Latest news with #EnglishHousingSurvey
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Social housing complaints soar as watchdog warns of 'simmering anger'
Complaints about substandard living conditions in social housing in England are more than five times higher than five years ago, according to the housing watchdog. Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway said there was an "imbalance of power" in the tenant-landlord relationship and "simmering anger at poor housing conditions risked becoming social disquiet". He warned without change England risked the "managed decline" of social housing. Asbestos, electrical and fire safety issues, pest control and leaks, damp and mould are among the complaints, the watchdog receives. In its latest report, the Housing Ombudsman, which deals with disputes between residents and social housing landlords in England, said that the general condition of social housing - combined with the length of time it takes for repairs to be done - is leading to a breakdown in trust. "You've got ageing homes and social housing, you've got rising costs around materials, for example, and you've got skills shortages," said Mr Blakeway, who spoke to the BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "You put all that together and you end up with a perfect storm and that's what's presenting in our case work. That is not sustainable." He said tenants have "little say in the services they receive, however poor they are" and that this is leading to "growing frustration". While he acknowledged that social landlords are putting in "record amounts" for repairs and maintenance - £9bn between 2023 and 2024 - there had been historic underfunding in social housing. He also said that while landlords have faced "funding uncertainties", they needed to address their communication with tenants that sometimes "lacks dignity and respect". According to the ombudsman's report, there were 6,380 complaints investigated in the year to March 2025 - up from 1,111 in the year to March 2020. Referring to English Housing Survey estimates, it also found that an estimated 1.5 million children in England live in a non-decent home in 2023, and 19% of those live in social housing. The Housing Ombudsman is calling for a "transformative overhaul" of the current system, including an independent review of funding practices and the establishment of a "national tenant body" to "strengthen tenant voice and landlord accountability". That would be separate to the ombudsman, which has the power to order a landlord to apologise, carry out works or pay financial compensation. "The human cost of poor living conditions is evident, with long-term impacts on community cohesion, educational attainment, public health, and economic productivity," said Mr Blakeway. "Without change we effectively risk the managed decline of one of the largest provisions of social housing in Europe, especially in areas of lowest affordability. "It also risks the simmering anger at poor housing conditions becoming social disquiet." This is "neither fanciful nor alarmist", he said, adding that tenant activism formed its roots decades ago in the 1960s, and referencing the ongoing "shock" over the Grenfell Tower fire and the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in recent years. The 2017 tower block blaze which killed 72 people, and the death of Awaab in 2020, caused by prolonged exposure to mould in his home, have put the spotlight on housing standards and safety. Housing campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa told the BBC that he was "shocked but not surprised" by the ombudsman's report. He pointed out that for complaints to reach the ombudsman, tenants will have to formally raised the issue with the landlord. Mr Tweneboa said social housing residents he has spoken to say they feel they are not listened to and that the culture within housing organisations "just isn't right". "They feel they are just a rental figure at the end of each month." "In some cases, residents are left to suffer for years," Mr Tweneboa says, adding that he knows of instances in which families with children have to "defecate in bin bags, urinate in bottles because they've been without a toilet for months". The National Housing Federation, which represents England's housing associations, said quality and safety of homes was their "top priority", and the sector was spending record sums on repairs and maintenance. Chief executive Kate Henderson said: "Crippling cuts to social housing over many years have exacerbated quality issues, as the ombudsman recognises, and only an increase in funding can address this over the long-term." Overcrowding is a "significant contributor" to issues such as damp and mould, she added. In a statement, a Ministry of Housing spokesperson said: "Everyone deserves to live in a safe, secure home and despite the situation we have inherited, we are taking decisive action to make this a reality." "We will clamp down on damp, mould and other hazards in social homes by bringing in Awaab's Law for the social rented sector from October, while we will also introduce a competence and conduct standard for the social rented sector to ensure staff have the right skills, knowledge and experience to do their jobs effectively." Plans to tackle IOM's key housing issues unveiled Rat infestation is blighting area, say residents We're treated like peasants, say tenants in fight over mouldy homes
