The Chancellor presented his Budget to Parliament on 16 March
which included a number of implications for stock retained
councils.
Hidden in the Budget document is an announcement that
the government will look at ways of further increasing home
ownership levels among social tenants. The document says "The
government will explore ways to extend homeownership to social
tenants who cannot afford to take advantage of existing
schemes."
It does not provide further details of what these schemes could
consist of but stock retained councils may be invited (or
compelled) to follow the principles set out in Chapter 3 paragraphs
10 and 11 of the NFA Voluntary
Agreement which commits housing associations to examine some
form of equity share arrangements for its tenants local.
The Chancellor also announced £100million funding to help people
move on from emergency hostels and refuges. Treasury say this will
pay for 2,000 places to live for those who need to move on from
emergency hostels and refuges. £10 million will also be available
for schemes like 'No Second Night Out', which is aimed at helping
people who have recently started rough sleeping to come off the
streets after a single night.
Matthew Warburton, ARCH Policy Adviser, has produced a
briefing summarising the main measures in the Budget as they affect
stock retained councils.