by René Lavanchy
GOVERNMENT revenue from council house rents must all go towards maintaining and managing council housing, a senior independent housing advisor to the Government said this week.
Steve Partridge, executive director of the Housing Quality Network, told the national conference of campaign group Defend Council Housing that using rent money to boost council house funding should be a “priority” for ministers.
The Department for Communities and Local Government is currently conducting a review into how social housing is funded, in an effort to make the system fairer and more transparent.
But DCH is unhappy that the department continues to take more in rent than it gives back in subsidies for management, maintenance and major repairs. Under next year’s settlement, announced this month, the difference – labelled a “robbery” by campaigners – will rise to £1.83 billion.
Mr Partridge, who is advising on the review, said: “The system is destined for a major rent surplus which may or may not be spent on housing. It’s a thumping great lot of money which could be used for stock and services.”
