File: //home/roofmagazine.org.uk/public_html/roofblog/2009/04.html
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/>
<title>ROOF Magazine - ROOF Blog - April 2009</title>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://roofmagazine.org.uk/roofblog/2009/04" />
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="../../images/roof/favicon.ico"/>
<meta name="Title" content="ROOF Magazine - Tenants watchdog told to keep hands off"/>
<meta name="Description" content="The Tenants Services Authority should not over regulate housing associations, chief executive of the National Housing Federation David Orr has warned.…"/>
<meta name="Subject" content="Tenants watchdog told to keep hands off"/>
<meta name="Publisher" content="ROOF Magazine, Shelter, 88 Old Street, London EC1V 9HU United Kingdom; roof@shelter.org.uk."/>
<meta name="Date" content="30 April 2023"/>
<meta name="Keywords" content="tenants, housing association, house market, tenant services authority, national housing federation"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../roof_styles/reset.css"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../roof_styles/roofstyles.css"/>
<script type="text/javascript" src="../../scripts/jquery.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="../../roof_scripts/basicscripts.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="../../roof_scripts/blog_scripts.js"></script>
<!--[if lt IE 7]>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://www.roofmagazine.org.uk/roof_styles/ie_less_seven.css" />
<![endif]-->
<!--[if lte IE 6]>
<style type="text/css">
.clearfix { height: 1%; }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 7]>
<style type="text/css">
.clearfix {display:inline-block;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</head>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
try {
} catch(err) {}</script>
<!--div id="baseline"></div-->
<!--div id="columns"><div id="columns_bg"></div></div-->
<div id="container" class="clearfix">
<a name="topofpage"></a>
<div class="line" id="adbar60">
<div id="toplh_ad">
<a href="/" target="_blank"><img src="../../openx/www/images/homelessness_conf_2010.homelessanim.gif" width="468" height="60" alt="Lime Legal" title="Lime Legal" border="0"/></a><div id="beacon_bb30bfadce" style="position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden;"></div>
</div>
<div id="toprh_ad">
<a href="/" target="_blank"><img src="../../openx/www/images/localgovbanner.gif" width="468" height="60" alt="LocalGov" title="LocalGov" border="0"/></a><div id="beacon_49ffd455f4" style="position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden;"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="line">
<div class="item" id="header">
<div class="sap-content">
<a href="/"><img src="../../images/roof/roof_logo_final.png" alt="ROOF - For better housing" id="roof_logo"/></a>
<ul id="main_navigation">
<li><a href="../../roofblog">Blog</a></li>
<li><a href="../../features">Features</a></li>
<li><a href="../../opinion">Opinion</a></li>
<li><a href="../../jobs">Jobs</a></li>
<li><a href="../../diary">Diary</a></li>
<li class="final_item"><a href="../../about">About ROOF</a></li>
</ul>
<form method="post" action="/">
<div class="hiddenFields">
<input type="hidden" name="ACT" value="19"/>
<input type="hidden" name="XID" value="7c0d31385774e0a59671703a1c386996"/>
<input type="hidden" name="RP" value="search&#47;results"/>
<input type="hidden" name="NRP" value=""/>
<input type="hidden" name="RES" value="10"/>
<input type="hidden" name="status" value=""/>
<input type="hidden" name="weblog" value="features|diary|roofblog|opinion|about"/>
<input type="hidden" name="search_in" value="everywhere"/>
<input type="hidden" name="where" value="all"/>
<input type="hidden" name="site_id" value="1"/>
</div>
<div id="searchbox">
<input type="text" name="keywords" id="main_searchfield" value="Search this site"/>
<button id="main_search_button" type="submit"></button>
</div>
</form>
<div id="subscription_promo">
<p id="promo_text">Online access is now Free. If you have an existing subscription <a href="../../subscriptions">click here</a> for more information</p>
<!--p id="password_reminder"><a href="https://roofmagazine.org.uk/subscriptions/reset_password.php">Forgot your password?</a></p-->
</div>
<!--div id="login_instruction">Login for your online access: </div--><!--div class="item" id="login_box"><form method="post" action="http://www.roofmagazine.org.uk/" >
<div class='hiddenFields'>
<input type="hidden" name="XID" value="b2a6149acbfcdf18f279efeb71258322" />
<input type="hidden" name="ACT" value="9" />
<input type="hidden" name="RET" value="//roofblog/2009/04" />
<input type="hidden" name="site_id" value="1" />
</div>
<input type="text" id="login_user_name" value="ROOF reference" name="username" />
<input type="password" id="login_password" value="Password" name="password" />
<input type="submit" name="submit" value="Login" id="login_button" />
</form>
</div-->
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="line clearfix">
<div class="item" id="content_column_blog">
<ul id="breadcrumb_trail" class="clearfix">
<li><a href="/">ROOF</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog">ROOF Blog</a></li><li>April 2009</li>
</ul>
<div id="blog_listing_archive">
<h1>ROOF Blog archive</h1>
<div id="blogpage_description">
<p>Displaying ROOF Blog articles from <strong>April 2009</strong></p>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/tenants_watchdog_told_to_keep_hands_off">Tenants watchdog told to keep hands off</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">30/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The <strong><a href="http://www.housing.org.uk/default.aspx?tabId=212" title="Tenants Services Authority">Tenants Services Authority</a></strong> should not over regulate <strong>housing associations</strong>, chief executive of the National Housing Federation David Orr has warned. Mr Orr said he welcomed the creation of the TSA, but said it must be clear about the purpose and limitations of regulation. He said the TSA should be wary of encroaching too far on associations’ rights and responsibilities.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/tenants_watchdog_told_to_keep_hands_off#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tenants" title="tenants">tenants</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-association" title="housing association">housing association</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tenant-services-authority" title="tenant services authority">tenant services authority</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/national-housing-federation" title="national housing federation">national housing federation</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/allowance_hurting_vulnerable_tenants">Allowance hurting vulnerable tenants</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">30/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Vulnerable tenants are falling into rent arrears, having their tenancies cancelled and facing homelessness because of the <strong>local housing allowance</strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.crisis.org.uk/media/display.php?id=359" title="Crisis">Crisis</a></strong> found in a survey of private rented sector access schemes. The move to make payments direct to tenants has meant the most vulnerable find it harder to obtain suitable properties and more are having their tenancies terminated. The survey comes a year after the LHA was introduced.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/allowance_hurting_vulnerable_tenants#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tenants" title="tenants">tenants</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/arrears" title="arrears">arrears</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homelessness" title="homelessness">homelessness</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/private-renting" title="private renting">private renting</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-housing-allowance" title="local housing allowance">local housing allowance</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/vulnerable" title="vulnerable">vulnerable</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/zero-carbon_plan_causes_confusion">Zero-carbon plan causes confusion</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">30/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>A <strong><a href="http://www.zerocarbonhub.org/downloads/ZCH-HaveYourSay.pdf" title="report">report</a></strong> into identifying and overcoming barriers in the delivery of <strong>zero-carbon homes </strong>by 2016 was released yesterday. The report found that people were unsure of the regulations, but a majority wanted the government to legislate for higher energy efficiency in homes.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/zero-carbon_plan_causes_confusion#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government-policy" title="government policy">government policy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/comments" title="comments">comments</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/energy-efficiency" title="energy efficiency">energy efficiency</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/zero-carbon-homes" title="zero carbon homes">zero carbon homes</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/house_prices_continue_to_fall3">House prices continue to fall</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">30/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>House prices</strong> across the UK fell by 0.4 per cent in April, bringing the annual rate of decline down 15 per cent, according to the <strong><a href="http://www.nationwide.co.uk/hpi/historical/Apr_2009.pdf" title="Nationwide">Nationwide</a></strong>. It also added that the measures introduced in the Budget are unlikely to boost the housing market, although the new mortgage backed security scheme should boost the amount of mortgage credit available.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/house_prices_continue_to_fall3#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/Budget" title="Budget">Budget</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-price" title="house price">house price</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/mayor_launches_review_of_affordable_housing">Mayor launches review of affordable housing</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">30/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>In London, mayor <strong><a href="http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=21878" title="Boris Johnson">Boris Johnson</a></strong> has said he would review his commitment to deliver 50,000 new <strong>affordable homes </strong>in light of the difficult economic circumstances. City Hall released a statement outlining the mayor’s plan to change the rules on affordable housing, and repeated his commitment to removing the London-wide affordable housing target of 50 per cent.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/mayor_launches_review_of_affordable_housing#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable-homes" title="affordable homes">affordable homes</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable-housing" title="affordable housing">affordable housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/London" title="London">London</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-building-target" title="house building target">house building target</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/section-106-agreements" title="section 106 agreements">section 106 agreements</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/westminster_steps_up_council_house_building">Westminster steps up council house building</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">30/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>However, <strong><a href="http://www.24dash.com/news/Housing/2009-04-30-Westminster-to-embark-on-Londons-biggest-council-house-building-programme-for-a-generation" title="Westminster CC">Westminster CC</a></strong> has revealed plans to embark on the biggest <strong>council house building programme </strong>for a generation in May. During the next four years the council will build almost 500 homes on brownfield and under-used sites on existing estates to help ease overcrowding and homelessness. The scheme will include 104 shared ownership homes and 70 one-bedroom starter homes at a discounted rate. Most of the houses will be set aside for social rent and low cost home ownership, while more than half will have at least three bedrooms. Latest figures show that Westminster has around 1,200 families in overcrowding and 2,500 in temporary accommodation.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/westminster_steps_up_council_house_building#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homelessness" title="homelessness">homelessness</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-housing" title="social housing">social housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/London" title="London">London</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-authority" title="local authority">local authority</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-government" title="local government">local government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/council-housing" title="council housing">council housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/low-cost-home-ownership" title="low-cost home ownership">low-cost home ownership</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-council" title="local council">local council</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-housing" title="Social housing">Social housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/brownfield" title="brownfield">brownfield</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/landlord_registration_scheme_needs_tightening_up">Landlord registration scheme needs tightening up</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">30/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong><a href="http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/media/press_releases/press_release_folder/2009/urgent_review_needed_for_troubled_landlord_scheme,_says_new_report_from_shelter" title="Shelter Scotland">Shelter Scotland</a></strong> has demanded an urgent review into a registration scheme which is failing to protect tenants from <strong>bad landlords</strong>. Shelter says a minority of landlords taint the sector with Dickensian treatment of tenants and the charity estimates that one in four properties is still not covered by the scheme introduced three years ago. The report calls for an urgent review of the scheme to ensure it tackles problems such as withheld deposits, poor management, harassment and unlawful eviction.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/landlord_registration_scheme_needs_tightening_up#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tenants" title="tenants">tenants</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/landlords" title="landlords">landlords</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/scotland" title="scotland">scotland</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-management" title="housing management">housing management</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/good-practice" title="good practice">good practice</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/deposit" title="deposit">deposit</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/evictions" title="evictions">evictions</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/harassment" title="harassment">harassment</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/abbey_says_mortgage_market_will_soon_return_to_growth">Abbey says mortgage market will soon return to growth</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">30/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/property_and_mortgages/article6194772.ece" title="Abbey">Abbey</a></strong>, Britain’s second largest mortgage lender, expects the <strong>mortgage market</strong> to return to overall net lending this year as it reported a 25 per cent jump in quarterly profits. Abbey’s chief executive called the lender ‘optimistic’ about business prospects after unemployment had risen by less than had been feared, and house prices had not fallen as much as expected. The Abbey chief added that it would weather the storm better than competitors as its mortgage book had a low loan to value of 52 per cent and only 6 per cent of customers were in negative equity.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/abbey_says_mortgage_market_will_soon_return_to_growth#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/lenders" title="lenders">lenders</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/blears_backs_public_buildings_giveaway">Blears backs public buildings giveaway</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">29/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Communities secretary <strong><a href="https://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=399953&NewsAreaID=2&HUserID=878,793,885,851,780,871,868,845,786,674,677,767,684,762,718,674,708,683,706,718,674" title="Hazel Blears">Hazel Blears</a></strong> has unveiled plans to support <strong>communities</strong> during the recession and recycle public buildings. There will be a range of options for local councils to give buildings to the community, including handing them over as a gift or selling at below market price.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/blears_backs_public_buildings_giveaway#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/Communities" title="Communities">Communities</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/development" title="development">development</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regeneration" title="regeneration">regeneration</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/Communities" title="communities">communities</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-government" title="local government">local government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/community-relations" title="community relations">community relations</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-council" title="local council">local council</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regions" title="regions">regions</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/recession_could_cause_civil_disorder">Recession could cause civil disorder</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">29/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>And today it is expected that <strong><a href="http://www.24dash.com/news/Local_Government/2009-04-29-Blears-Recession-could-cause-civil-unrest-and-fracture-communities" title="Ms Blears">Ms Blears</a></strong> will warn that the recession could tip Britain into <strong>civil unrest </strong>unless voluntary organisations are given extra resources. She said that a recession could drive people apart and ‘fracture community spirit’ or bring them closer together.