226 tenants swap homes in York

Around 11,000 tenants were claiming housing benefit in York at the end of the 2012/13 financial year.

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Of these over 8000 were occupying socially rented accommodation (Council/Housing Association properties)

814 tenants were registered on HomeSwapper seeking direct exchanges.

226 exchanges had been completed in the year.

The York Council has recently amended its policies to give priority to exchanges to be used in cases of social or financial hardship. A downsizing incentive scheme has been introduced.

NB. At the end of February there were 2,300 applicants on the housing waiting list in York

£1.9 million for Council house sales unused in York

The Council has been forced to reveal, in a response to a Freedom of Information request, how much it has received in income from “right to buy” Council housesales

Over the last 2 years the Council has received over £4 million from sales.

Part of this has to be returned to central government but £2.5 million was available for the Council to spend on replacement properties.

Right to buy sales in York

Right to buy sales in York

It has so far only committed to invest £520,624 on new properties (Mainly those scheduled for sites like Beckfield Lane).

The information was released only a day after the Council Leader had been forced to agree to consider whether some of the £13 million surplus on the housing account could be used to purchase properties on the open market.

Liberal Democrat Councillors have pointed out for months that, with the majority of applicants on the housing waiting list seeking single bedroomed accommodation, the quickest way to address their needs would be to purchase empty homes from the open market.

Instead of using the considerable resources available to the Council to provide additional social housing, the Councils Leadership have engaged in an ultimately pointless ramble about introducing a cap on private sector rent levels.

Such a “cap” would require Parliamentary approval and would not ultimately be of much help to the less well off, who have at least part of their rent paid through housing benefit

Lower rent levels could, therefore, reduce government expenditure on benefit payments but would also drive many “buy to let” landlords from the market (as they would be unable to repay their mortgages)

The Council Leader has also claimed that house prices have increased in York.

Although there are “hot spots” in the City and some growth in house prices over recent months, as the graph shows, prices have still not returned to their 2008 peak.

House price trends in York area

House price trends in York area

York Council to seek help in managing it’s housing account.

A review of the, York Councils, Housing Business Plan is being put off until July.

The new plan was to have been revealed at a “Cabinet” meeting scheduled to take place next month.

Instead, apparently the Darlington Borough Council are to be involved in a “peer review” of Council Housing management in York. Darlington is also a Labour controlled local authority.

The delay will come as little surprise to many tenants who have complained about lack of progress with much needed estate improvements. There is a long list of outstanding work including many requests for improved car parking, better security, renewal of fencing and upgrades to communal areas.

It appears that, despite the backlog of work, this years (2013/14) estate improvement budget may not be fully utilised.

The Councils decision, not to use some of its £13 million surplus to buy additional Council homes on the open market, should be scrutinised.

NB The Council have again put off considering a report on how to deal with parking enforcement problems on Council estates.

The issue was first scheduled for consideration last autumn, but is now unclear when – or even if – the matter will be debated.

House sales increasing in west York

There has been an increase in the number of house sales in the Woodthorpe and Westfield parts of York over recent months

A 5 bedroomed detached property in The Gallops recently went for a bargain £190,000 while a 4 bedroomed home in Westfield Place fetched £144,000.

Several 3 bedroomed properties sold for prices ranging from £147,000 on Bellhouse Way to £210,000 on Ashbourne Way

Bramham Avenue property advertised for £129,950

Bramham Avenue property advertised for £129,950

Properties still available include a 5 bedroomed home in Alness Drive for £295,000, a 4 bedroomed property on Foxwood Lane for £205,000 and a 3 bedroomed home on Bellhouse Way priced at £170,000.

The rental market remains buoyant with a 2 bedroomed terraced house in Gladstone Street available for £625 per calendar month while the owners are asking £950 pcm for a 3 bedroomed house in Fellbrook Avenue

Chain free properties, where new owners can move in quickly, range for a  £130,000 2 bedroomed property in Stuart Road  to and 5 bedroomed house on Moor Lane which is advertised for £389,500.

Fewer property owners are now discounting the properties that they are trying to sell. However, amongst the more realistically valued properties, added to the sales list recently, are homes in Bramham Avenue (2 bedrooms, £129,950) and a £137,000 two bedroomed flat in Holgate Road

A two bedroomed house in Falconer Street is advertised to rent at £570 pcm. Similar properties in Gladstone Street are costing £595 pcm while the cheapest 3 bedroomed property in Tedder Road is priced at £795 pcm

639 York Council tenants affected by removal of spare room subsidy

639 of York’s 7803 Council tenants were affected last year when the “spare room subsidy” was removed.

New figures reveal that 267 of them now have new rent arrears.

None have been issued with eviction notices.

To deal with hardship cases , the Council has a budget of £300,000 for the current financial year.

Only £207,272 (72.4%) had been allocated by the end of January.

The Council had previously said that it had 1347 people on its housing list waiting for one bedroomed accommodation. Many of these are currently occupying larger properties which would be released for families if under-occupation could be eliminated.

Despite there being numerous one bedroomed properties available on the open market in York, the Council has so far declined to use its £13 million housing surplus to purchase some of them.

A one bedroomed flat of Green Lane in Acomb has a guide price of £80,000

The policy is likely to be challenged at a Council meeting taking place at the end of the month.

£300,000 for Rougier Street flat

Roman House

The prices, of the flats being converted from the bus shelter office block on Rougier Street, have been announced.

The penthouse will cost a whopping £300,000 which is a lot given the somewhat noisy neighbourhood.

There is no parking with the flats but theya re being sold with the latest electrnic gadgets including an iPad mini that is interfaced

“to allow you to control your home, mood and style in seconds. keep cosy or cool with the ability to pre-set thermostats and adjust heating, make your space light and bright or dark and homely with dimmable LeD lights, and enjoy your favourite music or TV on demand with a cutting edge aV system featuring built-in speakers and cabling for wall mounted LeD TVs”.

The development will have a 24 hour concierge service.

More details can be found by clicking here

Council house rents to increase by 5%

Despite having a record high £13 million surplus on the housing account, Labour plan to increase rent levels by 5%.in April.

The Council have stubbornly refused to use the surplus to buy additional homes on the open market.

Meanwhile new figures released by the Council confirm that most of the 2333 people registered on the housing waiting list are single and are seeking one bedroomed accommodation.

856 of these are aged under 30.

Housing fraud clampdown in York

Council’s and social landlords in the region are encouraging people to report tenancy fraud as part of a regional Tenancy Fraud Awareness Week 2014.

Council’s and social landlords in the region are encouraging people to report tenancy fraud as part of a regional Tenancy Fraud Awareness Week 2014.

Tenancy Fraud Awareness Week 2014 runs between Monday 3 and Sunday 9 February, and social housing providers and fraud busting-agencies across the region are encouraging members of the public to report any suspicions of tenancy fraud.

With tenancy fraud now a criminal offence following the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013, this latest campaign builds on an anti-Housing Fraud campaign launched in August 2013 by City of York Council and its counter fraud specialist partner Veritau.

(more…)

West York housing market review

Local house sales are picking up.

Selling prices remain competitive in west York with a 1 bed property in Invicta Court recently fetching £99,000, a 2 bedroomed terraced property in Walker Drive going for £112,000, a 3 bedroomed property in St Josephs Court going for £140,750 while a 4 bedroomed property in Huntsman’s Walk reached £190,000.

There are still some bargains around.
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click for details

click for details

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Properties for rent include

2 bed semi in Tedder Road at £650 a month

A 3 bed in Glenridding is advertised at £895