The sad fact is that there is a shortage of housing of all kinds nationally and locally. This particularly applies to social housing where despite government tinkering and attacks tenants largely pay a fair rent for a fair service. As such rationing of social housing is increasingly prevelant at least in areas like Reading, Oxford and London.
It is a national scandle that there are councils struggling to let thier stock while others like Reading have thousands on our waiting lists.
The real solution to this problem is a national house building program and a rebalancing of the economy so that more young workers are able to find work in our great regional cities.
However until we get a government who will do this councils need to consider who they offer priority too very carefully. Reading is currently consulting on some changes to the allocations scheme for social housing in our borough and I'd encourage anyone with an interest in this to respond.
Council press release below:
From: “Reading Borough Council” <webmaster@reading.gov.uk>
Date: Sep 3, 2013 10:03 AM
Subject: Consultation on Housing Allocations Scheme
To: <Racheleden.whitley@gmail.com>
Consultation on Housing Allocations Scheme
03/09/2013
Reading Borough Council Press Release
Reading Borough Council this week launches the second phase of its ‘Let’s Talk Housing’ consultation, this time looking at ways in which people think the Council’s housing allocations scheme can be improved in the future.
Earlier this year the Council launched Let’s Talk Housing, a three-part consultation aimed at getting residents to think about the key housing-related issues which affect Reading as a town and – importantly – working with the Council to help identify ways to further improve the way people are housed.
While the first stage looked at the private rented sector in Reading, this second phase – beginning on Wednesday September 4th – focuses on Reading Borough Council’s housing allocations scheme. The allocations scheme is how the Council sets out things like who can apply to be on the local authority’s housing register, how the Council goes about deciding on priorities for re-housing and the guidelines for allocating social housing.
Recent legislative changes brought about by the Government’s Localism Act mean local Councils have more flexibility about how they choose to administer their housing register, including who can apply for a Council home. That means local Councils can have different allocation schemes depending on what local priorities are.
Reading Borough Council has therefore set out a series of discussion topics around who can apply to Readings housing register, including views on people who apply from outside of the borough.
More detail on the consultation, and the feedback questionnaire, can be found from tomorrow (Sep 4) at http://www.reading.gov.uk/letstalkhousing. Alternatively information in paper form may be collected from reception at the Civic Centre. The closing date for feedback is October 16th.
Councillor Richard Davies, Lead Member for Housing at Reading Borough Council, said:
“Nationally, and here in Reading, pressure on Council and Housing Association accommodation is enormous and is growing. As a result, it is more important than ever that we ensure that our policies related to who can apply for social housing and how the housing register is managed, are fair and serve the people of Reading in the best possible way. However, before we consider introducing any changes we want to hear residents’ views and ideas on what improvements we can make to our allocations scheme.
“Whatever kind of housing people live in, I’d encourage as many residents as possible to take part and ensure their views are taken into account.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
Reading Borough Council Press Releases can be found online at http://www.reading.gov.uk/news/pressreleases/
Media Contact: Oscar Mortali
Tel: 0118 937 2301
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