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Housing Solicitors

Liverpool City Council planning to set up its own housing company (23 June 2016)

Date: 23/06/2016
Duncan Lewis, Housing Solicitors, Liverpool City Council planning to set up its own housing company

Liverpool City Council is planning to set up a new housing company which could help thousands of people on to the property ladder.

The city council is hoping to establish a local authority-owned, commercially driven “for profit” company which over the next few years would develop houses on land owned by the council, the public and the private sector for sale and rent.

The council says its aim is to provide new routes into home ownership for people by developing new starter homes, rent-to-buy properties and shared ownership schemes.

The company would also act as a high-quality, commercial, private landlord, says the council.

Under rent to buy, tenants purchase the property at a discount after a period of time funded by the increased value and an equity contribution built up through the rental.

The city council would maximise construction employment opportunities for local firms and apprentices – and profits made by the company would be recycled back into supporting wider council services.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said:

“We have done an awful lot to increase the range and choice of housing in the city over the last few years by working with housing associations and developers, as well as through our innovative Homes for a Pound scheme.

“Our success in creating more than 5,000 new homes with private and public sector partners has improved life for thousands of residents and is generating valuable council tax income to help offset cuts in our funding from Central Government.

“However, despite this work, I am acutely aware that there are still far too many people simply can’t get a foot on to the housing ladder in the areas where they want to live.

“This is an opportunity to use our knowledge and land to build properties which boosts employment, while at the same time helping people into their first home.”

The company would not rent properties out on a social housing basis or seek to compete with housing associations.

Cabinet Member for housing, Councillor Frank Hont, said:

“This is not a return to the days of the council being a social landlord providing mass housing. The company will operate commercially, but be very focused on social value and social responsibility and won’t compete with Housing Associations.

“This is not about competing with other sectors – but about filling gaps in the market which the private sector is not doing, and increasing the quality of the housing market.”

The company could also buy up and refurbish vacant property to support parts of the city where the housing market is struggling.

Over the last five years, a number of local authorities including Thurrock, Gateshead and Brentwood have entered the housing market on a commercial basis – research suggests more than 50 councils in England are in the process of developing housing companies.

A report to Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet on Friday 24 June is asking permission for the city council establish the local authority-owned, commercially driven “for profit” company.

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise tenants in the private rental sector on a wide range of housing matters, including Landlord and Tenant disputes, tenancy agreements, lease extensions, disrepair and unlawful eviction.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and our housing team can also advise on social housing and local authority housing matters – as well as offering conveyancing services to homebuyers and advising on debt management issues and mortgage repossession.

For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 0333 772 0409.


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