UK highest for homelessness in developed world.

It can’t happen overnight!

What happened to Prince William’s plan to end homelessness??

There will be people wanting to buy. Whether it’s first time buyers depends on whether they can afford to buy.

I am lucky not to have Family in this situation, so I don't have personal insight into this, and I understand what Germanshephardsmum says about landlords feeling they would have to sell up, but logically, if they are selling up, and others don't want to become landlords, who will be buying? Will it be first time home owners? Is that too simplistic?

Casdon of course - praise where it’s due.

ronib

Oreo my thoughts exactly. So why the sensational headline? Surely it should read along the lines of UK has lowest number of homeless people sleeping on the streets despite overwhelming demand from unprecedented increase in population density! So well done UK!!

Well done the charity sector I think you mean. That’s why there aren’t more homeless people on the streets.

I can’t help but feel that part of the problem is that many people assume that being homeless is something that happens due to irresponsibility of some kind by the homeless person and not something that could happen to them. That they would never be in the downward spiral that causes it.

Oreo my thoughts exactly. So why the sensational headline? Surely it should read along the lines of UK has lowest number of homeless people sleeping on the streets despite overwhelming demand from unprecedented increase in population density! So well done UK!!

Smileless2012

Supply and demand. When demand exceeds supply the price goes up and it's going to get worse when rentals have to comply with the minimum EPC rating.

In 2025 all new tenants will only have the option of renting 'C' and above, and in 2028 existing rentals must be a minimum of a 'C' because it will be illegal to rent it out, regardless of how well maintained the property may be.

Indeed. That means a substantial investment on the part of many landlords, and they will either sell or make the investment and recoup the cost from the tenants. A totally barmy idea, but have Labour said they will scrap it?

Cabowich

No good blaming the government for all of it, either. Where was homelessness and housing in Starmer's recent 6-point plan?

‘Labour has said the six steps are "not the sum total" of the party's election offer and insisted the party also stood by its other policy commitments, such as housing and workers' rights.’ BBC News.
That was said in the announcement about the Six Point Plan, a policy commitment had already been made about housing.

Interesting that we have such low levels of sleeping on the street compared to many countries.This does show that tho temporary accommodation has soared we do manage to actually house people, however temporary it may be.

I think the myriad of comments shows what a complex issue housing is, but one thing is certain - we currently have a housing crisis in the UK. Personally I would like to see cross-party discussions around the issue - some things should not be political footballs (similarly the NHS and education).

Supply and demand. When demand exceeds supply the price goes up and it's going to get worse when rentals have to comply with the minimum EPC rating.

In 2025 all new tenants will only have the option of renting 'C' and above, and in 2028 existing rentals must be a minimum of a 'C' because it will be illegal to rent it out, regardless of how well maintained the property may be.

There are far fewer properties to rent now and they are also more expensive. This adds to the burden of homelessness.

Cabowich

No good blaming the government for all of it, either. Where was homelessness and housing in Starmer's recent 6-point plan?

Good point Cabovich.

The reason I ask Cossy is that only a caravan would have cooking facilities so not a bad temporary solution. The others would need to be last ditch short term I.e. a couple of weeks rather than months or years.

No good blaming the government for all of it, either. Where was homelessness and housing in Starmer's recent 6-point plan?

A perfect storm of selling off council houses and not replacing that stock,un affordable homes, particularly here in the south east. Young people not being able to get on the housing ladder, it was never easy but now, depending on where they live almost impossible. Not building enough houses, and that was before around 10 million newcomers arrived. Anyway from what I read so many countries are experiencing the same problems, definitely in The Netherlands. Almost impossible to set up independently as a young person in Italy for example, hence the inter-generational families ravaged by Covid in Italy and Spain. Look no further than the US for the proliferation of tent cities, that's not because urban populations enjoy camping, it's because rents are un affordable and often those people have all manner of problems related to drugs and alcohol. It's universal and multi-faceted .

No one should have to live like this. It seems to have increased a lot since Covid. We never, ever saw people in doorways etc before that round here but now there are quite a few. More and more turn up for free meals. Something’s crook in Tallarook.

Even a no fault eviction is difficult, expensive and takes time if the tenant isn't prepared to vacate.

We have once again, a beautiful one bedroom flat with garden that we'll never let out because after the last tenant, it had to be totally gutted.

We were lucky that she agreed to leave or on top of the £000's is cost us to renovate, would have been the cost of getting her evicted.

Pantglas2

What exactly is “temporary accommodation”? Tents, hostels, b&bs, caravan?

“Temporary” accommodation (which can be up to four years) can be reasonably ok right down to absolutely appalling!

LizzieDrip

GSM how would it make the problem worse?

Because no one in their right minds would let out a property with no reasonable get out clause. Higher interest rates, increasing red tape, tax changes, section 24, ie removes right to deduct costs, mortgage interest etc, before calculating tax so gross income taxable, so I understand. Not profitable for landlords.
The only way around this is to stop selling off social housing, build more, not the four or five on a new estate of 800 homes. There is no reason we should have so many homeless, not taking into account immigration causing a demand on housing, according to one site, immigration of 1% rise increases same rise in house prices. Nearly half of social housing in London is going to non UK households. Something needs doing, drastically. I can't see Starmer, if he gets in, sorting it out either.

LizzieDrip

GSM how would it make the problem worse?

Landlords will sell up, and before you say it, the sort of people who are homeless are not going to be able to afford to buy.

It’s part of our housing crisis. We have expensive housing, rented or on mortgage. Thatcher’s refusal to allow councils to use the money from the sale of its housing stock compounded the shortage the policy caused.
I recognise the pressures on private landlords when tenants don’t pay rent or maintain their accommodation.
And - we have huge problems with drug/alcohol/anti social behaviour/mental health.
We need a holistic approach to the many ills in our apciety.

I don't think you can completely blame the government LizzieDrip when the population in the last 10 years has increased by millions. I don't know where millions more homes can be built!

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/bulletins/annualmidyearpopulationestimates/mid2021