Setting Housing Priorites

"Housing Privatisation, 30 Years on: Time for a Critical Re-appraisal"

This above named conference, due to take place in 2010, is timed to coincide with the 30th Anniversary of the privatisation of public housing and the expansion of owner occupation through the 'Right to Buy' Policy.

The organisers state:

"The contraction of affordable, secure, public rented housing in favour of reliance on the private sector is seen by critics as a major cause of today’s housing crisis. This public conference calls on academics, housing professionals, tenants’ and residents’ associations, policy makers, and campaigners to stand back and critically reflect on the aims, methods and, above all, consequences of this neoliberal agenda, and what lessons we can draw for future housing policy."

So let us look at some figures; the Shelter web site provides the following information:

For England

• More than two million people find their rent or mortgage a constant struggle or are falling behind with payments.

• Families renting privately on low incomes have to put up with poor living conditions and little security.

For Scotland

• In 2007-08, 40,299 households were accepted by their local authority as homeless or potentially homeless, and 32,111 of those households, were assessed as in priority need.

Of the people who make homeless applications:

• 39 per cent are single men
• 19 per cent are single parents who are female
• 21 per cent are single women
• 6 per cent are couples with children
• 5 per cent are couples without children
• 5 per cent are single parents who are male.

For Highland

The number of households on the council waiting list was 5,175 in March 2008, but only 824 new lets were available in 2007-2008. This means that it would take 6.3 years to clear the current waiting list. In April 2009 the average house price in Highland was £147,204.

For Moray

The number of households on the council waiting list was 2,537 in March 2008, but only 279 new lets were available in 2007-2008. This means that it would take 9.1 years to clear the current waiting list. In April 2009 the average house price in Moray was £131,504.

Using the figures provided on the Shelter Scotland web site across other areas of Scotland

• In Aberdeenshire it would take 7.7 years to clear the current waiting list. In April 2009 the average house price in Aberdeenshire was £178,486.

• In Perth and Kinross it would take 11.8 years to clear the current waiting list. In April 2009 the average house price in Perth & Kinross was £159,529.

• In South Lanarkshire it would take 8.3 years to clear the current waiting list. In April 2009 the average house price in South Lanarkshire was £116,895.

• In the City of Edingburgh it would take 12.8 years to clear the current waiting list. In April 2009 the average house price in City of Edinburgh was £194,965.

The Conference itself is set to explore a wide range of themes including taking a look at British society before and after privatisation; Council housing and social inequality - class, 'race' and gender; Life on today's council estates, working class culture, the idea of community; Political parties and privatisation - are they all the same? Winners and losers from privatisation: wealth redistribution, life chances, etc.

More food for thought as we contemplate what land use provision should be made and what should be campaigned for via representations on the Main Issues Report for the Highland-wide Local Development Plan.