Tory backtrack on Housing Allowance rate freeze – A bit too late!

The Conservative government recently announced plans to end Local Housing Allowance rate freeze.

Thing is ….. recent research from the National Housing Federation (NHF) showed that just 0.96% of the total properties advertised for private rent in Peterborough, were “actually” affordable!

• Present rates for Housing Allowance in Peterborough

If you search for private accommodation in this area, under £450 a month, you’re lucky if you get 1 option, often you get none!

Instead, what we are seeing, is more and more properties like this one in Troutbeck Close, being converted into a house share.

What does Darren think?

Despite this long-overdue move, many people’s housing benefit will still fall far short of covering their rent.

The Conservatives’ four-year freeze followed a series of cuts and together they have cruelly pushed many of Peterborough’s private tenants into poverty.

Often people face impossible choices between paying the rent and meeting other essential bills.

Nationally, Labour is calling on this government to increase the level of Housing Benefit to ensure that people on low incomes are not put at risk of homelessness and destitution.

Two years on ….. the Council have agreed to send a letter! #StMichaelsGateSaga

It’s been nearly two years since Peterborough Conservatives at Peterborough City Council did a DEAL with a (London) property firm to evict 74 tenants from St Michael’s Gate, in Parnwell, many of whom had young children.

Lack of housing has cost PCC millions of £’s!

A chronic shortage of affordable housing in Peterborough, has seen Peterborough City Council spend millions of pounds over the last few years, on temporary accommodation for homeless families.

The predicament has not been helped either by the Council’s mismanagement of school places i.e. closing schools like Bretton Woods etc, which has meant the need to build two new schools, such as the ones at the Manor Drive/Paston Reserve area, which resulted in a reduction in affordable homes, that was previously agreed.

The number of affordable homes built in 2015/16 fell by 52% and was the lowest number in 24 years.

A steady decline in affordable housing and squeezes on household incomes has seen the number of households local authorities have been forced to place in temporary accommodation rise by 50% since 2010.

This is bad for families and communities and expensive for the council.

A renaissance in house-building by the City Council and a Government plan to reduce the squeeze on household incomes are both needed if we are to stand any chance of solving our housing crisis, reducing homelessness and the use of temporary accommodation, and sustainably reducing the housing benefit bill.

Don’t forget, if you have a view or comment on this, please do let me know by posting below!

Previous related articles

• The rising number of homeless people in Peterborough will cost the city council an extra £5.7 million in three years’ time.
• The council has predicted it will overspend by £1.8 million this financial year, with £1.2 million of that due to supporting people in temporary accommodation.
• Cross Keys Homes is passionately committed to helping to solve the housing crisis in Peterborough – and particularly the shortage of temporary accommodation.

 

Lack of housing has cost PCC millions of £’s!

A chronic shortage of affordable housing in Peterborough, has seen Peterborough City Council spend millions of pounds over the last few years, on temporary accommodation for homeless families.

The predicament has not been helped either by the Council’s mismanagement of school places i.e. closing schools like Bretton Woods etc, which has meant the need to build two new schools, such as the ones at the Manor Drive/Paston Reserve area, which resulted in a reduction in affordable homes, that was previously agreed.

The number of affordable homes built in 2015/16 fell by 52% and was the lowest number in 24 years.

A steady decline in affordable housing and squeezes on household incomes has seen the number of households local authorities have been forced to place in temporary accommodation rise by 50% since 2010.

This is bad for families and communities and expensive for the council.

A renaissance in house-building by the City Council and a Government plan to reduce the squeeze on household incomes are both needed if we are to stand any chance of solving our housing crisis, reducing homelessness and the use of temporary accommodation, and sustainably reducing the housing benefit bill.

Don’t forget, if you have a view or comment on this, please do let me know by posting below!

Previous related articles

• The rising number of homeless people in Peterborough will cost the city council an extra £5.7 million in three years’ time.
• The council has predicted it will overspend by £1.8 million this financial year, with £1.2 million of that due to supporting people in temporary accommodation.
• Cross Keys Homes is passionately committed to helping to solve the housing crisis in Peterborough – and particularly the shortage of temporary accommodation.

 

Looking to buy a house in #Peterborough? You’ll need 7 x times ya salary!

It was recently announced that 15 housing associations will be working the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to deliver up to 40,000 affordable homes over the next 20 years.

They claim they’ll be building at least 2,000 additional affordable homes by 2021.

Looking to buy a house in #Peterborough? You’ll need 7 x times ya salary!

It was recently announced that 15 housing associations will be working the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to deliver up to 40,000 affordable homes over the next 20 years.

They claim they’ll be building at least 2,000 additional affordable homes by 2021.

Council plans to buy homes long overdue! #Homelessness

I certainly learned a lot, when I was campaigning for local residents who were being turfed out of St Michael’s Gate, in order to house homeless individuals.

At the end of last year, it was reported that the Conservative controlled City Council, intends to buy up homes in Peterborough to house the growing numbers of homeless residents.

• You may remember just over a year or so ago, we discovered that the Council had moved families into a local Travelodge at a seven-figure cost!
• While at the same time, people in Peterborough also discovered homelessness under the Tories at the Town Hall had risen by 200%!

Council plans to buy homes long overdue! #Homelessness

I certainly learned a lot, when I was campaigning for local residents who were being turfed out of St Michael’s Gate, in order to house homeless individuals.

At the end of last year, it was reported that the Conservative controlled City Council, intends to buy up homes in Peterborough to house the growing numbers of homeless residents.

• You may remember just over a year or so ago, we discovered that the Council had moved families into a local Travelodge at a seven-figure cost!
• While at the same time, people in Peterborough also discovered homelessness under the Tories at the Town Hall had risen by 200%!

Barnet Council won’t buy anymore houses in our city!

Last year we discovered that Barnet Council had bought 28 city properties, in order to move their own homeless families in to, despite our own city facing a housing crisis forcing local people to wait more than a year for a home.

At the time, we also discovered that the Conservative controlled City Council, had no idea that this had happened!

Barnet Council won’t buy anymore houses in our city!

Last year we discovered that Barnet Council had bought 28 city properties, in order to move their own homeless families in to, despite our own city facing a housing crisis forcing local people to wait more than a year for a home.

At the time, we also discovered that the Conservative controlled City Council, had no idea that this had happened!