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/recession_could_cause_civil_disorder#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/Communities" title="Communities">Communities</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/Communities" title="communities">communities</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/community-relations" title="community relations">community relations</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="Recession">Recession</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/equalities_bill_aimed_at_a_fairer_future">Equalities Bill aimed at a ‘fairer future’</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">29/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The new <strong><a href="http://www.equalities.gov.uk/equality_bill.aspx" title="Equalities Bill">Equalities Bill</a></strong> which was published on Monday calls on public bodies to narrow the gap between <strong>rich and poor</strong>. The Bill requires government ministers, departments and key public bodies to consider the action they can take to reduce socio-economic inequalities. Minister Harriet Harman said the Bill was part of building a ‘strong fair future for Britain out of the downturn’.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/equalities_bill_aimed_at_a_fairer_future#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/Communities" title="Communities">Communities</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/legal" title="legal">legal</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/bills" title="bills">bills</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/Communities" title="communities">communities</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government-policy" title="government policy">government policy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/equality" title="equality">equality</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/towns_worst_hit_by_recession">Towns worst hit by recession</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">29/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Research from <strong><a href="http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/97727/Revealed-The-towns-hardest-hit-by-recession" title="uSwitch.com">uSwitch.com</a></strong> has found that the <strong>recession </strong>is hitting towns across the UK with growing unemployment, falling property prices, and rising council tax. Swindon in Wiltshire has been the hardest hit as unemployment soars 197 per cent while house prices fell 16 per cent and the number of people collecting jobseeker’s allowance rose from just under 2,000 to more than 5,700 in two years. Brent in west London was the most ‘recession-proof’ area, with a 12 per cent increase in earnings, and below-average increase in jobseeker’s allowance claims.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/towns_worst_hit_by_recession#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/benefits" title="benefits">benefits</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regional" title="regional">regional</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="Recession">Recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/council-tax" title="council tax">council tax</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-price" title="house price">house price</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regions" title="regions">regions</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/residents_angry_at_council_renting_plan">Residents angry at council renting plan</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">29/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>North London residents have reacted angrily over proposals to rent out council housing on the <strong>private market</strong>. <strong><a href="http://www.thecnj.co.uk/camden/2009/042309/news042309_01.html" title="Camden council">Camden council</a></strong>, which has 17,000 people on the housing waiting list, says it wants to renovate up to 500 homes but locals warn that families could miss out on a flat if it is rented to people who have more money. Residents want all available homes to be used to help those who cannot afford to rent privately or buy.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/residents_angry_at_council_renting_plan#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/rent" title="rent">rent</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/London" title="London">London</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-authority" title="local authority">local authority</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-government" title="local government">local government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/private-renting" title="private renting">private renting</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/council-housing" title="council housing">council housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-council" title="local council">local council</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-renting" title="social renting">social renting</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/waiting-lists" title="waiting lists">waiting lists</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/rents_continue_to_fall">Rents continue to fall</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">29/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>Rents </strong>are cheaper than a year ago, but rents on larger houses are increasing because of a lack of supply. In figures from website <strong><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8024332.stm" title="findaproperty.com">findaproperty.com</a></strong>, the average rents stood at £819 a month in April, down from £827 in March and £873 a year earlier. The growing supply of flats on the market – increasing for the sixth month in a row – has pushed down prices. The overall number of properties available to rent has fallen for the second month in a row. On average a property was on the market for an average of 63 days, 15 days longer than a year ago.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/rents_continue_to_fall#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/rent" title="rent">rent</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-price" title="house price">house price</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-shortage" title="house shortage">house shortage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-choice" title="housing choice">housing choice</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tenure" title="tenure">tenure</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/mps_expenses">MPs’ expenses</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">29/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The saga of <strong>MPs’ expenses </strong>rolls on – Scotland’s first minister <strong><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8022950.stm" title="Alex Salmond">Alex Salmond</a></strong> says that Westminster should use the Scottish parliament allowance scheme as a model to reform the system in the Commons. In Scotland members’ expenses are published every three months and the practice where some MSPs can claim interest on mortgages for second homes is being brought to an end. Meanwhile, Nick Clegg, Lib-Dem leader, has offered his suggestion – replacing the allowance with expenses for basic utility bills, council tax, and either rent of mortgage interest, with MPs prevented from making financial gains from any part of a mortgage paid for by the taxpayer. <strong><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8019853.stm" title="Gordon Brown">Gordon Brown</a></strong> has dismissed suggestions that dropping one of the key proposals for reform – replacing the second home allowance for a flat payment had been damaging.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/mps_expenses#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/council-tax" title="council tax">council tax</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/second-homes" title="second homes">second homes</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/homeless_couple_living_in_a_garage">Homeless couple living in a garage</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">28/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>A Kent couple who lost their jobs and could not afford to pay their mortgage have been found living in a garage. The couple had been renting the garage, which has no water or electricity, to store their possessions, but moved in when they became <strong>homeless</strong> and had ‘nowhere to go’. <strong><a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2397012.ece" title="Swale borough council">Swale borough council</a></strong> has found them somewhere to stay temporarily and advised them to make a homelessness application.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/homeless_couple_living_in_a_garage#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homelessness" title="homelessness">homelessness</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-authority" title="local authority">local authority</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-council" title="local council">local council</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/temporary-accommodation" title="temporary accommodation">temporary accommodation</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/tenant_kills_himself_over_rent_increase">Tenant kills himself over rent increase</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">28/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>A tenant who campaigned against <strong>rent increases </strong>by his housing association has been found hanged in his flat. Neil Hill sent a suicide letter to Treasury lawyers two days after losing his case against <strong><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/8017749.stm" title="City West Housing Trust">City West Housing Trust</a></strong> and after being served with the legal bill of £3,000. Mr Hill claimed the rent rise was a breach of contract under the stock transfer agreement, but the judge dismissed the case because of a lack of paperwork.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/tenant_kills_himself_over_rent_increase#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/rent" title="rent">rent</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/legal" title="legal">legal</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/landlords" title="landlords">landlords</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-association" title="housing association">housing association</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/stock-transfer" title="stock transfer">stock transfer</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/gypsies_and_travellers_are_forced_into_housing_estates">Gypsies and Travellers are forced into housing estates</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">28/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>A lack of new sites is forcing <strong>Gypsies and Travellers</strong> to live on housing estates against their will, new research from the <strong><a href="http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/story.aspx?storycode=6504260" title="London Gypsy and Traveller Unit">London Gypsy and Traveller Unit</a></strong> has found. Up to 80 per cent of Travellers living in permanent homes said they wanted to leave, but a shortage of authorised sites meant they had to stay put.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/gypsies_and_travellers_are_forced_into_housing_estates#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/legal" title="legal">legal</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-management" title="housing management">housing management</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/Gypsies" title="Gypsies">Gypsies</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/Travellers" title="Travellers">Travellers</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-choice" title="housing choice">housing choice</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/high_court_deciding_on_renewal_fees">High Court deciding on renewal fees</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">28/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>A test case is being heard in the <strong><a href="http://www.rla.org.uk/news/news.shtml?post=327" title="High Court">High Court</a></strong> to decide the legality of <strong>renewal fees</strong> charged to landlords when tenants stay on after their assured shorthold tenancy comes to an end. The challenge by the Office of Fair Trading against Foxtons will affect how future letting agency agreements are drawn up and whether agents will be able to enforce renewal fees in current contracts with landlords.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/high_court_deciding_on_renewal_fees#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tenants" title="tenants">tenants</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/legal" title="legal">legal</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/lenders" title="lenders">lenders</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/landlords" title="landlords">landlords</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/estate-agent" title="estate agent">estate agent</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tenure" title="tenure">tenure</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/high-court" title="high court">high court</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/beckett_in_row_over_homebuy_sales">Beckett in row over HomeBuy sales</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">28/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Housing minister <strong><a href="http://www.mortgagestrategy.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=185242" title="Margaret Beckett">Margaret Beckett</a></strong> has denied opposition claims that no properties have been sold through the government’s <strong>HomeBuy scheme</strong>, although she is recorded on Hansard as saying so. Ms Beckett says that although she has no ‘solid figures’, she has ‘met at least one couple’ who have participated in the scheme, and developers have told her that they have registered demand from more than 30,000 prospective buyers. The scheme, which the government increased funding of by £80 million in last week’s Budget, offers buyers an interest-free loan of up to 30 per cent of the purchase price, and could make 19,000 homes available to potential buyers.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/beckett_in_row_over_homebuy_sales#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/finance" title="finance">finance</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-price" title="house price">house price</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/nationwide_retracts_mortgage_promise">Nationwide retracts mortgage promise</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">28/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The UK’s biggest building society, the <strong><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8020547.stm" title="Nationwide">Nationwide</a></strong> no longer promises new borrowers that it will peg its <strong>variable rate mortgages </strong>to the Bank of England base rate. Existing customers on the variable rate home loan are guaranteed to pay no more than 2 per cent above the bank’s rate, but new customers will move to a new product that is currently charging nearly 1.5 per cent more when their introductory deal ends. Nationwide said that the change will allow it more flexibility over its new mortgages and allow it to provide better deals for savers.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/nationwide_retracts_mortgage_promise#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/finance" title="finance">finance</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/lenders" title="lenders">lenders</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/bank-of-england" title="bank of england">bank of england</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/bank-of-england" title="Bank of England">Bank of England</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/interest-rate" title="interest rate">interest rate</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/hca_appoints_design_and_sustainability_experts">HCA appoints design and sustainability experts</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">28/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The <strong><a href="http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/page.aspx?pointerid=8d1a3567c8ad4078ae2883a0878e0c7b" title="Homes and Communities Agency">Homes and Communities Agency</a></strong> has appointed six industry experts to provide independent advice on <strong>design and sustainability</strong>. The group will provide an impartial annual review of how the HCA performs and how it can improve its policies and procedures in standards of design, including sustainability in development.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/hca_appoints_design_and_sustainability_experts#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/development" title="development">development</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/design" title="design">design</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/good-practice" title="good practice">good practice</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/sustainable-development" title="sustainable development">sustainable development</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homes-and-community-agency" title="homes and community agency">homes and community agency</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/legal_general_could_invest_in_rental_market">Legal & General could invest in rental market</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">28/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Insurance giant <strong><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/article-1174037/Legal--General-eyeing-rental-market-opportunity.html?ITO=1490" title="Legal & General">Legal & General</a></strong> is in talks with the government about investing in the residential housing sector. It is looking into so-called <strong>‘build to let’ </strong>opportunities to develop homes from scratch to take advantage of increasing rental returns.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/legal_general_could_invest_in_rental_market#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/finance" title="finance">finance</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/rent" title="rent">rent</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/private-renting" title="private renting">private renting</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-building" title="house building">house building</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/private-house-building" title="private house building">private house building</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/student_rents_rise_by_almost_20">Student rents rise by almost 20%</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">28/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>New <strong><a href="http://www.rla.org.uk/news/news.shtml?post=329" title="figures">figures</a></strong> have shown that <strong>student rents </strong>have increased by an average of 19 per cent during the past five years, and 1.5 per cent since April 2008, despite the economic downturn. During the same period rental rates in the mainstream market have fallen by 6 per cent on average, although some London boroughs are particularly hard hit with falls of up to 18 per cent.