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Expensive council homes should be sold, says Policy Exchange think tank | Expensive council homes should be sold, says Policy Exchange think tank |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Councils should sell off their most expensive houses and reinvest the money in building cheaper homes, the Policy Exchange think tank has said. | Councils should sell off their most expensive houses and reinvest the money in building cheaper homes, the Policy Exchange think tank has said. |
Selling top homes when they become vacant would raise £4.5bn a year, enough to build 80,000 to 170,000 new social homes, providing building jobs. | Selling top homes when they become vacant would raise £4.5bn a year, enough to build 80,000 to 170,000 new social homes, providing building jobs. |
It says social tenants deserve a roof over their heads but not one that is better than most people can afford. | It says social tenants deserve a roof over their heads but not one that is better than most people can afford. |
The National Housing Federation said it may lead to a form of social cleansing. | The National Housing Federation said it may lead to a form of social cleansing. |
In its href="http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/images/publications/ending%20expensive%20social%20tenancies.pdf" >Ending Expensive Social Tenancies report, Policy Exchange argues the move could create the largest social house building programme since the 1970s - giving the economy a kickstart. | |
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has described the recommendation as "blindingly obvious". | Housing Minister Grant Shapps has described the recommendation as "blindingly obvious". |
But critics say such a move would push the least well-off out of expensive streets, and into new ghettos. | But critics say such a move would push the least well-off out of expensive streets, and into new ghettos. |
'Costly and unpopular' | 'Costly and unpopular' |
Expensive social housing - which Policy Exchange defines as housing worth more than the average property in each region - accounts for 21.8% of the total social housing stock in the UK, it says. | Expensive social housing - which Policy Exchange defines as housing worth more than the average property in each region - accounts for 21.8% of the total social housing stock in the UK, it says. |
This equates to 816,000 properties - out of a total of 3.78 million - which the think tank says could raise up to £159bn if sold. | This equates to 816,000 properties - out of a total of 3.78 million - which the think tank says could raise up to £159bn if sold. |
It says London alone has more than £70bn of expensive social housing. | It says London alone has more than £70bn of expensive social housing. |
Alex Morton, the report's author, commented: "Expensive social housing is costly, unpopular and unfair. That is why almost everybody rejects it. | Alex Morton, the report's author, commented: "Expensive social housing is costly, unpopular and unfair. That is why almost everybody rejects it. |
"Social housing tenants deserve a roof over their heads - but not one better than most people can afford, particularly as expensive social housing means less social housing and so longer waiting lists for most people in need." | "Social housing tenants deserve a roof over their heads - but not one better than most people can afford, particularly as expensive social housing means less social housing and so longer waiting lists for most people in need." |
About 3.5% of the total stock becomes vacant every year owing to people moving out or dying, the think tank said. | About 3.5% of the total stock becomes vacant every year owing to people moving out or dying, the think tank said. |
This meant the government could sell a total of 28,500 properties each year, raising £5.5bn a year - the figure would stand at £4.5bn after paying off the debt held against the stock, the report said. | This meant the government could sell a total of 28,500 properties each year, raising £5.5bn a year - the figure would stand at £4.5bn after paying off the debt held against the stock, the report said. |
Policy Exchange argued that many hardworking people might want to live in a nicer area or in a bigger house but could not afford to. Allowing one family to live in expensive social housing means leaving many other people on the housing waiting list, it said. | Policy Exchange argued that many hardworking people might want to live in a nicer area or in a bigger house but could not afford to. Allowing one family to live in expensive social housing means leaving many other people on the housing waiting list, it said. |
It argued for a regional cap on the value of social properties. | It argued for a regional cap on the value of social properties. |
'Get Britain building' | 'Get Britain building' |
It also said the move would be "extremely popular" with all sections of society, claiming that 73% of people, including social tenants, think people should not be given council houses worth more than the average property in a local authority. | It also said the move would be "extremely popular" with all sections of society, claiming that 73% of people, including social tenants, think people should not be given council houses worth more than the average property in a local authority. |
It said the plan would also raise tenants' standards of living. | It said the plan would also raise tenants' standards of living. |
But the National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations, says many towns would be "cleansed" of "hardworking people who can't afford to pay high prices". | But the National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations, says many towns would be "cleansed" of "hardworking people who can't afford to pay high prices". |
Housing Minister Grant Shapps - who is in favour of a sell-off - said the government had introduced "radical reforms" to "get Britain building" and to reduce social housing waiting lists. | Housing Minister Grant Shapps - who is in favour of a sell-off - said the government had introduced "radical reforms" to "get Britain building" and to reduce social housing waiting lists. |
They included investing £19.5bn public and private funding into an affordable housing programme "set to exceed expectations and deliver up to 170,000 homes". | They included investing £19.5bn public and private funding into an affordable housing programme "set to exceed expectations and deliver up to 170,000 homes". |
Councils could now offer fixed-term tenancies to new tenants to make sure "social housing goes to those in greatest need", he added. | Councils could now offer fixed-term tenancies to new tenants to make sure "social housing goes to those in greatest need", he added. |
Do you agree with the think tank's suggestion? Is it the best way to improve the housing supply? Are you a social tenant? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Do you agree with the think tank's suggestion? Is it the best way to improve the housing supply? Are you a social tenant? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |