- Media & Campaigns
- Press releases
- 2009
- January 2009
- Council gritters on high alert for big freeze
- 'Irresponsible and alarmist' - LGA response to equalities and human rights commission report 'Map of Gaps'
- Town halls announce 7,500 new apprenticeships
- Vital reforms needed for local government
- PM's commitment to devolution is the 'right decision for the British economy'
- Multi billion pound recovery plan unveiled
- LGA subs frozen or reduced
- Announcement on LGA Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive
- Paul Coen to leave LGA
- LGA responds to CSCI's report on the state of social care
- New study reveals 'shocking' levels of salt and fat in kebabs
- Councils were prudent over Icelandic investments - LGA tells Commons Committee
- 'Lack of genuine consultation’ hindering Government bail accomodation scheme - councils
- Unison figures highlight the personal price paid by children's social workers
- Surge in demand for council funded funerals as people die alone
- Create 150,000 jobs by combating climate change
- Councils respond to Taxpayers' Alliance report on middle managers
- One person in twelve now on social housing waiting list
- Decision to avoid bin pilots 'unsurprising'
- Farmers hit hard if migrants head home, warn councils
- Council tax to rise 3.5% first indications show
- Cuts to red tape and jargon will help small business, say councils
- One in seven councils cutting jobs due to credit crunch
- Impact of recession on people and businesses revealed by new survey
- LGA Chairman sets out key priorities for 2009
- Keeping out the killer cold - councils protect people as the big freeze bites
- Councils give people 'all possible leeway' on council tax collection
- Gritters out battling the big freeze
One person in twelve now on social housing waiting list
LGA media release - Thursday 22 January 2009
Responding to the new Government figures that almost 1.8million households, or 4.5million people, are now on social housing waiting lists, Local Government Association Housing spokesman, Cllr Paul Bettison, said:
“With the banks overstretching their credit facilities it could well mean that in the coming months that councils will have to help pick up the pieces as people end up on social housing waiting lists.
“Even when the economic good times were rolling, councils saw ever increased pressure on their social housing stock. Now that the credit crunch is upon the country it appears that many thousands more people will be looking to councils to provide them with a permanent home as they either find it impossible to get on the housing ladder, unable to afford private rented housing or see their home repossessed.
“With more households joining the ever increasing social housing waiting list over the seven years, experience has taught us that demand will grow even faster.
“Councils want to provide decent homes quickly for those who cannot afford to rent in the private sector or buy their first home but have been hamstrung by the lack of freedom to borrow off council assets in order to invest in building or buying new homes for those who need them most.
“Although house prices are falling, they are still beyond the reach of many. The slowdown in private sector house building will eventually affect that amount of affordable housing that is being built. This will mean fewer new social homes at a time when there will be more demand for them.
“The Government’s announcement earlier this week which could allow councils to apply to retain more rental income was a step in the right direction as social housing has to be a top priority because the harsh reality is that fewer people are getting on to the housing ladder.”
The Local Government Association is calling for:
• Reform of the council housing subsidy system to ensure that councils keep all rents paid by council tenants to spend on their housing needs and the needs of the local community. This will mean an additional £450 million per year for councils to invest in better homes for their residents.
• Councils to keep 100% of capital receipts from Right to Buy. This would provide an extra £1.5billion that could fund new affordable homes.
• Flexibility in central government housing grants that will allow councils to keep home building going during the economic downturn. This will help tackle rising housing waiting lists and make sure the skills are still there to provide the homes we need when the market recovers.
ENDS
Notes to editor
The full breakdown of every local authority in the country and their 2008 waiting lists can be found at:-
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/144458.xls
See also
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Housing The local authority role in relation to housing is undergoing significant change. Many no longer directly provide council homes having instead chosen to either transfer their stock to housing associations or let other organisations manage it on their behalf.