§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what information his Department has collated on the number of ex-local authority tenants who have exercised the right-tobuy after their tenancy has been transferred to a registered social landlord; and if he will make arrangements for this to be published on a regular basis. [56604]
§ Ms KeebleFigures on Preserved Right-to-Buy (PRTB) sales have been collected by the Housing Corporation since 1 April 2001 through their CORE system (continuous recording of lettings and sales). The results are published every six months in the CORE sales bulletins which are deposited in the House of Commons Library. 1,356 such sales were completed in the first six months of operation.
§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what information his Department has collated on levels of under-occupancy in social housing in London. [56601]
§ Ms KeebleBased on the 'bedroom standard', which is a well established statistical measure of under-occupancy/overcrowding, the information requested (plus the equivalent information for England) is provided in the following table:
Households in London in the social rented sector above the bedroom standard1, 1998–99 to 2000–012 Per cent. One bedroom above the standard Two or more bedrooms above the standard Total London 20 8 28 England 30 12 42 1Bedroom standard is an indicator of expected occupation density. A notional number of bedrooms are allocated to each household in accordance with its age/sex/marital status composition and the relationship of the members to each other. This is then compared with the actual number of bedrooms (including bedsitters) available for the sole use of the household. 2Survey of English Housing results for three survey years 1998–99, 1999–2000,2000–01, have been combined to give reliable estimates for London since the sample size in a single year would be insufficient. Source:
Survey of English Housing, DTLR
§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what information his Department has collated on the range of initiatives, apart from the cash incentive scheme and 801W HOMEBUY, local authorities and registered social landlords in London offer to encourage tenants to relinquish a tenancy on move from an under-occupied property to more suitably sized accommodation. [56602]
§ Ms KeebleMy Department published research and good practice guidance on underoccupation in social housing in April 2001 entitled "Managing under-occupation: A guide to good practice in social housing". The research identified and evaluated the initiatives being adopted by social landlords in England to assist under-occupiers to move to a smaller home when they want to. The research showed that social landlords in London and the south-east who are short of family sized homes are the most energetic in trying to reduce under-occupation.
Social landlords employ a range of positive incentives from helping with the move (removal arrangements and expenses) to some form of cash payment or improvements to the property (eg redecorating, kitchen or bathroom refit, improved heating, double glazing etc.). The research showed that a combination of positive inducements and the personal approach was the most effective for encouraging moves. Specialist staff who engage with tenants on a one to one basis, discussing their requirements in detail, explaining what help and properties are available can be particularly effective at facilitating moves.
Copies of the guidance were placed in the Libraries of the House.
§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities and the Housing Corporation since 1 May 1997 on offering tenants incentives, apart from the cash incentive scheme and HOMEBUY, to relinquish a tenancy on move from an under-occupied property to more suitably sized accommodation. [56603]
§ Ms KeebleMy Department published good practice guidance on managing under-occupation in social housing in April 2001 entitled "Managing under-occupation: A guide to good practice in social housing". The guidance was widely disseminated to LAs, RSLs and other key stakeholders such as the Housing Corporation. The guidance provides good practice for those social landlords who are looking to increase the supply of family sized relets by assisting under-occupiers to move to a smaller property when they want to.
The guidance recognised that under-occupation is not necessarily a bad thing and in areas of low demand under-occupation strategies can be counter-productive. The primary concern for authorities must always be to ask "are we making the very best use of our stock" which requires looking at the problem in the wider context of Government policies on social exclusion and on building mixed and sustainable communities.
Copies of the guidance were placed in the Libraries of the House.
§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 30 November 2001,Official Report, column 1162W, on social housing, how many homes were transferred from local authority ownership under (a) the right-to-buy 802W scheme and (b) registered social landlords in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1998, (iv) 1999, (v) 2000, (vi) 2001 and (vii) 2002. [57029]
§ Ms KeebleThe number of local authority dwellings in rural areas transferred from local authority ownership under the right to buy scheme and to registered social landlords (as reported by local authorities) in each of the years 1995–96 to 2000–01 is as follows.
Number of sales and transfers in rural areas Right to buy scheme To RSLs 1995–96 6,517 18,548 1996–97 6,399 10,739 1997–98 7,680 7,660 1998–99 6,754 26,441 1999–2000 8,925 15,452 2000–01 6,808 28,730 Note:
Figures for 2001–02 are not yet available
Source:
DTLR Pl(B) housing returns (quarterly)