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/student_rents_rise_by_almost_20#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/rent" title="rent">rent</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/private-renting" title="private renting">private renting</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regional" title="regional">regional</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/students" title="students">students</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/100_years_in_the_same_house">100 years in the same house</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">28/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>A retired ice-cream seller is celebrating living in the <strong>same house </strong>for a century. The 107-year-old moved to <strong><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/8021738.stm" title="Eastbourne">Eastbourne</a></strong> from Italy in 1909 when he was seven when his father opened an ice-cream parlour. Alfonso de Marco worked for the family business from the age of 14 until he retired in 1975, and has since resisted any thought of moving.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/100_years_in_the_same_house#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/comments" title="comments">comments</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/rbs_ordered_to_abandon_repossession">RBS ordered to abandon repossession</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">27/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The <strong><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/property_and_mortgages/article6169023.ece" title="Royal Bank of Scotland">Royal Bank of Scotland</a></strong> has been ordered to drop <strong>repossession proceedings </strong>against a family after the Financial Ombudsman Service branded its actions unfair. The Ombudsman was not satisfied with RBS’s order to repay the entire mortgage within 30 days without giving an explanation, saying the bank had not treated the couple ‘fairly or reasonably’.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/rbs_ordered_to_abandon_repossession#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/repossession" title="repossession">repossession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/banks" title="banks">banks</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/lenders" title="lenders">lenders</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/diving_pool_to_pay_for_social_housing">Diving pool to pay for social housing</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">27/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>A <strong><a href="http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/specials/rich_list/article6169021.ece" title="banker">banker</a></strong> was only given permission for converting a former hotel, bought for £18 million, into a home on condition that he paid £500,000 towards low-cost housing. The scale of his plans – including a 16ft diving pool underneath the house and gardens – meant that the council allowed the 168-page application after imposing the <strong>section 106 provision </strong>usually applicable to commercial property developers.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/diving_pool_to_pay_for_social_housing#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/planning" title="planning">planning</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-building" title="house building">house building</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-price" title="house price">house price</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/section-106-agreements" title="section 106 agreements">section 106 agreements</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/support_scheme_helps_first_client">Support scheme helps first client</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">27/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Meanwhile a <strong><a href="http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED23%20Apr%202009%2019%3A45%3A48%3A800" title="Norfolk family">Norfolk family</a></strong> is one of the first to benefit from the <strong>homeowner’s mortgage support scheme</strong>. Ms Whitford fell more than £4,000 behind on her mortgage after she gave up her job, and now the family’s home has been bought by a housing association and is being rented back to the family. The housing association, Orbit First Step, is currently assessing 21 homeowners in the area to see if they quality for help, and has pledged £5 million during the next two years to the scheme.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/support_scheme_helps_first_client#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/arrears" title="arrears">arrears</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/repossession" title="repossession">repossession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homeowner" title="homeowner">homeowner</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-association" title="housing association">housing association</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/home-ownership" title="home ownership">home ownership</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homeowner-mortgage-support-scheme" title="homeowner mortgage support scheme">homeowner mortgage support scheme</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/new_house_starts_to_rise">New house starts to rise</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">27/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The latest figures from the <strong><a href="http://www.nhbc.co.uk/NewsandComment/Name,37805,en.html" title="National House Building Council">National House Building Council</a></strong> show the first quarter-on-quarter rise in applications to start <strong>new homes </strong>for almost two years. There was a rise in applications of 2 per cent in the final quarter on 2008. In March this year, the number of applications to start public sector homes exceeded the number of private sector applications. Regions in the South and East of England had the most new build applications.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/new_house_starts_to_rise#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-housing" title="social housing">social housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regional" title="regional">regional</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-building" title="house building">house building</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-building-target" title="house building target">house building target</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/new-homes" title="new homes">new homes</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/private-house-building" title="private house building">private house building</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regions" title="regions">regions</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/mortgage_approvals_down_a_quarter">Mortgage approvals down a quarter</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">27/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The number of <strong>new mortgages</strong> fell by 25.3 per cent in the 12 months to March in figures from the <strong><a href="http://www.bba.org.uk/bba/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=145&a=15821" title="British Bankers’ Association">British Bankers’ Association</a></strong>. The figure is also down 6.8 per cent compared with February. A spokesperson from the BBA said that it was ‘unrealistic to expect the mortgage market to receive in a steady and consistent way in the current economic environment’.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/mortgage_approvals_down_a_quarter#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/lenders" title="lenders">lenders</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage-approvals" title="mortgage approvals">mortgage approvals</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/british-bankers-association" title="british bankers association">british bankers association</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/increase_in_green_belt_land">Increase in green belt land</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">27/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The government has released the latest <strong><a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/lagreenbelt2008" title="statistics">statistics</a></strong> on green belt land. <strong>Green belt land</strong> makes up 13 per cent of the land area of England by 31 March 2009, an increase of more than 3,100 hectares in annual figures – with the North West showing the largest increase and the East Midlands the largest decrease.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/increase_in_green_belt_land#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regeneration" title="regeneration">regeneration</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regional" title="regional">regional</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regions" title="regions">regions</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/green-belt" title="green belt">green belt</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/house_price_fall_at_lowest_rate_for_a_year">House price fall at lowest rate for a year</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">27/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>House prices</strong> fell at the lowest monthly rate for a year in April, according to latest figures from <strong><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/677f29b0-32c3-11de-8116-00144feabdc0.html" title="Hometrack">Hometrack</a></strong>. They fell by 0.3 per cent for the month, taking prices down by 10.1 per cent during the past 12 months. The average time taken to sell has fallen for the third consecutive month to an average of 10.4 weeks, compared with its high in January this year when they were taking 12.3 weeks. The proportion of the asking price received has also increased to 89.6 per cent.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/house_price_fall_at_lowest_rate_for_a_year#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-pricecre" title="house pricecre">house pricecre</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/scotland_ends_the_right_to_buy">Scotland ends the right to buy</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">27/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The <strong>right to buy </strong>for newly built affordable homes in Scotland will be abolished by the Scottish government. Under a <strong><a href="http://www.planningresource.co.uk/bulletins/Planning-Resource-Daily-Bulletin/News/901258/Right-buy-set-end-new-homes-Scotland/?DCMP=EMC-DailyBulletin" title="draft housing Bill">draft housing Bill</a></strong>, the government is also consulting on a proposal to block tenants moving into existing affordable homes from exercising the right to buy. This move could mean 18,000 homes were kept for affordable rents for the coming decade. Shelter Scotland has welcomed the move, calling it the ‘death knell’ of an outdated policy.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/scotland_ends_the_right_to_buy#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tenants" title="tenants">tenants</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable-homes" title="affordable homes">affordable homes</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable-housing" title="affordable housing">affordable housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/rent" title="rent">rent</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/scotland" title="scotland">scotland</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/new-homes" title="new homes">new homes</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/right-to-buy" title="right to buy">right to buy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tenure" title="tenure">tenure</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/britain_should_stop_locking_up_child_asylum_seekers">Britain should stop locking up child asylum seekers</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">27/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>England’s <strong><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6177719.ece" title="children’s commissioner ">children’s commissioner </a></strong>Sir Al Aynsley-Green criticised the government’s policy of arresting <strong>children of failed asylum seekers </strong>and holding them in a detention centre before detention. He said that almost 2,000 children were held at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre each year and they had told him that the experience was upsetting and frightening , and had likened the conditions to being in prison. Sir Al has called for community based alternatives, but Justice Secretary Jack Straw said the government did not accept the commissioner’s conclusions.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/britain_should_stop_locking_up_child_asylum_seekers#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/asylum-seekers" title="asylum seekers">asylum seekers</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government-policy" title="government policy">government policy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/children" title="children">children</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/immigration" title="immigration">immigration</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/deprived_communities_to_get_pound250_million">Deprived communities to get £250 million</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">24/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The <strong><a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1210472" title="government">government</a></strong> has committed more than £250 million to tackle crime, stimulate educational achievement and boost job opportunities in England’s most <strong>deprived communities</strong>. The bulk of the money (£186 million) will be invested in 39 new deal for communities programmes during this financial year, with the balance of £70 million available the following year. The programme has been credited during the past 10 years with making a real difference to communities – bringing burglary down by 30 per cent and improving GCSE results by more than 10 per cent.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/deprived_communities_to_get_pound250_million#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/Communities" title="Communities">Communities</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-housing" title="social housing">social housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regeneration" title="regeneration">regeneration</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/Communities" title="communities">communities</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/community-relations" title="community relations">community relations</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-deprivation" title="social deprivation">social deprivation</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/social_housing_system_is_broken">Social housing system is ‘broken’</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">24/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Fundamental <strong>reforms in social housing</strong> are needed to tackle concentrated areas of deprivation, a report from <strong><a href="http://www.localisresearch.org/files/Localis_Principles%20for%20Social%20Housing%20Reform.pdf" title="Localis">Localis</a></strong> has said. The report said that councils and registered social landlords need to fix broken neighbourhoods and should be given the ‘right to manage’ their housing stock. It also wants the role of social housing to be better defined – separating a ‘duty to house’ and a ‘duty to help’ - and called for an end to the varying tenures and rent levels between the private and social rented sectors.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/social_housing_system_is_broken#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-housing" title="social housing">social housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-authority" title="local authority">local authority</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-government" title="local government">local government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/private-renting" title="private renting">private renting</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-council" title="local council">local council</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/RSLs" title="RSLs">RSLs</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-renting" title="social renting">social renting</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-deprivation" title="social deprivation">social deprivation</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tenure" title="tenure">tenure</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/black_hole_in_public_finances1">‘Black hole’ in public finances</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">24/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The <strong><a href="http://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/4509" title="Institute for Fiscal Studies">Institute for Fiscal Studies</a></strong> (IFS) warned that Britain faced ‘two parliaments of pain’ as it calculated a £45 billion ‘black hole’ in the <strong>government finances </strong>following the Budget, requiring either a tax rise of £1,430 per family or massive spending cuts. When the effect of the 8 per cent annual growth in debt interest payments and rising spending on unemployment benefit are taken out, spending across government departments will have to fall by an average of 2.3 per cent a year in real terms – the largest spending cuts since the 1970s. The IFS has calculated that by 2017/18 the losses will be the equivalent to £2,840 a year for every family, of which only half has been accounted for by the government.