You are here: GreenSquare Home > News > CIH debate

GreenSquare sponsors a debate on the future of a tenancy for life.

The Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Area Group of CIH is organising a debate (sponsored by GreenSquare Group) on the future of the Social Housing Tenancy entitled: "Is the writing is on the wall for a tenancy for life?".

The meeting is on Wednesday 20 January 2010 at 5:00pm for 5:30pm start at Marsh Farm Hotel, Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire SN4 8ER.

Policy reviews, such as those by Hills and Cave, have pointed the way to ‘a more varied menu’ of housing options in future. Flexible tenure, allowing staircasing down as well as up is already on the policy agenda.

With a pending General Election and significant tightening of public expenditure to come, how soon will it be before intermediate housing options are seen less as an element of choice and more as a way of reducing subsidies to better off tenants. The recent article by Karen Wilson in Inside Housing clearly articulated the coming argument. “Subsidised rent for life is unfair, wasteful and illogical” she argued. If we accept that we can never make enough subsidised affordable housing available to meet a growing need, how can it be right that someone who no longer needs that help can continue to occupy a publicly subsidised home for life?

Michelle Reid, the new Chief Executive of the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS), will join prominent housing professionals from the South West on the panel to debate the issue with a local housing association tenant in the chair.

Join in the debate and, in X-factor style, decide who has made the stronger case.

The meeting is open to members and non-members. To confirm your attendance please contact CIH Regional Support:
Tel: 02476 851798
Fax: 02476 695110
e-mail: regions@cih.org

 

 

BACK TO HOME PAGE