News

May 2011

Each month we produce an update showing recent developments in housing policy.   Get the latest update.

March 2011

Affordable Rent

Affordable Rent is part of a new financial model to fund the new supply of affordable housing and to bring more diverse products into the sector.

Providers (housing associations) wanting to develop new homes, have to enter into agreements with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to convert a proportion of social rent to Affordable Rent, with the additional borrowing capacity being used to finance new supply.

Affordable Rents can be up to 80% of market and the HCA expects them to be at this level, although guidance also indicates landlords are also expected to take account of the Local Housing Allowance levels and the wider benefit reforms such as the welfare benefit cap when setting rent levels.

New supply generated through Affordable Rent is expected to be in the wider London area but is not ring fenced at local authority level,although broadly development proposals need to be supported by localauthorities. The Council aims to influence Affordable Rent proportions and levels through planning policy and agreements with providers.

The Council hosted an affordable housing seminar on 16 March 2011. A number of registered housing providers attended, considering and debating how Affordable Rent could be applied in Westminster,particularly considering the challenges posed by Westminster’s high market rents.

The Council is developing an Affordable Rent Statement which it would want providers to be in conformity with when making their proposals to the HCA in May 11.

A full, official street count took place on 23 March 2011. 83 rough sleepers were found plus 26 A10 Nationals.

The number of rough sleepers has fallen again and is at the lowest level since November 2009. This shows that services are working effectively to help individuals off the street in timely fashion, given the continued high level of flow on to the streets.

The number of A10 nationals sleeping out on any one night also continues to be on a downward trend – the messages and work of the UK Border Agency project are clearly having an effect.

November 2010

Intermediate Housing Stakeholder Event

In November, the City Council held a half day stakeholder event to explore the future direction for the commissioning of intermediate housing in Westminster.

The event was chaired by Chris Cobbold, Head of Housing Practice at DTZ and marked the start of the City Council’s discussions with stakeholders as part of its development of a draft intermediate housing commissioning strategy.

The event was well attended by a wide range of stakeholders discussing key issues and challenges in this area, including identifying target customer groups, the desired features of the product and funding options.

A draft strategy will be released for public consultation in early 2011.