Housing Crisis – a fairness perspective Richard Pitt Love Southampton Housing Group Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective1

Size of council house waiting list? Rate of advertising vacancies? Years it will take to reduce the list? Housing crisis? Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective2 15,00050/week 300 weeks

Love Southampton Housing Group Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective3 Floating support Homeless support Church minister Street Pastor Supported lodgings Soup Run Refugee worker Breakfast club Rent deposit scheme Someone who cares

Housing pressures in Southampton 300 week waiting list… 9% population increase since 2001 £27,500 average deposit to buy a house 30,000+ students silent homeless sofa surfing families in temporary accommodation young families living with parents in a manipulative relationship Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective4 15,00050/week 300 weeks

Pressure / fairness by sector Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective5 private rental owner occupier social renter homeless

Private Rented Sector – fairness issues Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective6

The lot of the private renter Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective7 Housing?Home?

Private rental takes higher % of income than other types of tenure Poorest fifth spend 55% Middle fifth spend 30% Single person on minimum wage – what %? Affordability – % of income Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective8

9 Survey – rents in Southampton (chart)

Affordability – minimum wage (chart) Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective10

Affordability – Local Housing Allowance If you have to rely on LHA you are limited to cheapest accommodation Example – shared housing Uni of Southampton: average rent £70-80/week Equivalent LHA: £67.20/week Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective11

Affordability – local housing allowance (chart) Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective12

Barriers to entry Agents fees Deposit 50% rise since 2007 (earnings rise only 31%) Rent in advance Guarantor No benefits Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective13

Quality / Location Limited to cheapest = limited to lowest quality Limited to cheapest = limited to certain locations Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective14

Security Found something affordable… in a suitable location… it’s reasonable quality Overcame barriers to entry… …but it’s short-term tenure Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective15

Summary – private rental sector in short supply expensive insecure (short-term tenure) of questionable quality huge need for young people’s accommodation at below market rates Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective16

Vision for the future Affordable – within local Housing Allowance rates Good Quality – regular repairs/ maintenance Various locations – all over Southampton Security of Tenure – long term lets Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective17

Promote existing good practice Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective18

Initiatives to promote Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective19

Housing stock or someone’s home? “Private renting is a second-class tenure… …an investment vehicle for a small minority [rather] than a place to live for nine million people.” Generation Rent Housing Crisis - a fairness perspective20 Housing?Home?