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/black_hole_in_public_finances1#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/finance" title="finance">finance</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tax" title="tax">tax</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/benefit" title="benefit">benefit</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/Budget" title="Budget">Budget</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/interest-payment" title="interest payment">interest payment</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/council_house_building_will_be_a_drop_in_the_ocean">Council house building will be a ‘drop in the ocean’</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">24/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>And still on the <strong><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/69077b48-3066-11de-88e3-00144feabdc0.html" title="Budget">Budget</a></strong> – the £100 million announced by Alistair Darling to help <strong>councils start building houses </strong>has been described as a ‘drop in the ocean’ after it emerged that as few as 900 homes will be created. Last year just 310 properties were built by councils in England, and since 1995 no local authority has built more than 500 homes a year. However, there are currently 4.5 million people stuck on the housing waiting list across England.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/council_house_building_will_be_a_drop_in_the_ocean#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-authority" title="local authority">local authority</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-government" title="local government">local government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/council-housing" title="council housing">council housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-building" title="house building">house building</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-council" title="local council">local council</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-building-target" title="house building target">house building target</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/private-house-building" title="private house building">private house building</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/england" title="england">england</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/public_building_outstripping_private_starts_for_first_time">Public building outstripping private starts for first time</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">24/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Meanwhile figures out from the <strong><a href="http://www.nhbc.co.uk/NewsandComment/Name,37805,en.html" title="National House Building Council">National House Building Council</a></strong> (NHBC) show that applications from <strong>housing associations </strong>to build new homes have outstripped those from private developers for the first time. Public sector applications numbered 3,011 in March compared with 2,943 from the private sector, which is reflected in the decline. Overall, applications for new home starts during the first quarter were at their highest level for almost two years. Chief Executive of NHBC felt the figures held out hope ‘albeit at perilously low levels’ that the market was stabilising.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/public_building_outstripping_private_starts_for_first_time#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-association" title="housing association">housing association</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-building" title="house building">house building</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-building-target" title="house building target">house building target</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/new-homes" title="new homes">new homes</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/private-house-building" title="private house building">private house building</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/second_homeowners_lose_tax_breaks">Second homeowners lose tax breaks</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">24/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>As many as 20 per cent of homeowners with a <strong>second property </strong>could be forced to sell their homes after Mr Darling abolished tax breaks on furnished holiday lets, <strong><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/how-budget-affect-me/5209139/Thousands-of-second-home-owners-to-lose-tax-breaks-under-Budget.html" title="accountants">accountants</a></strong> warn. Changes to the rules come into effect in April 2010 and will stop owners of properties offsetting the costs of renting out their second home against other income, reducing their overall tax bill. Up to 10,000 properties worth around £200,000 each could be affected, with the owners losing on average £10,000.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/second_homeowners_lose_tax_breaks#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homeowner" title="homeowner">homeowner</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government-policy" title="government policy">government policy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/income" title="income">income</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tax" title="tax">tax</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/home-ownership" title="home ownership">home ownership</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/second-homes" title="second homes">second homes</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/herts_council_to_challenge_growth_target">Herts council to challenge growth target</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">24/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>A <strong>legal challenge</strong> by a local authority against a growth target set out by the government will be heard before the High Court on 18 May. Hertfordshire CC is fighting against a target set out by the <strong><a href="http://www.planningresource.co.uk/bulletins/Development-Control-Bulletin/News/900300/Date-set-county-home-target-hearing/?DCMP=EMC-DevelopmentControlBulletin" title="East of England Plan">East of England Plan</a></strong> requiring more than 83,000 homes be built in the county by 2021. The council is challenging on the basis of how the targets were decided.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/herts_council_to_challenge_growth_target#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/legal" title="legal">legal</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/development" title="development">development</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/planning" title="planning">planning</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-authority" title="local authority">local authority</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-government" title="local government">local government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regional" title="regional">regional</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-council" title="local council">local council</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/expat_benefit_cheats_to_be_targeted">Expat benefit cheats to be targeted</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">24/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The <strong><a href="http://www.dwp.gov.uk/campaigns/benefit-thieves/english.asp" title="government">government</a></strong> is extending a hotline in Spain to dob in <strong>expat benefit cheats</strong>. It says that each year benefit fraud by Britons living abroad costs the UK taxpayers £63 million, and while official do not know how many people are making illegal claims or where they all live, they believe the majority of them are in Spain. Originally the hotline scheme was set up in Alicante, but will now be extended to cover the Costa del Sol and Canary Islands.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/expat_benefit_cheats_to_be_targeted#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/international" title="international">international</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/benefit" title="benefit">benefit</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/fraud" title="fraud">fraud</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/government_accused_of_abandoning_the_poor">Government accused of abandoning the poor</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">23/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The promise to eradicate <strong>child poverty </strong>by 2020 looks set to be abandoned, according to the <strong><a href="http://www.cpag.org.uk/press/2009/220409.htm" title="Child Action Poverty Group">Child Poverty Action Group</a></strong>. Although Chancellor Alistair Darling repeated the government’s commitment yesterday, campaigners said that levels of poverty have been rising. In yesterday’s Budget Mr Darling is offering only a £20 a year increase to the child tax credit, which CPAG called a pittance.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/government_accused_of_abandoning_the_poor#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/children" title="children">children</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/poverty" title="poverty">poverty</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tax" title="tax">tax</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/benefit" title="benefit">benefit</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/child-poverty" title="child poverty">child poverty</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/sale_of_repossessed_housing_doubles">Sale of repossessed housing doubles</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">23/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Sales of <strong>repossessed properties </strong>in the first quarter of 2009 are double the figures from a year earlier, according to research by the <strong><a href="http://www.mortgageintroducer.com/mortgages/234047/4/Today's_breaking_news/Repossessed_housing_activity_doubles_in_first_quarter_of_2009_says_AMG.htm" title="Asset Management Group">Asset Management Group</a></strong> (AMG). Its figures show a month on month increase in properties ‘under offer’ since the beginning of the year. Managing director of AMG said that predictions of repossession levels this year ‘continue to be high’ but the number of sales suggests an ‘underlying confidence’.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/sale_of_repossessed_housing_doubles#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/repossession" title="repossession">repossession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/northern_rock_offers_pound14_billion_in_mortgages">Northern Rock offers £14 billion in mortgages</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">23/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong><a href="http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article6152431.ece" title="Northern Rock">Northern Rock</a></strong> said it would lend up to £14 billion to British homebuyers in the next two years in a boost to the housing market. It said as much as £5 billion could be lent this year. Gross <strong>mortgage lending </strong>for the first three months of this year was £550 million, with the number of customers applying for loans rising 70 per cent. However, it acknowledged that the level of customers facing debt repayment problems was soaring. Customers more than three months in arrears had increased from 2.92 per cent at the end of 2008 to 3.67 per cent at the end of March.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/northern_rock_offers_pound14_billion_in_mortgages#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/arrears" title="arrears">arrears</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/repossession" title="repossession">repossession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/banks" title="banks">banks</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/lenders" title="lenders">lenders</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/repayment" title="repayment">repayment</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/mps_expense_decision_in_disarray">MPs’ expense decision in disarray</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">23/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Plans to overhaul <strong>MPs’ expenses </strong>have broken down after the <strong><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6150433.ece" title="opposition parties ">opposition parties </a></strong>decided they would not back the alternative – daily payments of £150 for turning up to Westminster. The decision has left hopes of a cross party deal in tatters, although Downing Street said a vote would still go ahead. The Tories wants MPs to claim for rent utility bills, council tax and mortgage interest payments and the Lib-Dems wants to see MPs forced to sell their second homes and return a share of the proceeds to the taxpayer. An independent inquiry by the committee on standards in public life is also starting today.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/mps_expense_decision_in_disarray#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/rent" title="rent">rent</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/bills" title="bills">bills</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government-policy" title="government policy">government policy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/repayment" title="repayment">repayment</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/council-tax" title="council tax">council tax</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/second-homes" title="second homes">second homes</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/flood_hit_families_still_in_temporary_accommodation">Flood hit families still in temporary accommodation</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">23/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Forty flood-hit families a week have been returning to their homes following the <strong>floods</strong> in the summer of 2007. Figures from the <strong><a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1206194" title="councils">councils</a></strong> involved in the floods said that of the 17,000 families who had to leave their homes 98 per cent are now back. However, 350 families are still in temporary accommodation and around 10 per cent of these are living partly or wholly in caravans, or on the top floor of their homes.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/flood_hit_families_still_in_temporary_accommodation#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-authority" title="local authority">local authority</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-government" title="local government">local government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-council" title="local council">local council</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/temporary-accommodation" title="temporary accommodation">temporary accommodation</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/flooding" title="flooding">flooding</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/civic_trust_goes_into_administration">Civic Trust goes into administration</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">23/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong><a href="http://www.planningresource.co.uk/bulletins/Planning-Resource-Daily-Bulletin/News/900119/Civic-Trust-England-goes-administration/?DCMP=EMC-DailyBulletin " title="Civic Trust">Civic Trust</a></strong> is set to go into administration due to a <strong>lack of funding</strong>. The trust was the voice of local groups dedicated to improving their civic spaces. It has been particularly hard hit by the ‘squeeze on local authority spending in the current climate’. The trust will, however, remain open in Scotland and Wales and in parts of the north of England.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/civic_trust_goes_into_administration#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/planning" title="planning">planning</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-authority" title="local authority">local authority</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regional" title="regional">regional</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/and_finally13">And finally…</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">23/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>Ants</strong> are better than humans when it comes to choosing a home, according to a <strong><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8011998.stm" title="research study">research study</a></strong>. When allowed to choose between two nests, the ants chose the better constructed nest even though it was nine times further away than the alternative.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/and_finally13#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/comments" title="comments">comments</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/the_budget_round_up">The Budget round up</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">22/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The <strong><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8010759.stm" title="Chancellor">Chancellor</a></strong> has said the <strong>economy</strong> will shrink by the biggest amount in modern times – down 3.5 per cent in 2009 – before recovering slightly to grow by 1.25 per cent in 2010 and 3.5 per cent by 2010. He has extended the stamp duty holiday until the end of the year for houses under £175,000 and provided an extra £80 million for shared equity mortgage schemes. Other moves include increasing the scheme to guarantee mortgage backed securities to boost lending and the allocation of £500 million to kickstart stalled housing projects, while local authorities will get £100 million to build energy efficient homes.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/the_budget_round_up#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/finance" title="finance">finance</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-authority" title="local authority">local authority</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/stamp-duty" title="stamp duty">stamp duty</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/equity" title="equity">equity</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/Budget" title="Budget">Budget</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-management" title="housing management">housing management</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/more_than_500000_homeowners_not_covered_by_hmss_scheme">More than 500,000 homeowners not covered by HMSS scheme</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">22/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>More than half of the UK’s biggest high street banks, including Abbey, Nationwide, Barclays and HSBC, have <strong>refused to join</strong> the government’s plan to support homeowners at risk of repossession. No bank that is not owned or controlled by the state has agreed to join the <strong><a href="http://www.which.co.uk/about-which/press/campaign-press-releases/personal-finance/2009/04/which-shot-across-the-bow-for-hms-rebels.jsp" title="homeowner’s mortgage support scheme">homeowner’s mortgage support scheme</a></strong> (HMSS) which was launched yesterday. A number of lenders are still in talks with the government, but it’s been estimated that 28,000 borrowers have been repossessed already in the time it has take the government to finalise the details.