Prisk plans to speed up £1bn Decent Homes cash

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government, Communities, Local Government

New housing minister Mark Prisk has confirmed nearly £1bn of Decent Homes funding will be made available to council landlords - including those with housing stock managed by ALMOs – from 2013-15 and says he is exploring bringing forward the funding.

The 2010 Spending Review settlement made £1.6bn available to help tackle the backlog of homes that are not meeting the Decent Homes Standard.

Councils were allocated £612m for years 2011/12 and 12/13, and this announcement confirms the £982.7m indicative allocations for years 2013/14 and 2014/15.

Prisk said the cash, to be allocated to 41 councils over the next two years, will bring over 86,000 homes up to a decent living standard.

He also said he is keen to explore bringing forward some of this funding to councils to help boost their economies through local investment in decent homes. He said officials will shortly be in touch with councils to see what may be done to achieve this.

The minister said that spending money earlier would help boost local employment as early as possible, as well as delivering home improvements for tenants ahead of schedule.

Mr Prisk said: “By improving this country’s council homes we will transform many families’ lives for the better, bringing their living standards up to scratch ensuring that their home is the safe haven it is meant to be.

“But the benefits of the £1 billion I’ve confirmed today reach far beyond tenants themselves and into the local economy. With every pound spent on improvements boosting local business, creating new jobs and supporting local spending, I want to see councils realising the benefits of this cash as soon as possible.”