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Short on time? Wednesday’s housing news in five minutes
A round-up of the top stories this morning from Inside Housing and elsewhere
Top Story: Housing associations look to ease loneliness as tenants are asked to self-isolate due to coronavirus
Following government advice that vulnerable individuals should self-isolate, social landlords are looking at ways to reduce loneliness. Inside Housing has spoken to a number of housing associations that are planning to increase communication with older, vulnerable tenants.
Telephone calls to the most vulnerable residents will offer “practical emotional support for people who are feeling isolated and frightened,” said Michelle Reid, chief executive of Merthyr Valley Homes. Meanwhile, Peabody is looking at rolling out a phone-based to service to reach more tenants.
Government announces £3.2m to help rough sleepers self-isolate amid coronavirus outbreak
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has announced £3.2m of emergency funding to help rough sleepers isolate if they suspect they have coronavirus. Funds will be available to all English councils which will be reimbursed for the cost of providing accommodation and services.
The government said the money is the first step in helping local authorities put emergency measures in place and comes after Inside Housing reported that London’s largest network of winter night shelters was forced to turn away individuals due to coronavirus concerns.
Shelter Scotland is also lobbying the Scottish government to set up a coronavirus housing and homelessness taskforce.
Coronavirus advice update
The English Regulator for Social Housing (RSH) has said it will pause its programme of in-depth assessments (IDAs) of registered providers.
Now new IDAs will be started for the time being. For assessments that are already underway, the RSH will be in contact with providers to defer or complete it online.
Click here to read full update
As part of Inside Housing’s ongoing coverage of the coronavirus crisis, we have published the latest government advice for housing providers regarding the outbreak. We will be updating this on a daily basis.
Lunchtime long read
There were a host of announcements for housing in the last week’s Budget. Inside Housing looks at all the announcements covering areas including the new Affordable Homes Programme, homelessness, Public Works Loan Board borrowing rates, building safety, and coronavirus.
Quote of the day
“An oral statement to the commons and accompanying policy paper from housing secretary Robert Jenrick foreshadow not just the planning and social housing white papers but also a new housing strategy that will be published alongside the Spending Review in the autumn.”
Jules Birch reflects on last week’s planning announcement in the commons and considers what it tells us about the government’s wider housing strategy.
In the papers
Picture: Getty
Concerns are growing around renters who may be out of work and therefore fail to pay rent on time due to Covid-19.
The Guardian runs a piece outlining how housing associations are under pressure to offer rent holidays, after only one organisation pledged not to evict any tenant in arrears due to self-isolating because of coronavirus. It comes as experts warn that people who live in housing association accommodation are more likely to work in the gig economy or have precarious contracts, with some out of work because of the impact of the pandemic.
The BBC looks at the pressure being put on government to help renters as well as businesses.
Local news
Picture: Getty
In the North West, Wigan Today reports that Wigan Council has increased its borrowing limit by £24m.
Middlesbrough’s town centre will double in population under plans to build 2,000 new homes in the area, as the council hailed a “significant shift” from previous development on greenfield land, according to Teeside Live.
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