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/more_than_500000_homeowners_not_covered_by_hmss_scheme#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/repossession" title="repossession">repossession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/banks" title="banks">banks</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/lenders" title="lenders">lenders</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/home-ownership" title="home ownership">home ownership</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homeowner-mortgage-support-scheme" title="homeowner mortgage support scheme">homeowner mortgage support scheme</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/free_legal_advice_preventing_repossessions">Free legal advice preventing repossessions</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">22/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The government has announced that tens of thousands of people who faced losing their homes have benefited from free<strong> legal advice </strong>under the <strong><a href="http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/newsrelease210409b.htm" title="housing possession court duty scheme">housing possession court duty scheme</a></strong>. The scheme ensures advisers are at court to offer legal aid the government claims they have prevented immediate repossession in 85 per cent of cases. Currently more than 2,800 people are using the service each month.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/free_legal_advice_preventing_repossessions#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/repossession" title="repossession">repossession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/legal" title="legal">legal</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/advice-service" title="advice service">advice service</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government-policy" title="government policy">government policy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/court" title="court">court</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/house_sales_boost">House sales boost</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">22/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The number of <strong>homes sold </strong>jumped by 40 per cent between February and March, figures from <strong><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8010785.stm" title="HM Revenue and Customs">HM Revenue and Customs</a></strong> disclose. There were 60,000 sales in March compared with a month earlier when sales totalled 43,000. Even when figures are seasonally adjusted – taking into account the traditional increase in home sales in spring – there was still a rise of 13 per cent. However, mortgage lenders warned that a strong revival in the market soon was unlikely.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/house_sales_boost#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/lenders" title="lenders">lenders</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage-approvals" title="mortgage approvals">mortgage approvals</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/mortgage_lending_also_rises">Mortgage lending also rises</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">22/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>Mortgage lending</strong> also rose in March according to the <strong><a href="http://www.cml.org.uk/cml/media/press/2247" title="Council of Mortgage Lenders">Council of Mortgage Lenders</a></strong>. Gross lending was £11.5 billion for the month, up 16 per cent from February, although it remains less than half the amount lent a year earlier. The CML warned that increase was a normal seasonal rise and lending and house sales would remain low for the ‘foreseeable future’.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/mortgage_lending_also_rises#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/lenders" title="lenders">lenders</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/CML" title="CML">CML</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage-approvals" title="mortgage approvals">mortgage approvals</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/housebuyers_switch_to_fixed_rates">Housebuyers switch to fixed rates</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">22/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The first quarter of 2009 has seen one of the biggest ever take ups of <strong>fixed rate mortgages</strong>. A new index from <strong><a href="http://www.citywire.co.uk/adviser/-/news/property-and-mortgages/content.aspx?ID=337608&re=5291&ea=118560" title="John Charcol">John Charcol</a></strong> showed the proportion of borrowers taking out a fixed rate mortgage is up from 29.1 per cent in December to 80.9 per cent in March as homebuyers anticipate an increase in mortgage rates.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/housebuyers_switch_to_fixed_rates#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/lenders" title="lenders">lenders</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/interest-rate" title="interest rate">interest rate</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/._but_first-time_buyers_still_struggle">…. but first-time buyers still struggle</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">22/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>For first-time buyers and remortgagers just <strong>getting a mortgage </strong>remains difficult, however. The <strong><a href="http://www.moneyextra.com/news/mortgages/" title="moneyextra.com">moneyextra.com</a></strong> mortgage index showed that lending to first-time buyers with deposits of less than 5 per cent was non-existent while the supply of borrowing for those with 10 per cent cash to put down has decreased by 84 per cent compared to the same time last year. For first-time buyers the average loan to value was 71 per cent, compared with 82 per cent last year, while for people looking to re-mortgage the average loan to value ratio was 69 per cent compared to 82 per cent last year.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/._but_first-time_buyers_still_struggle#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/first-time-buyer" title="first-time buyer">first-time buyer</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage-approvals" title="mortgage approvals">mortgage approvals</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-price" title="house price">house price</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/deposit" title="deposit">deposit</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/remortgage" title="remortgage">remortgage</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/mp_expenses_overhaul">MP expenses overhaul</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">22/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8009901.stm" title="Gordon Brown">Gordon Brown</a></strong> has agreed to meet Tory and Lib-Dem leaders to discuss plans to reform MPs’ expenses after proposing changes to the <strong>second homes allowance</strong>. The allowance, worth up to £24,000 a year, would be replaced with a flat daily attendance allowance. The proposal surprised many at Westminster, coming three weeks after Mr Brown ruled out any changes until a public committee finished its review. Mr Brown said he wants the changes in place by July to ‘restore people’s confidence’.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/mp_expenses_overhaul#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/legal" title="legal">legal</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government-policy" title="government policy">government policy</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/whats_in_tomorrows_budget">What’s in tomorrow’s Budget?</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">21/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The Chancellor is expected to confirm a £1 billion <strong><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/apr/21/budget-housing-mortgages" title="emergency package">emergency package</a></strong> to kick start the <strong>housing market</strong>. The deal would see the Treasury offering to take a share in housing projects where work has stalled either due to falling house prices or a lack of finance, along with providing a fund to reverse the trend in council house building. In addition, Mr Darling is expected to extend the temporary suspension in stamp duty on houses costing up to £175,000 until the end of the year.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/whats_in_tomorrows_budget#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government-policy" title="government policy">government policy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/comments" title="comments">comments</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/council-housing" title="council housing">council housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-building" title="house building">house building</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/stamp-duty" title="stamp duty">stamp duty</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-building-target" title="house building target">house building target</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-shortage" title="house shortage">house shortage</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/mortgage_support_scheme_launched">Mortgage support scheme launched</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">21/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The <strong><a href="http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/budget/article6135768.ece" title="homeowner mortgage support scheme">homeowner mortgage support scheme</a></strong> has also been launched today. It aims to help with mortgage interest payments for up to 40,000 <strong>homeowners</strong> who have lost their jobs or had a sudden loss of income. Those with mortgages up to £400,000 and with savings of less than £16,000 will be given help for as long as two years, although they will be required to fund 30 per cent of the payment and have to repay the full amount once their financial system improves.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/mortgage_support_scheme_launched#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/finance" title="finance">finance</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homeowner" title="homeowner">homeowner</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government-policy" title="government policy">government policy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homeowner-mortgage-support-scheme" title="homeowner mortgage support scheme">homeowner mortgage support scheme</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/affordability_improves_but_first-time_buyers_still_locked_out">Affordability improves but first-time buyers still locked out</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">21/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Figures from <strong><a href="http://media.shelter.org.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=530&NewsAreaID=2" title="ROOF’s Affordability Index">ROOF’s Affordability Index</a></strong> show that despite house price falls, <strong>first-time buyers </strong>are still locked out of home ownership as the level of deposit required soars. The average price for first-timers is almost £30,000 less than last year, however, deposits have doubled to more than £30,000. And lack of mortgage finance was not the only factor holding back buyers – rising repossessions, unemployment and economic uncertainty have all had an impact and the number of loans to first-time buyers nearly halved.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/affordability_improves_but_first-time_buyers_still_locked_out#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordability" title="affordability">affordability</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable-homes" title="affordable homes">affordable homes</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/repossession" title="repossession">repossession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/finance" title="finance">finance</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/first-time-buyer" title="first-time buyer">first-time buyer</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/deposit" title="deposit">deposit</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/public_support_the_great_british_refurb">Public support the Great British refurb</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">21/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The public strongly supports the government’s plans to ‘decarbonise’ the nation’s housing stock according to research by the <strong><a href="http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn045/pn045.aspx" title="Department of Energy and Climate Change">Department of Energy and Climate Change</a></strong>. Researchers found householders are willing to ‘play their part’ in tackling climate change, and under the <strong>Great British Refurb </strong>plans, at least 7 million homes by 2020 and every home by 2030 will be offered whole house upgrades with energy efficiency and micro generation technologies. Individuals said they also want help with the up-front costs of decarbonising their homes through loans and grants, and they want fair target to take into account the diversity of the UK housing stock.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/public_support_the_great_british_refurb#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/energy" title="energy">energy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/diversity" title="diversity">diversity</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/carbon-dioxide-emissions" title="carbon dioxide emissions">carbon dioxide emissions</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/energy-efficiency" title="energy efficiency">energy efficiency</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-choice" title="housing choice">housing choice</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/uk_children_struggle_at_bottom">UK children struggle at bottom</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">21/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>A table of the <strong>wellbeing of young people </strong>throughout European states has ranked Britain 24th out of 29 countries. The researchers assessed the countries on 43 separate measures, ranging from infant mortality to poverty and housing, and asked the children how they felt about their lives, schools and relationships. The Netherlands came out on top, while Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta are the only countries which came below the UK. The <strong><a href="http://www.cpag.org.uk/press/2009/210409.htm" title="Child Poverty Action Group">Child Poverty Action Group</a></strong> who commissioned the research made a number of recommendations including dropping means tests in favour of universal benefits such as child benefit and ensuring a decent home for every family.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/uk_children_struggle_at_bottom#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/children" title="children">children</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/poverty" title="poverty">poverty</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/international" title="international">international</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/benefit" title="benefit">benefit</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-choice" title="housing choice">housing choice</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/child-poverty" title="child poverty">child poverty</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/residential_childrens_care_homes_to_get_the_expert_treatment">Residential children’s care homes to get the expert treatment</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">21/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Meanwhile, the government is looking to recruit 60 European social workers, experienced in ‘social pedagogy’, to lead an experimental <strong><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/apr/21/children-care-european-social-workers" title="pilot programme">pilot programme</a></strong> on the way <strong>children’s residential care homes </strong>are run. The practice helps children ‘develop and flourish’, rather than just meeting their immediate needs and ensuring their safety. Child care advisers welcome the move, but say its success would need more money being invested in residential care homes and in training staff, with one person saying that without trained and skilled workers, residential care was tantamount to ‘warehousing’ children.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/residential_childrens_care_homes_to_get_the_expert_treatment#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/advice-service" title="advice service">advice service</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/care" title="care">care</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government-policy" title="government policy">government policy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/children" title="children">children</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/good-practice" title="good practice">good practice</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/carer" title="carer">carer</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/young_people_feeling_recessionary_chill">Young people feeling recessionary chill</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">21/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>A record number of <strong>young people</strong> are not in any form or education, employment or training <strong>(<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/apr/20/neets-young-people-education" title="Neets), ">Neets), </a></strong>according to figures from the Conservatives. Nearly 860,000 people aged 16–24 were not in jobs, school or training, up from 629,000 in 2000. The Tories suggest that the recession, along with government cuts to sixth-form funding, apprenticeships and further education college capital spending have contributed to the problem, and they will create a £100 million fund to help young people engage in further training or employment.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/young_people_feeling_recessionary_chill#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/young-people" title="young people">young people</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/benefit" title="benefit">benefit</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/Conservatives" title="Conservatives">Conservatives</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/and_finally12">And finally…</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">21/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>A couple who tried to rely on a legal loophole which allows a property to evade <strong>planning permission</strong> if it has been lived in for more than four years are facing eviction, after the <strong><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1172097/Couple-disguised-500-000-home-hay-barn-outwit-planners-face-eviction.html" title="High Court">High Court</a></strong> called their scheme a ‘fraud’. The couple were granted planning permission to build a barn for agricultural use, but transformed the interior into a three-bedroom house with a gym, and applied for a certificate of lawfulness that would make their home legal after four years. The High Court’s decision overturned an earlier decision by the government planning inspector which ruled the couple were entitled to stay in the property. They plan on appealing.