indeed but I think we should have declarations of interest
(I for one am a Labour Party member but not on council/involved in the party)
Empty council properties in Brixton
- Thread starter Bob
- Start date
indeed but I think we should have declarations of interest
(I for one am a Labour Party member but not on council/involved in the party)
bluestreak
HomosexualityIsStalin’sAtomBombtoDestroyAmerica
I'd not go admitting that sort of thing around here, cowboy 
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Im assuming Bob is talking about Council owned empty properties.There are also a lot of underused private properties that could house people.(See above shops on Electric Avenue).
The Council is penalised for leaving properties it owns empty by central Government.Even if it lets them out on a "temporary" basis as with "Short/Life" housing.
Property is being sold off in bits and pieces on the private market.The argument for this is that it realises a greater amount of money than selling to an RSL.
There is a difference between transfering a large Council owned estate (ie Moorlands estate) from Council ownership to an RSL than smaller sales.The Government has been encouraging large transfers to RSLs by local Councils.
However in the case of street houses and small blocks of flats which are empty or "Short/Life" (my situation) the Council has been asking RSLs to put bids in for properties the Council feels it cant economically do up to the Decent Homes Standard.
The Council (says it) has to realise a reasonable asset price if it sells to an RSL.The price can be reduced from the market price by a formula of how much money it saves by housing someone "in need".
If the Council thinks the offers from RSLs are to low (as it seems to at the moment)it can sell on the open market.
Unlike large estates these smaller sales can go relatively unnoticed.The thing is once the properties are sold thats it.There is no way that the Council will ever be able to buy them again.This means that the Council (or ALMO )will be left with large estates and no street properties or smaller blocks of flats.IMO this will mean increasing ghettoisation of housing.
The Council is penalised for leaving properties it owns empty by central Government.Even if it lets them out on a "temporary" basis as with "Short/Life" housing.
Property is being sold off in bits and pieces on the private market.The argument for this is that it realises a greater amount of money than selling to an RSL.
There is a difference between transfering a large Council owned estate (ie Moorlands estate) from Council ownership to an RSL than smaller sales.The Government has been encouraging large transfers to RSLs by local Councils.
However in the case of street houses and small blocks of flats which are empty or "Short/Life" (my situation) the Council has been asking RSLs to put bids in for properties the Council feels it cant economically do up to the Decent Homes Standard.
The Council (says it) has to realise a reasonable asset price if it sells to an RSL.The price can be reduced from the market price by a formula of how much money it saves by housing someone "in need".
If the Council thinks the offers from RSLs are to low (as it seems to at the moment)it can sell on the open market.
Unlike large estates these smaller sales can go relatively unnoticed.The thing is once the properties are sold thats it.There is no way that the Council will ever be able to buy them again.This means that the Council (or ALMO )will be left with large estates and no street properties or smaller blocks of flats.IMO this will mean increasing ghettoisation of housing.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
The credit crunch is bringing all the squatters back out the woodworks..don't you worry
Yes it is.To my surprise.Some of the East Europeans I know squat on and off.The credit crunch mean wages are lower in real terms and also for many people wages havent increased for several years.A lot of squatting is now in East london
The effect of the Sub-prime loans crisis,Northen Rock etc etc is being put onto the shoulders off the least well off.The Hedge fund managers have all walked off cash rich.
Squatting is less about 1960s counterculture than about affordable housing.It is more like some of the post war squatting by returning ex service men in disused properties.
Though counterculture does play an element in it.Not everyone wants or desire to be a cunt from the Apprentice walkng over everyone else to make a living
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
My friend moved to Portsmouth 2 months ago and returned her 1 bedroom council property to Lambeth, this property is still vacant. What i would like to know is why does it take Lambeth council so long to move people into these empty properties?, when my friend left the property it was in a decent condition.
Lambeth do have a discount cap now - the most anyone can get off their property is £16,000 - I've been in my house for 26 years, used to be entitled to 60-70% discount.
I agree with the statement about HAs ALMOs etc - Stockwell Park residents voted yes to 'resident led' management through Network Housing - this year is their first rent increase and mine was 10% the highest rise since I moved here. The Housing Trust will not give me the breakdown and have consistently ignored my request for 'written' explanations - they say the basic rent increase was 4% but cannot seem to tell me where the other 6% came from. Any MPs on here that can advise? I've written seven letters and made three visits over the past seven months!
I agree with the statement about HAs ALMOs etc - Stockwell Park residents voted yes to 'resident led' management through Network Housing - this year is their first rent increase and mine was 10% the highest rise since I moved here. The Housing Trust will not give me the breakdown and have consistently ignored my request for 'written' explanations - they say the basic rent increase was 4% but cannot seem to tell me where the other 6% came from. Any MPs on here that can advise? I've written seven letters and made three visits over the past seven months!
