§ Ms HarmanTo ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. Bell), representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement about the future of the community of the tenants of the Walworth Church Commissioners estate in Southwark. [160749]
§ Mr. Stuart BellAs my right hon. Friend will know, the Church Commissioners are consulting widely with interested parties over future letting policy in respect of a number of their residential estates, including that at Walworth in south London. The proposals forming the basis of consultation are, first, that the Commissioners will carry out a programme of improvements to the estates, and secondly, that over time, and for new tenants only, they will move to a mixture of affordable and market rents with the former being offered in future to key public service providers working in the local community.
That consultation is still in progress and includes seeking the views of residents groups, including the newly formed residents association on the Walworth estate. We have presented the proposals to some members of the association's committee and have been invited to give the same presentation at the inaugural meeting of the association on 15 May.
No decision will be taken until consultation has been concluded and the Commissioners have had a chance to consider the views of those affected by and close to the proposals.
§ Ms HarmanTo ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. Bell), representing the Church Commissioners, what the average rent level in tenancies is in the Walworth Church Commissioners estate in Southwark; and what assessment he has made of the average market rent levels in the Walworth area. [160748]
§ Mr. Stuart BellProperties at the Church Commissioners Walworth estate are let on a mixture of fair rents and assured tenancies, the former being applicable in the case of Rent Act tenancies granted before 1988. The average rent levels (as at 4 May 2001) on the Commissioners Walworth estate in both cases, as compared with the equivalent estimated market rental values, are set out as follows:
250W
Type of property Fair rent (£per week) Assured rent (£ per month) Market rent estimates (£per month) Bedsit 47.50 279 434 1 bedroom flat 53.00 337 650 2 bedroom flat 63.50 419 869 3 bedroom flat 68.00 485 1,210
Type of property Fair rent (£per week) Assured rent (£per month) Market rent estimates(£per month) 4 bedroom flat 70.00 530 1,500 1 bedroom ½ cottage 53.50 345 534 2 bedroom ½ cottage 50.00 406 760 1 bedroom cottage 65.50 343 800 2 bedroom cottage 70.50 399 869 3 bedroom cottage 81.50 433 1,086 The total number of properties involved is 618.
Rent levels vary according to the condition of the property and there are too few properties within some categories to provide very meaningful averages but this has been done so far as is possible. There is only one two bedroom half cottage rented on a fair rent, it is unmodernised and hence the rent level is shown as less than the average charged for a one bedroom half cottage.
Market rents were estimated by a local property agent at the end of 2000.