Housing
Posted by Jon Cruddas, MP for Dagenham, at 14:07, Thu 9 October 2008:
In Dagenham, waiting times for social housing are lengthening exponentially as the gap between demand and supply widens. The effects of right to buy have been profound. In Barking and Dagenham, prior to right to buy, there were 40,000 council homes. Over half of these homes have now been sold, 85% of them homes with gardens. The number now is just under 20,000. This presents us with one of the outstanding public policy challenges of the twenty-first century.
Those seeking social housing are increasingly marginalised. This in turn fuels a sense of competition in the community over resources which leads to broader social problems. All the while existing tenants become frustrated with the standards of council home provision.
The pressing task facing us is to increase housing supply and within that, to create new socially rented and genuinely affordable shared equity homes in the numbers required. Currently, many councils need relief in order to fund social housing on an ongoing, annual basis. We need to loosen up the restrictions on local housing authorities so that when necessary they can meet local demand themselves. If we get policy in this area right it might mark a new and positive era for councils in housing, one that is long overdue, but no less welcome for that.
Equally, the needs of existing council tenants need to be addressed. In my experience, when tenants and leaseholders are asked about their priorities for their homes and neighbourhoods it is security and general attractiveness that top the agenda. Yet these are the things that the decent homes standard passes by. Housing authorities simply do not have the capital investment to meet the pretty basic homes standard, let alone realise the aspirations of both councils and tenants to create decent places to live.
The government has recognised this problem and set a review in motion. I hope we will see some positive developments come out of this which will allow us to go beyond creating merely decent homes to ensuring great places for everyone to live in.
I'd love to hear everyone's views on what is one of the most pressing social issues of our age.
Yours, Jon Cruddas
Comments
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Posted by K. Rogers, 16:25, Thu 9 October 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
Personally I never believe anythig that any labour-party MP has to say.Especialy those in the present government.
Posted by Ian Harris, 17:13, Thu 9 October 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
Dear Jon, First point is your sentence below;
Quote " We need to loosen up the restrictions on local housing authorities so that when necessary they can meet local demand themselves.Unquote.
These Housing Associations do not adhere to their own Policy documents now, therefore I would hate to see restrictions lossened up.
Back in the 1960's we built 'New Towns' to accomadate the those seeking homes, however, I do believe that the main problem is that ordinary people, voters, seem not to trust any politician whatever political party.
The few very wealthy people who caused this mess and some actually made money from the bankruptcy of the money markets are known. It follows that you bring these individuals to account and take back the money & if at all possible make the stand up in a court of law. Instead of which, the government is targeting those are claiming a benefit and live in one of the most deprived areas in the country, i.e. Dagenham.
Posted by keith angus, 07:56, Fri 10 October 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
Either Jon Cruddas is a complete fool or he is a very devious person.If he truly believes the nonsense in this statement he is a very gullible person and not suitable for the position he holds.
The state of this country in general is the fault of successive corrupt goverments and it is no excuse to bleat about the right to buy causing the problems,as this "Labour" goverment is as bad if not worse than the previous Tory toerags that created the right to buy.The cause can be explained in one very simple word,GREED.
This country has been destroyed by these political criminals that disguise what they do as governing the country when in fact all they are doing is simply taking all they can at the expense of the masses.I believe they have an agenda to take all the wealth that this country once had and leave the rest of us to face the consequences.I suggest people look at the current situation that Brown and co have caused.
I am sorry if some of you do not agree with my views,but if you lived in Dagenham you would soon think like me.