RLA : RPI : Green paper

News from the Residential Property Investor, the bi-monthly magazine for RLA members

other artilces from the April / May 2000 issue

Green paper - April / May 2000

The Housing Green paper has finally been published nearly three years after the Government took office. And the signs for residential investors are not encouraging. Firstly, it is published in conjunction with the DSS, which implies that any initiatives will be cuts-driven. More ominously, the Government threatens greater council control over the sector.

It claims to have improved the administration of housing benefit (HB) and to have driven up performance by implementing Best Value. However, and particularly since the introduction of verification, HB administration has falled to an appallingly low level. Now, 99 per cent of landlords don't want to take tenants receiving HB and many agents will not manage properties let to housing benefit tenants due to the poor level of HB administration.

It claims to have introduced an improved Rent Officer Service. But RO decisions are still very inconsistent at best and often display a total lack of understanding of the market. A good case for improving standards here!

It says it wants support the private landlord by encouraging voluntary accreditation schemes. But its latest research initiative into voluntary accreditation only considers council operated schemes.

And it is still determined to licence HMO's despite warnings that this will drastically reduce the availability of cheap easily accessible accommodation to low paid workers and students.

Martin J. Moylan

other artilces from the April / May 2000 issue