Transcript Outline
Role of housing in helping people stay at home for longer Mary Taylor Housing Policy and Practice Unit University of Stirling September 2009 Issues and questions What do we mean by ‘home’? What do we mean by ‘housing‘? Who is ‘housing’? What ‘housing‘ can contribute? How to get ‘housing’ involved What do we mean by ‘home’ Place we can be, in private What we regard as our place to live, somewhere to feel safe and at peace A place where we want to be, ourselves A dwelling not an institution Being at home is different and better – from being in ‘A Home’ Home could be … New homes New housing in Scotland since 1920 50,000 45,000 40,000 Completions 35,000 At 2008 we had 2.4 million dwellings We regularly add 1% p.a to the existing stock (27,000 in 2008), mostly by private building 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 0 5 0 5 0 5 0 5 0 5 0 5 0 5 0 5 0 5 192 192 193 193 194 194 195 195 196 196 197 197 198 198 199 199 200 200 Public sector & housing association Private sector ec e D ec e m m be r1 98 D ec ber 4 em 1 9 8 b D ec er 5 em 1 9 8 b D ec er 6 em 1 9 8 D ec ber 7 em 1 9 8 b D ec er 8 em 1 9 8 b D ec er 9 em 1 9 9 b D ec er 0 1 em 99 D ec ber 1 em 1 9 9 b D ec er 2 em 19 9 b D ec er 3 em 19 9 b D ec er 4 em 19 9 D ec ber 5 em 19 9 b D ec er 6 em 19 9 b D ec er 7 em 19 9 D ec ber 8 em 19 be 99 r2 M ar 000 ch 2 M ar 001 ch 2 M ar 002 ch 2 M ar 00 ch 3 2 M ar 004 ch 2 M ar 005 ch 2 M ar 00 ch 6 M ar 200 ch 7 20 08 p D Proportion Where do we live? Estimated stock of dwellings by tenure (Scotland) 1984 to 2008 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Owner occupied Rented privately Vacant private / second homes Housing Associations Local Authorities What do we mean by ‘housing’ Different perceptions The thing – the house, a form of shelter The people in a department or service – Usually the public sector The policy domain – Focus on houses provided by councils The resources – to achieve public policy goals Perception depends on starting point, what we know already and our focus Changing… Focus of housing policy today Volume and use of resources for investment, 1. – – Who builds, who receives subsidy, how much Management, costs, efficiency, value for money Homelessness 2. – – Increasing supply to address shortages Regulating access of those in need • Vs choice Quality of housing - public and private 3. – increasingly on privately owned housing, • – more services to private owners, and regulation of private operations Not only social housing and social tenants Who is ‘housing’? Changing, complex and (maybe) confusing Used to be simple – all councils – Typically focussed on housing management (letting, rents and repairs of council housing) • Some wider services Providers / landlords include – Councils • 26 out of 32 councils still own and manage housing for rent – Housing associations / RSLs • Some 200 – different sizes, roles and area coverage – Private landlords • Preferred in some areas over social housing • leasing arrangements in some areas for temporary housing Who is ‘housing’? Cont’d All councils have strategic and enabling powers – lately reinforced via Housing etc (Scotland) Act 2006 – NB some duties All operate differently depending on market, political will, structure & resources – Post-transfer councils no single dept or service called ‘housing’ and relevant services dispersed: • Environment, Technical, Community, Social Work, Planning, Revenues – Authorities with housing to rent tend to remain focussed primarily on that role • Though ‘Housing’ in Edinburgh covers really extensive range Changing ! Resources for housing New socially rented housing can be funded by public resources – Primary rationale for regulation Private funding element challenging in current climate – Obstacle and constraint, for how long? Landlords have accounts ring-fenced for services to tenants – In principle Wider council strategic services funded from General Fund – Never enough, even for duties, • may get worse – Competition with others What housing can contribute 1. Professional knowledge - of issues around buildings, money and people – Customer service • View of users and power relations determined by managing contracts with tenants – Attitudes changing ? • relations with customers 2. Access to resources – Subsidised investment for new housing – Funding of adaptations – Easier when tenants • But Care and Repair works for everyone – Revenue funds • Eg Supporting People How to get ‘housing’ involved Find out who they are and what they do Ask! – For input, advice, financial contributions Ask! – Early Ask! – Often – Establish and develop relationships – Set expectations