Pembrokeshire Herald
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Pembrokeshire Herald
New Welsh Housing Survey to be launched after eight-year gap
Survey will include home inspections and fuel poverty data A NEW nationwide housing survey is set to take place in Wales for the first time since 2017. The Welsh Government has confirmed it will commission a new Welsh Housing Survey in 2027-28, following pressure from housing experts and members of the Senedd. The survey will provide up-to-date evidence on housing conditions, fuel poverty, and the quality of homes across Wales. Jayne Bryant MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, said she had approved the business case to move forward with the project, which will be more detailed than the previous survey delivered in 2017-18. The Herald understands that the survey will be broadly comparable to the English Housing Survey and will consist of two parts: a social survey and a physical home inspection. The social survey will collect data from households, including income levels and housing experiences, to support fuel poverty analysis. Meanwhile, qualified surveyors will carry out home inspections to assess the fabric and condition of properties. Ms Bryant said: 'Administrative data like Energy Performance Certificates and council tax records are increasingly used, but they cannot fully meet our evidence requirements. A comprehensive survey is still needed.' She added that the expanded survey will help inform a wide range of policies, including those on affordable housing, second homes, and homelessness. A tendering process will begin by the end of the 2025-26 financial year, with fieldwork due to start in 2027-28. Headline results are expected in 2028-29, with a full report to follow in 2029-30. The Cabinet Secretary said she would keep Members of the Senedd updated as the work progresses.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Boomer property wealth hits record £2.89 trillion
Baby boomers housing wealth has swelled to a record £2.89 trillion, analysis shows. Research by property firm Savills found that those aged over 60 own 56pc of the nation's owner-occupied homes, while those aged under 35 hold just 6pc. The trend was pinned on the rise in boomers – those born between 1946 and 1964 – becoming mortgage free. In total, properties owned by the over-60s are worth £2.95 trillion – just £60bn of which is outstanding mortgage debt. By comparison, those aged under 35 hold £600bn in property – half of which is mortgage debt. Lucian Cook, head of residential research at Savills, said: 'Over the past 10 years, debt has become a less important component of the growth in the value of the nation's housing stock, with increasingly more equity concentrated among older homeowners and investors. 'The baby boomers have continued to build wealth, having paid off their mortgage debt, and Generation X has been working hard to achieve the same goal. 'Meanwhile, Generations Y and Z have had much less opportunity to work their way up the housing ladder profitably.' It comes as boomers face increasing pressure to downsize to free up homes for young families. Last month, Tony Blair's think tank called for larger properties to be taxed more to encourage owners to downsize. Researchers at the Tony Blair Institute proposed that the council tax system – in which bills are based on the property's value in April 1991 – is ripped up and replaced with a levy set at 0.5pc of the home's current value. Thomas Smith, the institute's director of economic policy, said the move would 'incentivise homeowners in larger, under-occupied properties to downsize, improving housing market fluidity and supporting economic mobility'. Nearly 10 million homes in England had at least two unused bedrooms last year, according to the English Housing Survey, with pensioners accounting for the largest share of these homeowners. However, David Forsdyke, of Knight Frank Finance, said older homeowners tend to be 'asset rich, but cash poor', and that their pensions sometimes do not cover their living expenses. Figures published this week by the Equity Release Council found that the amount of money extracted from the value of homes rose by roughly a third in the three months to March, compared to last year. Mr Forsdyke said: 'Older homeowners are borrowing more to cover their cost of living, which has risen sharply in the past five years. 'Equity release offers a solution whereby they can draw down small amounts to top up their income. Others simply borrow to gift money to their children or grandchildren.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Sign in to access your portfolio
Telegraph
28-04-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Boomer property wealth hits record £2.89 trillion