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/and_finally12#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/legal" title="legal">legal</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/development" title="development">development</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/planning" title="planning">planning</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/high-court" title="high court">high court</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/state_failing_to_protect_children_in_care">State failing to protect children in care</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">20/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>A <strong><a href="http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/csf/csfpn020409a.cfm" title="House of Commons’ select committee">House of Commons’ select committee</a></strong> has warned that the <strong>state is failing in its duty </strong>to act as a parent to children in care by not protecting them from sexual exploitation, homelessness and crime. In its report the children, schools and family committee calls for a radical overhaul of the system to ensure that the most vulnerable children get the services they require. It says that concerns for the happiness and welfare of the 60,000 children in care should be at the heart of the system and that government is ‘too timid’ in demanding that health services and the criminal justice and asylum systems give special consideration to looked-after children.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/state_failing_to_protect_children_in_care#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homelessness" title="homelessness">homelessness</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/asylum-seekers" title="asylum seekers">asylum seekers</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/care" title="care">care</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government-policy" title="government policy">government policy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/children" title="children">children</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/welfare" title="welfare">welfare</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/crime" title="crime">crime</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/comments" title="comments">comments</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/vulnerable" title="vulnerable">vulnerable</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/recession_tops_kids_fears">Recession tops kids’ fears</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">20/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>In a new <strong><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8004214.stm" title="BBC survey">BBC survey</a></strong>, the recession tops <strong>children’s fears</strong>. More than 60 per cent said they had been affected by the downturn, and more than 40 per cent said their parents were worried about money, up from 30 per cent in 2007, while nearly 90 per cent said they would be willing to give something up such as pocket money to help their families cope in the worsening economic climate. One in five of those questioned said they were fed up with hearing about the credit crunch.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/recession_tops_kids_fears#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/finance" title="finance">finance</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/children" title="children">children</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/young-people" title="young people">young people</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/25_of_las_have_no_provision_for_single_homeless_people">25% of LAs have no provision for single homeless people</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">20/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>New research from <strong><a href="http://www.homeless.org.uk/newsanddiary/media/snap" title="Homeless Link">Homeless Link</a></strong> suggests that the help that <strong>single homeless </strong>people receive depends on where they come from, with one in four local authorities having no emergency accommodation available for non-statutory homeless groups. A spokesperson from Homeless Link said that its members had seen demand for their services increase because of the economic downturn.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/25_of_las_have_no_provision_for_single_homeless_people#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homelessness" title="homelessness">homelessness</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/legal" title="legal">legal</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-authority" title="local authority">local authority</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/bank_of_england_in_crisis_talks_with_building_societies">Bank of England in crisis talks with building societies</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">20/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The <strong><a href="http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article6122353.ece" title="Bank of England">Bank of England</a></strong> is in talks with seven building societies hoping to renegotiate emergency funds made available during the credit crunch. While the building societies – including Chelsea, Yorkshire and Skipton – are not considered in danger of collapse, last week’s downgrading by credit agency Moody’s threatened to breach the terms of the government’s <strong>special liquidity scheme</strong>, forcing the building societies to either hand the money back or be changed more to use the funding, possibly further reducing the amount of money available for lending.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/bank_of_england_in_crisis_talks_with_building_societies#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/finance" title="finance">finance</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/lenders" title="lenders">lenders</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government-policy" title="government policy">government policy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/bank-of-england" title="bank of england">bank of england</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/bank-of-england" title="Bank of England">Bank of England</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/building-societies" title="building societies">building societies</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-ratings" title="credit ratings">credit ratings</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/affordable_rent_hikes_well_above_inflation">‘Affordable’ rent hikes well above inflation</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">20/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>Housing association tenants</strong> are furious with rent increases far above the current <strong><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/apr/19/renting-property" title="rate of inflation">rate of inflation</a></strong>, with many considering rent strikes, and others lobbying their MPs. Since the beginning of April, hundreds of thousands of tenants faced increased rents of at least 5 per cent, based on a formula of the retail prices index, plus 0.5 per cent. There are about 2.3 million housing association tenants in the UK, a figure that has risen sharply in recent years as many traditional council tenants have voted to change their tenure. The government has promised that by 2012 all social housing rents and service charges will be roughly similar for council and housing association tenants in similar areas.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/affordable_rent_hikes_well_above_inflation#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tenants" title="tenants">tenants</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-housing" title="social housing">social housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/rent" title="rent">rent</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-authority" title="local authority">local authority</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-association" title="housing association">housing association</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-landlords" title="social landlords">social landlords</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-renting" title="social renting">social renting</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/pensioners_facing_property_shortfall">Pensioners facing property shortfall</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">20/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Pensioners have seen an average of £52,000 wiped off the <strong>value of their homes </strong>during the credit crunch. A report from <strong><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1171959/Pensioners-lose-average-52-000-properties.html" title="propertyfinder.com">propertyfinder.com</a></strong> shows that, overall, pensioners have seen their wealth drop by £220 billion, bringing the total value of property they own in England and Wales down to £800 billion. As many as 1.7 million pensioners – nearly 14 per cent – rely on property to fund their retirement, with many expecting to downsize and use the spare cash to pay for care costs.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/pensioners_facing_property_shortfall#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/older-people" title="older people">older people</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/home-ownership" title="home ownership">home ownership</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/pensions" title="pensions">pensions</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/retirement" title="retirement">retirement</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/mortgage_rescue_scheme_six_months_on">Mortgage rescue scheme six months on</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">20/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>All local authorities in the UK have now signed up to the government’s <strong>mortgage rescue scheme</strong>, with as many as 300 households already qualifying for the support plan. <strong><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/apr/19/home-repossession-orbit-housing-association" title="Communities and Local Government ">Communities and Local Government </a></strong>says the impact of the £200 million scheme introduced in September 2008 to prevent as many as 6,000 repossessions from occurring is difficult to assess as take up of it is ’demand-led’, so it is under constant review.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/mortgage_rescue_scheme_six_months_on#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/repossession" title="repossession">repossession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homeowner" title="homeowner">homeowner</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government-policy" title="government policy">government policy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homeowner-mortgage-support-scheme" title="homeowner mortgage support scheme">homeowner mortgage support scheme</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/recovery_due_next_spring">Recovery due next spring</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">20/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>According to two leading business groups’ reports, the <strong>British economy</strong> will start recovering next spring. The <strong><a href="http://www.cbi.org.uk/ndbs/press.nsf/0363c1f07c6ca12a8025671c00381cc7/7430680d2ca3d71e80257599003cedbe?OpenDocument" title="Confederation of British Industries">Confederation of British Industries</a></strong> has predicted that any recovery will be ‘slow and fragile’ with the economy shrinking 3.9 per cent this year, but expects there will be an economic recovery by next spring when growth turns positive at 0.2 per cent in the second quarter. A report by <strong><a href="http://www.ey.com/global/content.nsf/uk/economic_outlook" title="Ernst & Young Item Club">Ernst & Young Item Club</a></strong> estimated that the economy will shrink by 3.5 per cent this year and grow just 0.1 per cent throughout 2010. Its forecast described the backdrop to the budget as ‘bleak’ and warned the chancellor that he had ‘limited options’ in this spending.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/recovery_due_next_spring#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/finance" title="finance">finance</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recovery" title="recovery">recovery</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/flood_protection_for_households_a_priority">Flood protection for households a ‘priority’</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">20/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong><a href="http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/page.do?pageId=1821968" title="Council leaders">Council leaders</a></strong> are warning that households will be at risk from <strong>flooding</strong> if action to protect homes isn’t made a priority. A recent survey found that 60 per cent of councils lack the necessary funds to fulfil their flood responsibilities. Town halls are calling on the government to make new flooding laws a priority and to set out clear rules for water companies to cooperate with councils in planning against floods, saying the situation cannot continue where it is not clear who is responsible for dealing with different aspects of flood protection.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/flood_protection_for_households_a_priority#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/planning" title="planning">planning</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-authority" title="local authority">local authority</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-government" title="local government">local government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-council" title="local council">local council</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/flooding" title="flooding">flooding</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/nearly_one_million_borrowers_in_negative_equity">Nearly one million borrowers in negative equity</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">17/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Falling house prices have forced 900,000 mortgage borrowers into <strong>negative equity</strong>, research by the <strong><a href="http://www.cml.org.uk/cml/media/press/2225" title="Council of Mortgage Lenders">Council of Mortgage Lenders</a></strong> has found. Three in four have an average shortfall of between £6,000 and £8,000, nearly a quarter of a million have a shortfall close to £20,000 and a further 13,000 are in negative equity to the tune of £37,000. Homeowners in the North are worst affected with 9.2 per cent of owner occupiers in negative equity, while in the South East the figure is 5.7 per cent of households. Scottish homeowners are the least affected with only 1 per cent of borrowers suffering from falling prices.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/nearly_one_million_borrowers_in_negative_equity#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homeowner" title="homeowner">homeowner</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regional" title="regional">regional</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-price" title="house price">house price</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/negative-equity" title="negative equity">negative equity</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/multi-generational_homes_on_the_rise">Multi-generational homes on the rise</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">17/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>More than half a million homes in Britain now host at least <strong>three generations</strong> of the same family, a new <strong><a href="http://www.insurance.lloydstsb.com/personal/general/mediacentre/three-generation-households.asp" title="study">study</a></strong> has found. A growing number of children, parents and grandparents are sharing their homes – up 7.6 per cent since 2005 and this is expected to increase by more than 56,000 in the coming decade. The rise in multi-generational living comes from changes in social and economic factors the research found – nearly two-thirds say they were forced into the situation by such circumstances, but four-fifths says they are happy with the arrangement.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/multi-generational_homes_on_the_rise#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/children" title="children">children</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/older-people" title="older people">older people</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-choice" title="housing choice">housing choice</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/hca_commits_to_improving_design_in_affordable_homes">HCA commits to improving design in affordable homes</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">17/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The <strong><a href="http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/government_agencies_pledge_commitment" title="Homes and Communities Agency">Homes and Communities Agency</a></strong> (HCA) and CABE have announced they are teaming up to improve the design quality of new homes, following the publication of a <strong><a href="http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/public/documents/HCA_Affodable_Housing_survey.pdf" title="survey">survey</a></strong> into the design of <strong>new affordable housing</strong>. The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and CABE have announced they are teaming up to improve the design quality of new homes, following the publication of a survey into the design of new affordable housing. The findings showed nearly that 61 per cent of housing schemes were average and 18 per cent good or very good, compared with 21 per cent assessed as poor including a ‘lack of distinctiveness’ and having design that ‘does not correspond to its context’. The report recommends closer working between registered social landlords (RSLs) and local planning authorities, and enforcing minimum design standards. In a joint statement the HCA and Cabe said: ‘The HCA will continue to promote high standards of quality in all the housing it funds… CABE will continue to support the HCA and RSLs across the country to make this a reality.’
