Housing Refurbishment (Hansard, 26 May 1993)

§ Mr. Baldry

Bringing empty properties back into use is one of the Government's key objectives, and my Department has established a number of initiatives to tackle problems of disrepair and underuse14 per cent. of new allocations this year from the Housing Corporation's rented programme were for rehabilitation and a further 5 per cent. for short-life housing ('mini-HAT"). The Department is currently undertaking research into the role played by housing association rehabilitation. £346 million has been allocated in 1993–94 to support local authority expenditure on private house renewal, including house renovation grants. Taken together with local authorities'own contribution of 40 per cent. this provision will finance a higher total expenditure on grants (£575 million) than in 1992–93. In addition to other local authority capital expenditure on housing, the Government make considerable resources available through the estate action programme for the refurbishment of decaying houses in the public sector through regeneration schemes on run-down local authority estates. Since the programme was launched in 1985, over £1 billion has been allocated or earmarked for over 1,000 schemes. The programe's budget has increased from £268 million in 1991–92 to £347 million in 1992–93 and £356 million this year. Since its establishment in 1991 the Housing Action Trust at North Hull has already spent some £25 million towards renovating houses in its designated area. Much remains to be 619W done and a similar amount will be spent in Hull in this year alone. Two other HATs have been established at Waltham Forest and Liverpool, and tenants at Castle Vale and Tower Hamlets have recently voted for the establishment of HATs for their estates. Apart from North Hull, HATs are concerned mainly with the redevelopment or refurbishment of decaying high and low rise blocks of fiats. The planned expenditure for HATs in this year is £86.8 million. Under the Department's flats over shops initiative £25 million in grants towards renovation and conversion costs is being made available through local authorities between 1992–93 and 1994–95 to bring empty space above commercial properties back into residential use. The scheme is designed to be a three-way partnership between local authorities, housing associations, and private property owners. The Government have set up a task force to oversee an agreed programme of disposals of empty homes owned by Government Departments which are no longer needed for operational use, and help bring these properties back into use for people in housing need. The Department has launched a scheme to allow housing associations to act as intermediaries between private landlords and tenants, and is funding its administration costs. This scheme, Housing Associations as Managing Agents (HAMA), is designed to encourage people to let out property which would otherwise be empty by removing the stresses usually attached to being a landlord. Following the success of five pilot schemes during 1992–93, the Government have decided to expand the scheme throughout England. The Government will continue to support and encourage the refurbishment of empty and decaying houses in the public and private sectors, and to welcome constructive suggestions on the balance of its expenditure programmes.