London Assembly Planning and Housing Committee Combined Evidence Received:.pdf version Investigation: Overcrowding in London’s Social Rented Housing Contents Organisation Evidence Reference Page Number Number London Borough of Bromley OSRH001 2 Family Mosaic OSRH002 44 East Thames Group OSRH003 46 Affinity Sutton OSRH004 50 Homes and Communities Agency (London) OSRH005 54 South-East London Region OSRH006 60 Hexagon Housing Association OSRH007 62 London Borough of Redbridge OSRH008 66 Kier Partnership Homes OSRH009 87 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) OSRH010 95 London Borough of Richmond upon Thames OSRH011 99 Citizens Advice OSRH012 103 Notting Hill Housing OSRH013 107 National Housing Federation OSRH014 110 London Borough of Waltham Forest OSRH015 114 Peabody Trust OSRH016 147 London Borough of Croydon OSRH017 153 London Borough of Camden OSRH018 156 G15 Group OSRH019 165 North London Sub Regional Partnership OSRH020 167 City of London OSRH021 172 Genesis Group OSRH022 174 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham OSRH023 179 St George Regeneration OSRH024 188 The Hyde Group OSRH025 190 London Borough of Hounslow OSRH026 194 London Borough of Harrow OSRH027 201 East London Sub Regional Partnership OSRH028 208 London School of Economics (LSE) OSRH029 215 Developers Group OSRH030 218 Amicus Horizon OSRH031 222 CIH (Chartered Institute of Housing) London OSRH032 225 London Borough of Southwark OSRH033 232 West London Region OSRH034 283 London Councils OSRH035 286 London Borough of Merton OSRH036 291 London Borough of Brent OSRH037 296 Greater London Authority: Housing Unit OSRH038 353 Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames OSRH039 364 London Borough of Croydon OSRH040 367 Places for People OSRH041 373 Shepherds Bush Housing Association OSRH042 381 1 1 Overcrowding Data 2009-10 - Quarter 4 & Baseline Return From: Gibson, David [[email protected]] Sent: 20 August 2010 16:23 To: Michael Walker Subject: FW: Overcrowding Data 2009-10 - Quarter 4 & Baseline Return -london Borough of Bromley OSRH001 Attachments: Overcrowding Monitoring Form 2009-10.xls; Tackling Overcrowding Pathfinder Programme - London Borough of Bromley; final draft Overcrowding strategy 20082010; RE: Overcrowding and under occupation report. Michel. Further to the letter from Andrew Boff dated 21 July Here is some info that I think will be useful for you To get to the report follow the link and it’s Allocs & waiting lists – overcrowding – CLG stats 30/6/10. Our report only shows data for applicants in Bands A and B - i.e. those overcrowding by 2 or more bedrooms. In terms of the questions on the second page of the letter. 1. Well it is undeniable that, at a simple level, more larger homes will help tackle overcrowding. However, in times of tight public finance (and, in reality, at any time) we should be looking to make best use of the assets available as a primary action. I.e. getting underoccupiers to down size. As social housing is becoming more like a form of welfare benefit then, like other WBs, when it is no longer needed then entitlement should cease. Perhaps not removing their security of tenure but not of the specific property they are in. Furthermore, recent changes to HB will put pressure on households seeking to rent privately in larger properties thus increasing need to make better use of what we have got - and proposals to reduce HB for social housing underoccupiers will actually make more people downsize and so the effects of this need to be factored in to any decisions about how much more new larger housing is needed. In fact more smaller units meeting the particular needs of older social housing underoccupiers might actually be needed and thereby create the amount of larger units that are needed. 2. Obstacles are grant rates, grant availability and developers not wanting this type of housing on mixed tenure developments - usually because of their views of the type of households and children who occupy such housing. 3. Mayor’s target needs to be reconsidered in light of any plans to reduce HB for social housing underoccupiers as per point 1 above. In any event, a target is all very well but it takes time to have any effect given that there will be a large number of planning permissions in the pipeline for schemes not including this level of larger units. 4. Answer is same as in 1 above. Why not build good homes attractive to underoccupiers and fund practical help for them to move. Appendix questions - - Economics - would need a lot more grant to entice developers with existing planning permissions and land holdings all put together based on a lot more smaller units - to then switch to having less units which would equate to less profit as less units to sell. Would create unviable schemes. - Budget reductions implications - quite simply would result in less larger unit supply - unless the underoccupation HB rules end up with a lot of underoccupiers moving. - Mayor can seek to increase grant rate - would require a reduction in total unit target. Mayor could also fund incentives to help people move. - Mayor needs to consider the effects of HB changes on social housing underoccupiers. - Regional Planning policy could require a minimum percentage of larger units but takes time to develop the policy and does not overcome all the sites in the pipeline 2 Regards David Gibson Assistant Director (Housing & Residential Services) Tel 020 8313 4794 Fax 020 8313 4620 emails ; [email protected] www.bromley.gov.uk ********************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are private and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed. 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Click here to report this email as spam. 3 file:///J|/...1_LB%20Bromley/OSRH001_FW%20Overcrowding%20Data%202009-10%20-%20Quarter%204%20%20Baseline%20Return.htm[13/09/2010 12:08:26] Grant 2007/08 Overcrowding Data Monitoring Report Local Authority: London Borough of Submitted by: Date: 01/04/10 Bromley Contact Number: Please read the attached explanatory notes before completing this form. The numbering of the notes accords with the question numbers used in the form (shown in column A). When complete, please return this form by email to: [email protected] A. Baseline Figures as at 01/04/09 Overcrowded households on waiting lists / all tenures 1. Overcrowded households from all tenures on both LA On LA On RSL and RSL waiting lists wanting to be re-housed as on waiting waiting Total on 01/04/09 list lists 01/04/09 No. of households recorded as Question 1 overcrowded by the Bedrooom Total Standard 319 0 0 total overcrowded 119 1 bed Of these households how many of whom severely o/crowded 27 Question 1a are currently living in each size total overcrowded 115 of accommodation? 2 bed of whom severely o/crowded 43 total overcrowded 76 3 bed of whom severely o/crowded 25 total overcrowded 9 4+ bed of whom severely o/crowded 4 Of these households, how many are existing social tenants seeking a Question 1b transfer? 230 ……. of whom, the number that are severely overcrowded 86 …….and how many are new applicants from Private Rented Sector 83 Question 1c seeking social housing? from Owner Occupation 7 Check total (1b+1c) 319 0 0 if cell is red it's if cell is red it's if cell is red it's If any of these because the because the because the cells are red check total check total check total please correct differs from differs from differs from as appropriate the total in the total in the total in E12 F12 G12 Under-occupied households on waiting list and wanting to downsize 2. Under-occupied social renters on both LA and RSL On LA On RSL waiting lists wanting to be re-housed as on 01/04/09 waiting waiting Total on list lists 01/04/09 No. of households recorded as under- Question 2 Total occupied by the Bedroom Standard 35 0 0 Of these households how many are 3 bedrooms 29 currently living in each size of Question 2a 4 bedrooms 5 accommodation? 5+ bedrooms 1 4 Grant 2007/08 Overcrowding Data Monitoring Report B.