Members may recall that the Deputy Minister for Housing asked for a review of the rent setting policy for Wales be undertaken. The Essex Implementation Programme Board and its Strategic Board recommended that independent reviews of both the Housing Revenue Account regime (HRA) and the Social Sector Rent Policies should be undertaken. This work is now almost complete. Whilst there are two reviews they are closely linked. The Housing Directorate is responsible for setting Guideline rents for HRA Subsidy purposes for Local Authorities and Benchmark rents for the Registered Social Landlord (RSL) Sector. Continue reading →

The Home Office has published Baroness Newlove’s report showing how community activists can tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB). Baroness Newlove, whose husband Garry was kicked to death by a drink and drug fuelled gang of youths, has visited activists up and down the country to find examples of how communities and the authorities are working together against ASB. The report our vision for safe and active communities is written by an activist for activists and contains many good practice examples showing how groups of volunteers have formed to rid their local area of ASB. It provides advice and ideas for local communities working with police, local authorities and social landlords to uphold the law and enforce tenancy conditions. From a landlord’s perspective, the report provides a useful insight into current practice and strategies for tackling ASB that can be shared with residents. The recommendations include: Continue reading →

As you may be aware the final report of the Supporting People Review was published in Nov 2010. The head of the government-commissioned study, Professor Mansel Aylward, said of the supporting people programme that the £140 million supported housing scheme could be more efficient. Speaking at the Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru’s Tai 2010 conference, he said the scheme ‘his review would look at simplifying the system, and making it more efficient and accountable’. Talking to people who benefit from the services and seeing the difference it makes to their lives had convinced him the programme should be kept, he said.
Deputy housing minister Jocelyn Davies ordered the review in 2009, to ensure the scheme is being delivered efficiently. In 2009-10 £138 million was spent on Continue reading →

The Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration has issued ‘The Code of Guidance for Local Authorities on Allocation of Accommodation and Homelessness’ along with the consultation questions relating to the report. You can access the document via the housing homepage on the Welsh Assembly Government website or by going here:

http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/housingcommunity/codehomelessness/;jsessionid=lSYyNJ8PKNTXSLHSNkHpnDCLLBzv24KChGYnmsQdRTJpjp99dGMB!-301227275?lang=en.

Although the document is mainly targeted for allocation and homelessness practitioners, chapters 2 and 7 give a flavour of the impacts of the amended guidance.

ASBO or the Anti Social Behaviour Order has been with us for 11 years. First launched in 2000 as a major tool to tackle the anti social element of the youth culture the government is now considering doing away with the controversial tool in place of more localised controls by communities and local government. The approach has been outlined by the home secretary Teresa May MP who has outlined her plans which has been heralded as the most significant reforms of policing in the country for 50 years. The home secretary wishes to replace the bureaucratic accountability that has meant police forces looking to Whitehall, and targets and bureaucracy. With democratic accountability: the election of a police and crime commissioner for each police force to represent peoples needs locally, the home secretary has stated these reforms will make policing more accountable. She also announced Continue reading →

Many members and supporters of the Welsh Tenants Federation would have seen the news reports in the Western Mail on the 13th September 2010, ‘Wales loses £1bn to London in ‘rent scandal’ by Martin Shipton. The report highlighted that over £1billion has been sent back to the HM Treasury since devolution from Council House rents.

The Housing Revenue Account Subsidy System requires that any surplus be sent back to the HM Treasury and redistributed among all England and Wales Local Authorities who still retain their stock. The report highlighted that given the condition of some of the stock in Wales this was a scandal and that the system is in need of Continue reading →

Nearly 50 per cent of adults in Wales who have a mortgage or rent struggle with their payments at least some of the time, while 23 per cent say that housing costs are a source of anxiety, according to new figures published today [Thursday 1 July].
The survey, carried out for Shelter Cymru by YouGov, asked more than 1100 Welsh adults about their housing situations. The findings reveal that: Continue reading →

The Governments budget announcements yesterday went further than expected with massive cuts in the capital and revenue budgets across government. First Minister Carwyn Jones yesterday relayed that early indications would suggest around 2billion of spending over the next four years for Wales with the suggested £300 million shortfall in the existing Barnett formula for Wales not being recognised.

The headline issue for people on low incomes has to be the VAT rise to 20% this will undoubtedly have an impact on costs of living for poorer families and those who are on low incomes paying proportionately more for the rise in VAT than the well off. While we await news of any possible exemptions, we anticipate that exemptions will not include, food and clothing and Continue reading →

The Welsh Assembly Government has formed a Complaints Wales working group to enable citizens receiving public services to find it easier to complain and get things put right when the service they receive fails, or is just not good enough.

The group have devised a draft common complaints process. The document is in two parts, the first is a customer facing complaint form (addressing the potential complainant), while the second part contains design criteria for a complaint handling procedures. Copies of the documents can be obtained via the web link below or by contacting the Welsh Tenants Federation.

The deadline for a response is Friday, 23 July 2010. Anyone wishing to discuss their experiences of making a complaint, the Welsh Tenants Federation would welcome Continue reading →

The Welsh Tenants Federation believes that prevention is less costly than cure, commenting on the recent announcement of a cash boost for debt Consumer Credit Counseling Services CCCS Welsh Tenants Federation Chair Gail Mcfee said that extra resources into prevention has to be a positive step in these difficult times for everyone facing eviction. Whether that’s rent or mortgage arrears – the more help people can get before they are threatened with eviction the better.

Her views came as the Welsh Assembly Government announced a £58,000 cash boost to CCCS which offers advice to people facing repossession or eviction. The Housing Debt helpline provides free telephone based counseling to anyone at risk of losing their home, helping them find long term solutions to their problems.

Commenting on the additional funding that the helpline will receive in 2010-2011, Social Justice Minister Carl Sargeant said: “The Housing Debt helpline can play a key role in keeping people in their homes during the current economic climate. Advisers have the knowledge to offer expert advice and this funding will ensure the service continues to help people keep a roof over their head and address their debt problems.”

Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration Jocelyn Davies AM said:
“As we continue to help Wales out of recession it is important that we keep this vital helpline service open to people to tackle debt and prevent families from losing their homes. It is vital that people know that this help and advice will continue to be made available to help them in times of need. I would encourage anybody with debt problems to get in touch with this service as early as possible to get advice that is free and confidential.”

The helpline is run by the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) whose advisers are trained professionals in the field of debt advice and money management. Since its launch in 2009, the service has helped 61% of its customers retain their homes.

To contact the Housing Debt Helpline, call 0800 107 1340 or visit the Housing Debt Helpline website.

Further information about the Welsh Tenants Federation can be obtained by contacting the national office or by exploring our web site.