Housing - building a secure future.

MY WEEKLY surgeries attract a wide range of people covering just about every conceivable issue but housing is one of the more regular reasons for making an appointment with me.

In broad terms, many people simply need a place to live while others require more space for their growing family.

The housing shortage is both a social and an economic problem.

Buyers cannot buy, especially first time-buyers, because homes are too expensive, lenders are not lending enough - requiring large deposits - and builders are not building enough, with limited credit being a major restriction.

Although there is some improvement in new building, we remain well below the required 232,000 new homes we need each year.

The coalition has announced a series of measures to boost the housing industry.

To tackle the difficulties faced by first time-buyers, it is supporting 95 per cent loans to value mortgages for new build properties in England and a new £500 million ‘Growing Places’ fund to develop infrastructure for housing has been introduced.

Public sector land is being freed up with ‘build now, pay later’ deals available and councils are also being encouraged to address the disturbingly high number of empty houses.

Stroud District Council is leading the way through offering its services to manage such homes being brought back into use.

All in all, some £150 million is being directed towards these initiatives.

To further empower councils which have retained their housing stock, they now have direct financial and strategic responsibility for council homes.

Again, SDC is developing models through self-financing.

The Localism Act 2011 has reformed social housing by changing the way people access accommodation through the introduction of new tenancies so that those in real need can be helped.

In line with the importance placed on innovation in all sectors, new mechanisms for building houses and, in particular, social housing, are being encouraged.

A combination of sensible planning, good management of existing properties and measures to increase access to funding should increase the availability of much needed houses. If you would like to discuss the issues raised above, please contact me on 01453 751572 or visit my website www.neilcarmichael.co.uk