Baby boomers housing wealth has swelled to a record £2.89 trillion, analysis shows. Research by property firm Savills found that those aged over 60 own 56pc of the nation's owner-occupied homes, while those aged under 35 hold just 6pc. The trend was pinned on the rise in boomers – those born between 1946 and 1964 – becoming mortgage free. In total, properties owned by the over-60s are worth £2.95 trillion – just £60bn of which is outstanding mortgage debt. By comparison, those aged under 35 hold £600bn in property – half of which is mortgage debt. Lucian Cook, head of residential research at Savills, said: 'Over the past 10 years, debt has become a less important component of the growth in the value of the nation's housing stock, with increasingly more equity concentrated among older homeowners and investors. 'The baby boomers have continued to build wealth, having paid off their mortgage debt, and Generation X has been working hard to achieve the same goal. 'Meanwhile, Generations Y and Z have had much less opportunity to work their way up the housing ladder profitably.' It comes as boomers face increasing pressure to downsize to free up homes for young families. Last month, Tony Blair's think tank called for larger properties to be taxed more to encourage owners to downsize. Researchers at the Tony Blair Institute proposed that the council tax system – in which bills are based on the property's value in April 1991 – is ripped up and replaced with a levy set at 0.5pc of the home's current value. Thomas Smith, the institute's director of economic policy, said the move would 'incentivise homeowners in larger, under-occupied properties to downsize, improving housing market fluidity and supporting economic mobility'. Nearly 10 million homes in England had at least two unused bedrooms last year, according to the English Housing Survey, with pensioners accounting for the largest share of these homeowners. However, David Forsdyke, of Knight Frank Finance, said older homeowners tend to be 'asset rich, but cash poor', and that their pensions sometimes do not cover their living expenses. Figures published this week by the Equity Release Council found that the amount of money extracted from the value of homes rose by roughly a third in the three months to March, compared to last year. Mr Forsdyke said: 'Older homeowners are borrowing more to cover their cost of living, which has risen sharply in the past five years. 'Equity release offers a solution whereby they can draw down small amounts to top up their income. Others simply borrow to gift money to their children or grandchildren.'
The Independent
27-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Over 60s house owners occupy £2.89 trillion of house value in UK
Older homeowners in the UK, aged 60 and above, hold more than half of the nation's owner-occupied housing wealth, totalling an estimated £2.89 trillion. Based on estimates from property firm Savills, this generation's significant share, representing 56 per cent of total housing wealth, contrasts sharply with younger homeowners. Those under 35, for example, hold just 6 per cent of the housing wealth pie. The concentration of property wealth among older generations is further highlighted by the fact that over-75s account for nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of the total. While the over-60s demographic holds substantial wealth, they are not entirely mortgage-free. Savills estimates that they still have around £60 billion in outstanding mortgage borrowing, equivalent to 2 per cent of their total home value. Regional variations also exist in the distribution of older homeowners. Savills notes higher concentrations of over-60s homeowners in the South West and Wales, compared to relatively lower numbers in London. Lucian Cook, head of residential research at Savills, said: 'Over the past 10 years, debt has become a less important component of the growth in the value of the nation's housing stock, with increasingly more equity concentrated among older homeowners and investors. 'The baby boomers have continued to build wealth, having paid off their mortgage debt, and Generation X has been working hard to achieve the same goal. Meanwhile, Generations Y and Z have had much less opportunity to work their way up the housing ladder profitably.' Mr Cook said the provision of more retirement housing, along with other incentives to make downsizing more appealing are 'fundamentally important'. He added: 'Such measures would help unlock much-needed family housing and equity that can be used to help younger generations get on and trade up the housing ladder.' Savills used various research sources, including figures from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Census data and the English Housing Survey. Here are Savills' calculations showing its estimates of over-60s' net owner-occupier housing wealth across the UK: South East, £603 billion London, £400 billion East of England, £354 billion South West, £326 billion North West, £234 billion West Midlands, £212 billion Scotland, £186 billion East Midlands, £178 billion Yorkshire and the Humber, £169 billion Wales, £106 billion North East, £64 billion Northern Ireland, £54 billion
