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affordable housing

I was shocked to read the amount of people waiting to be housed.Exspecially since being a small developer in Speke Liverpool with 8 houses finished 8 partly finished and 8 to be built.All with a excellant energy performance certificate.We have contacted the local housing Association who didnt want to know although they are only 5 min walk from our site.they have come up with all kinds of reasons.Other housing association have told us they cannot buy in areas controlled by other associations I find this mad. so when I read about a housing shortage I think what? To date we stopped counting at 78 request to rent.I wish we could but like most we have a bank to pay back

Posted by joan Downey on 08 Feb 2010 at 1:20pm

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Does every MP and the Government not know what the situation is already to with affordable housing and the supply of housing? This is what Capitalism does to any country. Council housing sold off to private companies called, Housing Associations, reaping the profits while the Council wash thier hands from us, like we are jerms, while they take every penny from us in the name of Council tax and various other taxes. Do our MP's really give a toss about us? All they care about is claiming, dishonest expenses and taking from us what they can get away with, without any reprisal. Sorry to say, this will fall on deaf ears, while the banks and bosses reap profits and pay out huge bonuses to the few elites that own the worlds wealth.

Posted by Pam holland on 07 Feb 2010 at 12:52am

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I have been a single parent for 5 years (not by choice) and in this time I have always worked never relied on any benefits etc. I have 3 children and I have never been able to raise a deposit to assit me to buy housing due to having to pay for childcare etc. I am in the process of being made homeless and the council are lacking with support to help me. I have tried shared ownership schemes however they only build 1 and 2 bedroom flats. There are very rarely any 3 bedrooms. When you do find a 3 bedroom it is in an area where you wouldnt feel safe to go out with your cildren in the night. My question is when will the government start to build more 3 and 4 affordable properties? I have come to the conclusion that it is better not to work as I have suffered severe health problems regarding getting no assistance re my housing and noone cares when your working.However, I know someone who has never worked in her life and has had 4 children and she is demanding a 4 bedroom house whcih will be giving to her. In fact it seems the more you dont help yourself the more help you get. Im handing my car back and I am giving up work within the month as all this stress is not healty and Ive worked all my life and all its got me is debt and no quality of life. I know there is more people in this situation. I do not want to give up work I just want somewhere to live with my children who have moved so many times they are so unsettled. Im sure the vast majority will understand what im saying and I hope you as myself get some assistance in order to not have such a tremdous impact on our quality of life.

Posted by why work on 06 Feb 2010 at 4:59pm

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As has been mentioned above, we seem to have a collective split personality when it comes to house prices....... which perhaps just goes to show the extent to which most of us are brainwashed by the media and the social psyche in general. One the one hand, everyone grizzles - quite rightly - when the price of goods, food etc goes up because this means that, on fixed incomes, we will have less money left over (if any at all). However, we jump up and down for joy when house prices go up - WHY? As has been pointed out above, increases in house prices only benefit thoses who see housing as an investment opportunity on which they can obtain a capital or rental return - anyone else is just lumbered with an increase in their housing costs, leaving them with less cash in their pockets and lumbered with an immense mortgage. it seems that we have 3 options: 1. introduce a socailist 'non market' component into the provision of housing via strict price regulation. This would also involve controls on land prices. 2. build sufficient homes so that the 'demand' and hence cost is driven down to levels that are affordable 3. build more homes for rent so that we have a more flexible and affordable housing supply as in the rest of Europe. At present, we appear to have no clear policy or strategy and thinking is confused and contradictory - both at the political and grass roots level. Now is the time for the debate to start in earnest (weren't people saying that as far back as the 1880s?)

Posted by Steve on 05 Feb 2010 at 11:02am

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I agree with all if the banks only lend three and a half times your wages like they used to and made sure thay saw a P60 so one one could lie , and as most of the country work for £6 to £7 an hour now it not that hard to see what a price of an average home should be . So the cheaper the home more money in peoples pockets to spend on themselfs and that in term would create employment. We must stop being sucked into the system this way and finally it is only all borrowed for a short time from this world you cannot take it with you when you leave for the next

Posted by annie on 04 Feb 2010 at 6:06pm

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we are a family of 4 (2 adults ,2 children) in a 1 bedroom 3rd floor flat ,our local councils housing allocation system changed BACK to a bidding system last november,yes we have been bidding ,on 16 properties but still no joy. we cant afford a mortgage and yes we both work. we have had 2 local councillors involved in our situation but that was a waste of time and i would never private rent again due to bad experiences....so wahts the answer ?

Posted by wayne on 04 Feb 2010 at 10:41am

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There is not a shortage of housing in the UK, this is a myth. Increase interest rates to a sustainable level and watch the supply increase as the market shakes out all those people who cant afford the payments. Sounds cruel to the over indebted, but shouldnt Shelter fight for the disempowered homeless, not the feckless home buyer & the banks who lose out if they default? The homebuilders would like to keep building, and the RICS go on about high prices due to supply shortage, but these are raw vested interest's. I am surprised Shelter prefers their view to that of the priced out families and the first time buyer's with no bank of mum and dad. Why cant Shelter support drastic reductions in house price's as a means to achieve affordability?

Posted by stewart. on 03 Feb 2010 at 11:08pm

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Either house prices come down or rent laws need to change in renters' favour. Living with kids in a rented flat is a nightmare because we are never certain whether we will be here next year or kicked out by the landlord. We can't decorate / fit the place out to our needs. We are paying more per month for our 3 bedroom rented flat than friends who own 6 bedroom houses because interest rates are so low. Meanwhile, our savings are earning nothing in interest. I resent bailing out my mortgaged friends' lifestyles while I rent. But I refuse to by while house prices are so ridiculously high! Other countries have let their house prices fall, why hasn't Britain?

Posted by jane bee on 03 Feb 2010 at 10:09pm

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We are all obscessed with ownership in the UK, far more so than on the continent. The truth is most people are happy with Capitalism and trading up their homes at a profit more than seeing them as a place to live. The recesssion caused a correction in the housing market but still nowhere near enough for low income workers to afford a home. More housing associations are needed to accomodate these people.

Posted by Michael Seddon on 03 Feb 2010 at 9:31pm

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Getting very annoyed at those who seem to think that the key to an easy life is is to become a single mother and get it all on a plate from the state.I was made a single mother through no chioce of my own when i was eight months pregnant with my second child. I rent from a private landlord and claim benefits.There seems to be an idea that if you do this you get a wonderful place.You dont.Many landlords wont take HB and finding a decent place is hard.My place is not ideal for a family although the council deem it to be adequate . I have been awarded no priority by the council.I have a boy ang a girl ,but until my eldest is eight we will not be eligable for a three bedroom council house.With council waiting times being on average 6 years this means we wont be rehoused until my eldest is a teenager.I consider myself lucky.There are people living in terrible conditions waiting years on council lists.Nobody gets a council place easily these days even criminals and single mothers.Anyone who gets one deserves it as they must have been through hell.And guess what ? I once held down a responsible job and intend to do so again.

Posted by Sam on 03 Feb 2010 at 8:11pm

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