Agenda item

A report detailing Oldham’s repsonse to the National Housing Crisis

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) which informed members that in tackling the current housing crisis and unprecedented demand for housing services, the report highlighted a number of key immediate resource, asked to support a local response in Oldham to improve access to housing support for our residents, to accelerate house building so Oldham’s residents have access to more social homes, and to bring online more temporary homes which are much needed for residents in emergency accommodation situations as a result of the cost of living crisis, domestic abuse, or a change to family circumstances.

Over 7,000 people were currently waiting for a social home in Oldham on the housing register, with thousands more currently applying to get on the register; while 500 households were living in temporary accommodation as there simply was not enough truly affordable properties, of the right size in the borough to move people out of their temporary lodgings. Importantly, this included 500 children in these temporary living arrangements.

Families and households across Oldham were facing many challenges as a result of the cost of living crisis - housing being a massive factor in this due to increased rents and mortgages following a decade of high inflation and interest rates. Oldham didn't have the enough housing to meet the changing needs of peoples circumstances; namely enough truly affordable homes. This acute shortage of housing, particularly social and genuinely affordable housing, had led to spiralling rents and house prices. Many young people and families on low to middle incomes struggled to afford to rent or to buy a decent home and therefore overcrowding, evictions, rent arrears and homelessness are all on the rise.

The Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Licensing had held a ‘round-table’ discussion with housing associations, private landlords, housing developers, lettings agents and other industry experts, where they also explored the lived experiences of Oldham’s residents with the Poverty Truth Commission. This insight was added to the concerns and complaints from direct residential feedback, and it was clear that there was a need for local action, partnership and collaboration to provide a local solution to these housing challenges in Oldham. These challenges were part of a national housing crisis; however, Government policy changes and funding programmes were not mobilising quickly enough to support communities and residents who deserve better access to housing support.

This report was seeking approval to provide investment for the local response to the national housing crisis and included proposals for: redeployed staffing resources; options for improving service delivery models; and new programmes of activity for refurbishing, leasing, purchasing, and/or building new homes for the purposes of both temporary accommodation and to ensure Oldham residents have more access to truly affordable social housing.

Options/alternatives considered:

Options and alternatives were to be considered at item 23 of the agenda.

Resolved:

That the Cabinet would consider the commercially sensitive information at item 23 of the agenda before making a decision thereon.