DCLG: councils could have to publish social housing value

14 Jul 14
Local authorities could be forced to publish the value of the council flats and houses that they own, under government plans unveiled by housing minister Kris Hopkins.

By Richard Johnstone | 14 July 2014

Local authorities could be forced to publish the value of the council flats and houses that they own, under government plans unveiled by housing minister Kris Hopkins.

Prime Minister David Cameron has today announced restrictions on migrants’ rights to council housing to ensure ‘everyone who comes here pays their way'. Photo: Shutterstock

Image © David Burrows / shutterstock

Hopkins announced on Friday that the Department for Communities and Local Government would consult on requiring councils to publish valuations of their social housing stock every year.

This would give local residents information to question their council over the effective management of the housing they own, he said, and judge whether higher value, vacant properties could be sold to then fund the building of new homes for local people. The government has already urged town halls to use Right-to-Buy receipts to build more homes.

‘I want people to have confidence that their councils are managing the valuable resource of social housing properly, and ensuring the needs of the most vulnerable in their communities are being met,’ Hopkins stated.

‘Councils are already required to make public how they allocate their council homes, and since 2010 have received £19m to combat social tenancy fraud. Under these plans people would be able to see the value and numbers of properties councils hold and challenge councils to use this stock in the best possible way for the local community.’

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