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/hca_commits_to_improving_design_in_affordable_homes#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable-homes" title="affordable homes">affordable homes</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/development" title="development">development</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/planning" title="planning">planning</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/design" title="design">design</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-building" title="house building">house building</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/decent-homes" title="decent homes">decent homes</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/RSLs" title="RSLs">RSLs</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/new-homes" title="new homes">new homes</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homes-and-community-agency" title="homes and community agency">homes and community agency</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/kate_barker_in_favour_of_100_mortgages">Kate Barker in favour of 100% mortgages</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">17/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Kate Barker, a government adviser on housing and member of the <strong><a href="http://www.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/3544151/kate-barker-responds-to-the-spectator-inquiry.thtml" title="Bank of England’s ">Bank of England’s </a></strong>rate setting committee, has said that <strong>mortgages</strong> which leave buyers with a risk of negative equity should not be banned and banks that demand huge deposits may have been ‘overdone’. She said that banks over-reacted to the credit crunch by withdrawing so many mortgages for borrowers with small deposits. She also indicated that targeting inflation alone was not sufficient to ensure economic stability.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/kate_barker_in_favour_of_100_mortgages#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/banks" title="banks">banks</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/lenders" title="lenders">lenders</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/bank-of-england" title="bank of england">bank of england</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/bank-of-england" title="Bank of England">Bank of England</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/comments" title="comments">comments</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/negative-equity" title="negative equity">negative equity</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/deposit" title="deposit">deposit</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/regulator_accused_of_complacency">Regulator accused of complacency</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">17/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The <strong><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8003773.stm" title="Financial Services Authority">Financial Services Authority</a></strong> (FSA) has been accused of complacency in its dealings with <strong>building societies</strong>. A former FSA worker told Lib-Dem spokesman Vince Cable that poorly qualified FSA officials, who had no background in the industry and didn’t understand its ‘community roots or limitation’, allowed building societies to expand into ‘risky areas’ and more societies could be at risk in the wake of the collapse of the Dunfermline building society. Mr Cable has asked the FSA chairman to investigate.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/regulator_accused_of_complacency#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/lenders" title="lenders">lenders</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/FSA" title="FSA">FSA</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/good-practice" title="good practice">good practice</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/building-societies" title="building societies">building societies</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/bad_behaviour_blights_lives_of_tenants">Bad behaviour blights lives of tenants</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">17/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>More than 40 per cent of social tenants or their families have been hit by <strong>antisocial behaviour </strong>during the past two years, according to a <strong><a href="http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/story.aspx?storycode=6504174" title="YouGov poll">YouGov poll</a></strong>. Council and housing association tenants are much more likely than private homeowners to suffer from antisocial behaviour, and more social tenants than owner occupiers believe that the level of behaviour has become worse in their area over the same period. Just 17 per cent of those questioned had confidence in their council or social landlord to tackle the problem, and almost two-thirds expect the problem to increase as a result of the downturn.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/bad_behaviour_blights_lives_of_tenants#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tenants" title="tenants">tenants</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-housing" title="social housing">social housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-association" title="housing association">housing association</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/anti-social-behaviour" title="anti-social behaviour">anti-social behaviour</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-landlords" title="social landlords">social landlords</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-renting" title="social renting">social renting</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/owner-occupier" title="owner occupier">owner occupier</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/new_crime_bill_could_make_more_homeless">New crime Bill could make more homeless</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">17/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>A parliamentary <strong><a href="http://www.regen.net/bulletins/Regen-Daily-Bulletin/News/898897/Crime-Bill-could-harm-vulnerable/?DCMP=EMC-Regen%20Daily%20Bulletin" title="joint select committee">joint select committee</a></strong> on human rights has warned that an increasing number of vulnerable people could become <strong>homeless under the new Policing and Crime Bill</strong>. The Bill will introduce powers to close brothels and curb antisocial behaviour by giving police the power to direct a child as young as 10 to leave an area without talking into account their safety or where they will go. The committee says the proposals risk criminalising rather than protecting some of the most vulnerable members of society.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/new_crime_bill_could_make_more_homeless#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homelessness" title="homelessness">homelessness</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/legal" title="legal">legal</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/anti-social-behaviour" title="anti-social behaviour">anti-social behaviour</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/bills" title="bills">bills</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/crime" title="crime">crime</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/rights" title="rights">rights</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/vulnerable" title="vulnerable">vulnerable</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/third_of_families_in_non-decent_homes">Third of families in non-decent homes</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">16/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The <strong><a href="http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_social/Social_Trends39/Social_Trends_39.pdf" title="Office for National Statistics">Office for National Statistics</a></strong> has released its annual snapshot of life in Britain. It found there were 25 million <strong>households in the UK</strong>, with the average household numbering between two and three people, although the report highlights an increase in single-person households from 6 per cent in 1971 to 12 per cent last year. Almost a third of men and a fifth of women aged between 20 and 34 still live at home with their parents, but a third of families are living in non-decent homes and almost one in 10 are exposed to excessive cold due to a lack of heating or insulation.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/third_of_families_in_non-decent_homes#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/decent-homes" title="decent homes">decent homes</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/good-practice" title="good practice">good practice</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/new_model_for_affordable_housing">New model for affordable housing</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">16/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Five of the UK’s largest <strong>housing associations</strong> (HAs) have joined forces to publish a report challenging the current model for providing affordable housing. Calling themselves the <strong><a href="http://www.williamsutton.org.uk/news-2/Final%20HFN%20report%20single%20pages.pdf" title="Housing Futures Network">Housing Futures Network</a></strong>, the HAs are arguing for ‘radical, wide ranging’ reforms in housing benefit and building finance, while opening up access to affordable housing to people with a wider range of incomes.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/new_model_for_affordable_housing#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordability" title="affordability">affordability</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable-homes" title="affordable homes">affordable homes</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/finance" title="finance">finance</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-association" title="housing association">housing association</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/benefit" title="benefit">benefit</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/clg_delays_housebuilding_targets">CLG delays housebuilding targets</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">16/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Meanwhile, councils have been given a year’s grace on <strong>targets</strong> in recession-affected industries such as housebuilding. <strong><a href="http://www.lgcplus.com/News/2009/04/year_off_for_slumphit_targets.html" title="Communities and Local Government">Communities and Local Government</a></strong> has decided that targets for indicators, such as the number of new homes built, will now not be set until April 2010.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/clg_delays_housebuilding_targets#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-authority" title="local authority">local authority</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-government" title="local government">local government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-council" title="local council">local council</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-building-target" title="house building target">house building target</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/new-homes" title="new homes">new homes</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/homebuyers_waiting_to_snap_up_bargains">Homebuyers waiting to snap up bargains</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">16/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>According to research commissioned by internet bank <strong><a href="http://www.ftadviser.com/FTAdviser/Mortgages/News/article/20090416/3532d7f4-29d6-11de-8da9-00144f2af8e8/House-prices-to-start-rising-steadily-as-soon-as-October.jsp" title="First Direct">First Direct</a></strong>, as many as 2.5 million people are sitting on a cumulative pot of £20 billion in savings, waiting for house prices to drop. The average amount of savings per person is just over £7,000 plus equity in property, and London has the highest proportion of <strong>housebuyers holding back</strong>. The survey also found that 12 per cent of first-time buyers felt they would never get on the property ladder, and one in six believe that house prices will start rising steadily again as soon as October 2010.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/homebuyers_waiting_to_snap_up_bargains#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/first-time-buyer" title="first-time buyer">first-time buyer</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-price" title="house price">house price</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/house_prices_down_12">House prices down 12.3%</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">16/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Figures from <strong><a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/hpi022009" title="Communities and Local Government">Communities and Local Government</a></strong> show the annual rate of decline in <strong>house prices </strong>hit 12.3 per cent in the three months to February. The December to February quarter saw a fall of 4.8 per cent, compared with the previous quarter’s decline of 4.3 per cent. The drop was most pronounced in Northern Ireland where values tumbled 19.4 per cent over the year; Wales also saw a big drop of 12.5 per cent; England faced an average price decline of 12.4 per cent; and Scotland down by 8.6 per cent. It was the sixteenth month in a row that the annual house price rate had worsened.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/house_prices_down_12#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/scotland" title="scotland">scotland</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/wales" title="wales">wales</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-price" title="house price">house price</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/england" title="england">england</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/northern-ireland" title="northern ireland">northern ireland</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/building_societies_downgraded">Building societies downgraded</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">16/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Nine of the biggest <strong><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/property_and_mortgages/article6102212.ece" title="building societies ">building societies </a></strong>have had their <strong>credit ratings downgraded </strong>over fears that losses from the downturn in the housing market may be ‘significantly higher’ than expected. Alliance & Leicester, Abbey National and Nationwide have seen cuts in their financial ratings by Moody’s, which expressed concern about the level of losses on self-certified and buy-to-let mortgages.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/building_societies_downgraded#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/finance" title="finance">finance</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/lenders" title="lenders">lenders</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/buy-to-let" title="buy to let">buy to let</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/building-societies" title="building societies">building societies</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-ratings" title="credit ratings">credit ratings</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/rejected_mortgage_applications_hits_record_number">Rejected mortgage applications hits record number</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">16/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>Mortgage rejections</strong> have increased fourfold in the past two years, with almost one in ten applications being rejected. <strong><a href="http://www.moneysupermarket.com/c/press-releases/mortgage-rejections-increase-fourfold-in-two-years/0004573/" title="Moneysupermaket.com">Moneysupermaket.com</a></strong> has found that 9 per cent of mortgage applications, which would previously have been ‘accepted without a hitch’, are being turned down for the ‘most minor of misdemeanours’.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/rejected_mortgage_applications_hits_record_number#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/lenders" title="lenders">lenders</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage-approvals" title="mortgage approvals">mortgage approvals</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/a_bad_time_to_save">A bad time to save?</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">16/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Meanwhile, consumers are saving less and <strong>paying off debts </strong>faster, according to research from <strong><a href="http://www.nationwide.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/20622832-60BD-422D-AA08-DBB5F6194CDE/0/April_2009_datarelease.pdf" title="Nationwide">Nationwide</a></strong>. Less than half of consumers save money regularly, with 25 per cent saving nothing at all, a figure getting worse since the Bank of England dropped its base rate from 2 to 0.5 per cent in December. More than half of those questioned believe it is a bad time to save, and that the government is actively discouraging savings.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/a_bad_time_to_save#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/debt" title="debt">debt</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/bank-of-england" title="bank of england">bank of england</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/bank-of-england" title="Bank of England">Bank of England</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/interest-rate" title="interest rate">interest rate</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/demand_for_more_aid_for_poorer_families">Demand for more aid for poorer families</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">16/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Leaders of religious faiths, humanists and academics have written to <strong><a href="http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/story.aspx?storycode=6504161" title="Chancellor Alistair Darling">Chancellor Alistair Darling</a></strong> demanding more action to improve the lives of <strong>children in poverty</strong>. There is a ‘moral imperative’ to help the country’s poorest during a recession, they argue. And because poorer families immediately spend money on their basics, giving them assistance also helps stimulate the economy, the letter’s signatories say.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/demand_for_more_aid_for_poorer_families#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government-policy" title="government policy">government policy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/children" title="children">children</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/poverty" title="poverty">poverty</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/child-poverty" title="child poverty">child poverty</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/nearly_3_million_people_in_overcrowded_housing_by_2011">Nearly 3 million people in overcrowded housing by 2011</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">15/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The number of people living in <strong>overcrowded homes </strong>in England will soar 15 per cent to 2.6 million by 2011 as unemployment and repossessions bite, the <strong><a href="http://www.housing.org.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=212&mid=828&ctl=Details&ArticleID=2106" title="National Housing Federation">National Housing Federation</a></strong> warned today. It says an extra 350,000 people would be living in overcrowded conditions in the next two years, exacerbated by the economic slowdown which has left as few as 70,000 new homes being built this year - down from 140,000 in 2008/09. Regionally, the most severe living conditions are in London, where 6.6 per cent of all homes are officially classified as overcrowded.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/nearly_3_million_people_in_overcrowded_housing_by_2011#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(2 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/London" title="London">London</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-management" title="housing management">housing management</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/overcrowding" title="overcrowding">overcrowding</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/national-housing-federation" title="national housing federation">national housing federation</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-shortage" title="house shortage">house shortage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regions" title="regions">regions</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/up_to_2_million_people_live_rent_free">Up to 2 million people live ‘rent free’</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">15/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>More than 1.6 million young people aged 18 to 24 are <strong>living with friends </strong>or family, nearly triple the number doing the same things this time last year. Research by <strong><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1169726/Soaring-number-adults-living-relatives-rent-free-save-cash.html" title="Abbey Mortgages">Abbey Mortgages</a></strong> also found that among the 35 to 54 age group, more than 300,000 people are living rent free under someone’s roof, and said that in the current climate many people had little choice but to return home or turn to their friends or family.