The National Housing Strategy, ‘Better Homes for Housing in Wales’ (2001) commits Local Authorities to bring their houses up to a decent standard by 2012, as defined by the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS). Each Local Authority is required to carry out a stock condition survey and produce a 30 year housing business plan to demonstrate how the improvements will be financed.
Current housing business plans indicate that the cost of bringing all social housing in Wales up to WHQS by 2012, and maintaining the standard is in excess of £4billion.Unfortunately Local Authorities have limited capacity to make the necessary level of investment as financial regulations constrain the options. Where the business plan indicates that the Authority is unable to finance the improvements through prudential borrowing the options in Wales are limited to transfer to a Housing association or to a community housing mutual. Authorities are required to ballot tenants before making a decision on stock transfer.
Whatever mechanisms are used to bring social housing stock up to the WHQS it is clear that there the investments can bring significant benefits to communities not only in terms of improving the housing stock and the environment but also in terms of employment creation and the development of sustainable communities.
For more information contact: Sue Finch