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Housing plan calls for better mix Housing plan calls for better mix
(about 4 hours later)
Councils and housing associations should provide homes in areas where there are higher earners, a government-commissioned review says.Councils and housing associations should provide homes in areas where there are higher earners, a government-commissioned review says.
Professor John Hills also proposes spare land on council estates should be used to build private homes.Professor John Hills also proposes spare land on council estates should be used to build private homes.
This would provide a better social mix - at the moment half of social housing is in the poorest 20% places, he said.This would provide a better social mix - at the moment half of social housing is in the poorest 20% places, he said.
But he said ending security of tenure would be "very unhelpful" and tenants should be "incentivised" to move on,But he said ending security of tenure would be "very unhelpful" and tenants should be "incentivised" to move on,
The government has said there are "no plans" to end the role of social housing as a "safety net".The government has said there are "no plans" to end the role of social housing as a "safety net".
'Neighbourhood effects''Neighbourhood effects'
But it expects pressures on social housing to grow, with more single people needing homes and, as the gap between house prices and incomes grows, fewer tenants buying their own homes.But it expects pressures on social housing to grow, with more single people needing homes and, as the gap between house prices and incomes grows, fewer tenants buying their own homes.
The type of council tenant has changed, the report found, with more likely to be on very low incomes, or not in work at all.The type of council tenant has changed, the report found, with more likely to be on very low incomes, or not in work at all.
It's healthy - in the way society works - for there to be a mix Professor HillsIt's healthy - in the way society works - for there to be a mix Professor Hills
People of working age in social housing were twice as likely to be unemployed than the average person - partly due to the "neighbourhood effects" of living in deprived areas, such as welfare dependency and the difficulty of moving house.People of working age in social housing were twice as likely to be unemployed than the average person - partly due to the "neighbourhood effects" of living in deprived areas, such as welfare dependency and the difficulty of moving house.
Professor Hills, from the London School of Economics, said social housing played a "crucial role" in the lives of 4m households.Professor Hills, from the London School of Economics, said social housing played a "crucial role" in the lives of 4m households.
"But the evidence is that we are not realising its full potential," he said."But the evidence is that we are not realising its full potential," he said.
Social housing had been intended to avoid having "rich people on one side of the tracks and poorer people on the other side of the tracks", he said.Social housing had been intended to avoid having "rich people on one side of the tracks and poorer people on the other side of the tracks", he said.
But communities had become polarised over the decades.But communities had become polarised over the decades.
Rebuild estatesRebuild estates
He argued that private estates had gained from social landlords moving in and renovating run-down properties.He argued that private estates had gained from social landlords moving in and renovating run-down properties.
"This isn't a one-way thing," he said. "And it's healthy - in the way society works - for there to be a mix.""This isn't a one-way thing," he said. "And it's healthy - in the way society works - for there to be a mix."
And he said in some cases, there was no alternative but to rebuild the worst estates, although it was costly and caused much upheaval.And he said in some cases, there was no alternative but to rebuild the worst estates, although it was costly and caused much upheaval.
Our housing estates need a mix of backgrounds and incomes if we're to build and preserve genuine communities. Dan RogersonLiberal Democrat housing spokesman Changing security of tenure is simply rearranging the deckchairs whilst the ship sinks Andrew StunellLiberal Democrat housing spokesman
He also called for more choice for social housing tenants, including more help for them to buy their own homes and regular reviews of their circumstances, to see if they were able to buy a stake in their homes.He also called for more choice for social housing tenants, including more help for them to buy their own homes and regular reviews of their circumstances, to see if they were able to buy a stake in their homes.
But he said tenants needed to be encouraged, not forced to move on.But he said tenants needed to be encouraged, not forced to move on.
"A threat to the security of tenure of existing tenants who have taken it for granted would be controversial, to say the least," he said."A threat to the security of tenure of existing tenants who have taken it for granted would be controversial, to say the least," he said.
"It would also have some side effects which could reinforce some of the key problems.""It would also have some side effects which could reinforce some of the key problems."
The government says it wants to expand the opportunity of home ownership to more social housing tenants.The government says it wants to expand the opportunity of home ownership to more social housing tenants.
Responding to the report, Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said building more social housing was a priority.Responding to the report, Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said building more social housing was a priority.
'Needlessly bureaucratic'
But she added: "The Hills review confronts us with other challenges: how can social housing be even better at achieving the twin goals of providing support to those who most need it while also equipping people to progress and get on with their lives".But she added: "The Hills review confronts us with other challenges: how can social housing be even better at achieving the twin goals of providing support to those who most need it while also equipping people to progress and get on with their lives".
The Conservatives say the current system for selling council homes to tenants was "needlessly bureaucratic".The Conservatives say the current system for selling council homes to tenants was "needlessly bureaucratic".
Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, chairman of the Local Government Association, said: "Talk of time-limits and means-testing for social housing tenants would not be an issue if the government stuck to its guns and devolved greater powers over housing to local councils and local people." For the Liberal Democrats communities spokesman Andrew Stunell said: "The government has taken 500,000 homes out of the social housing sector, and now, surprise, surprise, there are an extra 500,000 families on council waiting lists.
Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Dan Rogerson said it was important not to "deter people from working or push them off estates where they are happy and established". "Changing security of tenure is simply rearranging the deckchairs whilst the ship sinks. This government must build more social homes now."
"Our housing estates need a mix of backgrounds and incomes if we're to build and preserve genuine communities."