scheme will be paid for.

"With building firms making redundancies and councils strapped for cash, who does the Government expect to fund it?

“Councils should be freed to borrow so they can buy up empty homes to meet the huge demand in social housing.”