Demand for urgent action after “perfect storm” hits social housing

A “perfect storm” has hit social housing and urgent action needs to be taken including an emergency cash injection. 

That’s the message from Cllr Pip Hazelton, Canterbury City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, in an open letter to Angela Rayner, the new Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The challenges highlighted in the letter include:

• increasing demand on housing services
• soaring private rents
• a Housing Needs Register of around 3,000 families and individuals waiting for secure, warm and affordable homes
• an aging housing stock of more than 5,000 properties
• increasing numbers in temporary accommodation, many people being housed outside the district

Cllr Hazelton said: “There is a perfect storm of issues besetting social housing across the country and Canterbury is no different. 

“Our Housing Revenue Account (HRA) – the money councils ringfence to spend on social housing – is euphemistically described as ‘fragile’ and, despite the best endeavours of our excellent housing officers and a Labour and Lib Dem administration that has put decent, affordable homes for local people at the heart of its mission, we are fighting to stand still, unable to make the improvements necessary to reverse the decline in our social housing stock. 

“I am asking the government for an immediate commitment to restoring confidence after years of uncertainty alongside an emergency capital funding injection which will stabilise our HRA and prevent further waste caused by delaying or cancelling investment plans.”

Cllr Hazelton also asks at the next spending review, the government should: 

1) establish a new fair and sustainable HRA model including a long-term and certain  
rent-settlement, an adjustment of HRA debts and more favourable conditions for  
council investment 

2) reform unsustainable Right to Buy policies by reducing discount levels and eligibility, as well as protecting newly-built council homes from sale 

3) remove red tape on the Affordable Homes Programme and other funds including extending the strategic partnership model to councils. Funding should be streamlined, allocated simply, reflect recent cost inflation and be allowed to be used flexibly to meet local housing needs 

4) announce a Green and Decent Homes Programme – a long-term capital funded programme to bring all council housing up to the new standard of safety, decency and energy efficiency by 2030 – and a road map for achieving net zero by 2050. 

5) pay for the completion of new council homes – limit the short-term loss of housing supply and construction sector capacity caused by the unfolding market downturn, by funding councils to rescue and complete stalled housing developments 

Cllr Hazelton said: “I hope the Deputy Prime Minister will be able to take these points on board and respond positively.” 

Published: 18 July 2024