Changes bring new challenges

Jan 23 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

THIS year’s Daily Post property awards come at a time when the social housing market is undergoing a sea-change thanks to a new Bill introduced at the end of 2007.

Sponsoring the Social Housing category is Weightman’s solicitors are sponsoring the social housing category, and company partner Sian Evans, who deals with commercial dispute resolution, highlights the Housing and Regeneration Bill as a massive change in the industry.

She says the Bill has been introduced to meet the Government’s aims of giving everyone access to a decent home in a place they want to live and at a price they can afford.

And indeed housing has been touted as one of New Labour’s top priorities, as decent housing is seen as a way to improve communities and attract investment and skilled workers.

Ms Evans identifies a number of hotspots in the Merseyside social housing market due to emerge in 2008. She says the key elements of the Bill are :-

1.Establishment of a home and communities agency.

The new agency wil to drive forward regeneration and affordable social housing. The Housing Corporation and English Partnership (who were both regulators of registered social landlords) will merge to create the new agency.

The agency’s objectives will include increasing the supply of housing to the extent communities consider it appropriate, and working more effectively with the private sector.

2.Empowerment of tenants.

The Bill will implement recommendations of Professor Martin Cave with a view to improving regulation of social housing in England and to empower and protect tenants.

Local authorities will now be required to hold a statutory independent ballot to find out tenants’ views before considering transferring housing stock to a registered social landlord. Liverpool City Council is in the process of transferring their remaining housing stock to Liverpool Mutual Homes. Other local authorities on Merseyside have also transferred a large number of houses. in the last few years.

3.Flexibility of supply

Any remaining local authority tenants will have powers to consider options for future management of their housing stock if they want to try and effect a change of landlord.

Nominees in this year’s Daily Post Regional Property Awards are likely to have shown how they have adapted to these changes.

richarddown@dailypost.co.uk

Sponsors can still get involved

THERE is still time to sponsor one of the remaining award categories.

Companies wishing to register their interest or receive a nomination form should contact the events team on 0151 330 4974 or email regionalpropertyawards@dailypost.co.uk or visit the website on www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/rpa.