Decent homes funding blow to tenants

The council has been awarded just under £77m over three years from 2012 to 2015. But it has received no funding at all to spend improving its housing stock next year, despite being the largest social landlord in the country.

Councillor Ian Wingfield, cabinet member for housing, said: "Given the size of the council's housing stock and the extent of our investment need, we are bitterly disappointed not to receive more funding from the government to support this important area of work . Also to receive no funding at all next year, despite making what we believe was a strong and robust case for investment in Southwark's housing is additionally disappointing.

"This is a kick-in the teeth for our tenants who rightly expect and deserve the decent homes we'd so dearly like to provide for them, and we made this point very clearly in our grant request. I hope ministers review this decision otherwise we will be unable to improve our stock to a high standard."

In January 2011, Southwark Council applied for £148m of government funding over four years to make council homes warm, safe and dry. The council's December cabinet report suggested that a decent homes funding gap could range from £64m to £314m, depending upon the level of standard that you applied.

To involve local people with the issues the council is facing relating to their homes, it is asking residents to tell the authority what matters most to them, and how far the standard of decency should reach, given the strain on the public purse for housing.

While it goes without saying that the council has a duty to ensure that homes are comfortable and habitable for tenants, exactly what 'decent' means for people individually, or in each area, differs - some would prefer to see refurbished kitchens while others may want to see work on external doors or walls.

Ian Wingfield added: "The council is listening to what people want, but it will have to make difficult choices about priorities because resources are limited."

The council will not receive any money in year one, the availability of funding in year two may be dependent on wider changes to housing finance rules which are not yet clear, and years three and four (£65m, and the bulk of the money) are indicative only according to the published guidance and not a confirmed allocation.

Background

Decent homes funding for Southwark has been announced as follows:

2011/12 nil
2012/13 £11,250,000 *may be dependent on wider changes to housing finance rules
2013/14 £15,000,000 *indicative only - not a confirmed allocation
2014/15 £50,693,599 *indicative only - not a confirmed allocation

Total £76,943,599