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/up_to_2_million_people_live_rent_free#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/rent" title="rent">rent</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-price" title="house price">house price</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-shortage" title="house shortage">house shortage</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-choice" title="housing choice">housing choice</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/elderly_skipping_meals_to_cut_costs">Elderly skipping meals to cut costs</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">15/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Meanwhile, the over-60s are skipping meals to save money. One in five <strong>older people </strong>is skipping meals to save on food costs, and two-fifths are struggling to afford essential items such as electricity according to research by <strong><a href="http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/budget-release-140409.asp" title="Age Concern and Help the Aged">Age Concern and Help the Aged</a></strong>. Pensioners on low incomes face a higher than average inflation rate the report said, and miss out on up to £5 billion in benefits each year. The charity is calling for a package of measures including a commitment from the government to roll out automatic payment of income related benefits such as pensioner credit and council tax benefit.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/elderly_skipping_meals_to_cut_costs#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/elderly" title="elderly">elderly</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/benefit" title="benefit">benefit</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/older-people" title="older people">older people</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/council-tax" title="council tax">council tax</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/pensions" title="pensions">pensions</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/recession_has_changed_attitudes_of_housing_organisations">Recession has changed attitudes of housing organisations</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">15/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The number of housing organisations concerned by the <strong>recession</strong> has increased 30 per cent since October, with one in four now feeling the effects. Since the last survey six months ago - ‘before the recession really took hold’ - <strong><a href="http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/attitudes_behaviours_housing_regeneration_downturn?p=1" title="housing and regeneration projects ">housing and regeneration projects </a></strong>have come to a standstill, redundancies have been announced and business models have been radically adapted. However, skills, knowledge and training remain high on the agenda and greater partnership working between public and private sectors has been established.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/recession_has_changed_attitudes_of_housing_organisations#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/development" title="development">development</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regeneration" title="regeneration">regeneration</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/recession" title="recession">recession</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/credit-crisis" title="credit crisis">credit crisis</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/good-practice" title="good practice">good practice</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/energy_efficiency_a_herculean_task">Energy efficiency a ‘herculean’ task</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">15/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>A study by the <strong><a href="http://www.esrc.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/PO/releases/2009/april/buildings.aspx" title="Economic and Social Research Council">Economic and Social Research Council</a></strong> has said making existing homes <strong>energy efficient </strong>was a ‘herculean’ task and required radical action to bring about a 60 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. The research calculated that to reduce emissions from existing homes by 40 per cent would require work to nearly 24 million buildings, and to complete the task within 40 years would need to refurbish an area the size of Cambridge every month. The study also found that energy saving devices do not always increase efficiency in a way that was expected.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/energy_efficiency_a_herculean_task#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/development" title="development">development</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regeneration" title="regeneration">regeneration</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/energy" title="energy">energy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/carbon-dioxide-emissions" title="carbon dioxide emissions">carbon dioxide emissions</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/energy-efficiency" title="energy efficiency">energy efficiency</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/interest_from_homebuyers_on_the_increase">Interest from homebuyers on the increase</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">15/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>Interest in house buying</strong> is starting to gain ‘real momentum’ according to UK surveyors, but sales remain low. Figures from the <strong><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/apr/15/mortgages-property-market-rics" title="Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors">Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors</a></strong> (RICS) found that new enquiries increased for the fifth consecutive month, however, surveyors will still selling fewer than 10 homes on average during the past three months. Interest was strong in every region – with London and Wales strongest, and RICS said the rise in interest reflected the drop in asking prices and sharp fall in the cost of money.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/interest_from_homebuyers_on_the_increase#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homeowner" title="homeowner">homeowner</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regional" title="regional">regional</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/home-ownership" title="home ownership">home ownership</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-price" title="house price">house price</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/interest-rate" title="interest rate">interest rate</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/government_keeps_a8_work_restrictions">Government keeps A8 work restrictions</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">15/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The strict <strong>working restrictions </strong>for Eastern Europeans will not be scrapped the government announced recently. The worker registration scheme ‘works for the British labour market and the country as a whole’ and allows for planning for local services, the government argued, while maintaining the restrictions means <strong><a href="http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=398230&NewsAreaID=2" title="A8 nationals">A8 nationals</a></strong> will not have full access to benefits until they have been working and paying tax for at least 12 consecutive months.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/government_keeps_a8_work_restrictions#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/benefits" title="benefits">benefits</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government-policy" title="government policy">government policy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tax" title="tax">tax</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/migrants" title="migrants">migrants</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/the_cost_of_registering_property_is_going_up">The cost of registering property is going up</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">15/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The <strong><a href="http://www1.landregistry.gov.uk/fees/newfeeorder" title="Land Registry">Land Registry</a></strong> is planning to increase its fees by nearly a third to boost its income in the face of falling property transactions. The Registry said that the steep fall in the number of properties changing hands had forced them into increasing their charges. The cost of registering a £100,000 property increased from £100 to £130, while homeowners registering a £1 million home will pay £550, up from £420.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/the_cost_of_registering_property_is_going_up#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homeowner" title="homeowner">homeowner</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/home-ownership" title="home ownership">home ownership</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-price" title="house price">house price</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/demand_for_100000_social_rented_homes">Demand for 100,000 social rented homes</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">14/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Four leading organisations have called on the government to spend £6.35 billion in the next two years to create 100,000 <strong>new social rented homes</strong>, which would give an ‘immediate social and financial return’ to the economy. <strong><a href="http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090410/tuk-call-to-invest-6bn-in-new-homes-6323e80.html" title="Shelter">Shelter</a></strong>, along with the Local Government Association, National Housing Federation and the TUC, are arguing that housing provides an opportunity to rebuild economic activity, creating thousands of jobs, maintaining skills, and safeguarding the ability to build homes that Britain needs.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/demand_for_100000_social_rented_homes#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government" title="government">government</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-housing" title="social housing">social housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/government-policy" title="government policy">government policy</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-market" title="house market">house market</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-building-target" title="house building target">house building target</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-renting" title="social renting">social renting</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04/bid_to_entice_institutions_into_investment_in_housing">Bid to entice institutions into investment in housing</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">14/04/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>AJ Williamson</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>The <strong><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ee68075c-2860-11de-8dbf-00144feabdc0.html" title="Homes and Communities Agency">Homes and Communities Agency</a></strong> is in talks with groups such as Legal & General about the way for institutional investors to <strong>build social housing</strong>. Gordon Brown is keen to find ways to increase the amount of housing, and a new public-private fund with the HCA putting equity into schemes and offering rental guarantees for the first two years of ownership is expected to be announced around the budget on 22 April.</p>
<p>The HCA delivered about 50,000 <strong><a href="http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/page.aspx?pointerid=48d52e4ad7bf43e6842528bb5dcd3b6e" title="affordable homes ">affordable homes </a></strong>in England and increased rental and low cost home ownership in the past financial year. Its latest accounts show it invested £3.9 billion on <strong>housing and regeneration</strong>.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2009/04/bid_to_entice_institutions_into_investment_in_housing#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-housing" title="social housing">social housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/rent" title="rent">rent</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/regeneration" title="regeneration">regeneration</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homeowner" title="homeowner">homeowner</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/low-cost-home-ownership" title="low-cost home ownership">low-cost home ownership</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-landlords" title="social landlords">social landlords</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-renting" title="social renting">social renting</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/homes-and-community-agency" title="homes and community agency">homes and community agency</a></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="blog_rh_col" class="item">
<div id="mpu_ad_area">
<a href="/" target="_blank"><img src="../../openx/www/images/hcsroofbanner.gif" width="300" height="250" alt="Housing Care and Support conference" title="Housing Care and Support conference" border="0"/></a><div id="beacon_ce31fe2a83" style="position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden;"></div>
</div>
<div class="" id="blog_tags_column_nested">
<form id="mailinglist_form" method="post" action="/">
<div class="hiddenFields">
<input type="hidden" name="XID" value="96f257c0ce77d2a999374c32ec0bbce9"/>
<input type="hidden" name="ACT" value="3"/>
<input type="hidden" name="RET" value="http://www.roofmagazine.org.uk/roofblog/2009/04/"/>
<input type="hidden" name="list" value="blog_notification"/>
<input type="hidden" name="site_id" value="1"/>
</div>
<div id="mailinglistbox" class="clearfix">
<h3>Join the ROOF mailing list</h3>
<p>Receive notification via email of new posts on the ROOF Blog</p>
<p><input id="mailing_email" type="text" name="email" value="Your email"/></p>
<p><input id="mail_submit" type="submit" value="Submit"/></p>
</div>
</form>
<div id="tag_cloud">
<h3>All tags</h3>
<div id="cloud">
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/2020" title="2020" style="font-size:10px;">2020,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/A-E" title="A&E" style="font-size:10px;">A&E;,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/accessibility" title="accessibility" style="font-size:10px;">accessibility,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/accommodation" title="accommodation" style="font-size:10px;">accommodation,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/activism" title="activism" style="font-size:10px;">activism,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/admissions" title="admissions" style="font-size:10px;">admissions,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/adults" title="adults" style="font-size:10px;">adults,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/advertising" title="advertising" style="font-size:10px;">advertising,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/advice" title="advice" style="font-size:10px;">advice,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/advice-service" title="advice service" style="font-size:10px;">advice service,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affluence" title="affluence" style="font-size:10px;">affluence,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordability" title="affordability" style="font-size:18px;">affordability,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordability" title="Affordability" style="font-size:12px;">Affordability,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable" title="affordable" style="font-size:10px;">affordable,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable-homes" title="affordable homes" style="font-size:16px;">affordable homes,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable-housing" title="affordable housing" style="font-size:12px;">affordable housing,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable-rent" title="affordable rent" style="font-size:10px;">affordable rent,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/ageing-population" title="ageing population" style="font-size:10px;">ageing population,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/agency" title="agency" style="font-size:10px;">agency,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/agents" title="agents" style="font-size:10px;">agents,</a>
</div>
</div>
<div id="blog_archives">
<h3>Blog archive</h3>
<h4>2010</h4>
<ul id="months_2010">
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2010/03">March 2010</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2010/02">February 2010</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2010/01">January 2010</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>2009</h4>
<ul id="months_2009">
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/12">December 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/11">November 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/10">October 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/09">September 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/08">August 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/07">July 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/06">June 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/05">May 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04">April 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/03">March 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/02">February 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/01">January 2009</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>2008</h4>
<ul id="months_2008">
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/12">December 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/11">November 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/10">October 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/09">September 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/08">August 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/07">July 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/06">June 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/05">May 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/04">April 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/03">March 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/02">February 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/01">January 2008</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>2007</h4>
<ul id="months_2007">
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/12">December 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/11">November 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/10">October 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/09">September 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/08">August 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/07">July 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/06">June 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/05">May 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/04">April 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/03">March 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/02">February 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/01">January 2007</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>2006</h4>
<ul id="months_2006">
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2006/12">December 2006</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2006/11">November 2006</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2006/10">October 2006</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2006/09">September 2006</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="" id="advertising_column_blog">
<script type="text/javascript"><!--//<![CDATA[
var m3_u = (location.protocol=='https:'?'https://roofmagazine.org.uk/openx/www/delivery/ajs.php':'/');
var m3_r = Math.floor(Math.random()*99999999999);
if (!document.MAX_used) document.MAX_used = ',';
document.write ("<scr"+"ipt type='text/javascript' src='"+m3_u);
document.write ("?zoneid=1");
document.write ('&cb=' + m3_r);
if (document.MAX_used != ',') document.write ("&exclude=" + document.MAX_used);
document.write (document.charset ? '&charset='+document.charset : (document.characterSet ? '&charset='+document.characterSet : ''));
document.write ("&loc=" + escape(window.location));
if (document.referrer) document.write ("&referer=" + escape(document.referrer));
if (document.context) document.write ("&context=" + escape(document.context));
if (document.mmm_fo) document.write ("&mmm_fo=1");
document.write ("'><\/scr"+"ipt>");
//]]>--></script><noscript><a href="/" target="_blank"><img src="../../openx/www/delivery/avw_php-zoneid-1-cb-INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE-n-aa9d368a.jpg" border="0" alt=""/></a></noscript>
<div id="google_160">
<script type="text/javascript"><!--
/* 160x600, created 2/3/09 */
//-->
</script>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="line">
<div class="item" id="btt">
<p><a href="#topofpage">Back to top of page</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="line">
<div class="item" id="footer">
<div id="footer_menu">
<h3><a href="../../about">About this site</a></h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://england.shelter.org.uk/shop/subscriptions/roof_magazine">Subscriptions information</a></li>
<li><a href="../../about/copyright">Disclaimer and copyright</a></li>
<li><a href="../../about/privacy">Privacy policy</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p id="roof_contact">© 2005-09 ROOF Magazine | ROOF 88 Old Street, London EC1V 9HU</p>
<script type="text/javascript">
try {
} catch(err) {}</script>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>