Housing Hope For Locals (South Dorset Liberal Democrats)

South Dorset Liberal Democrats <info@southdorsetlibdems.org.uk>

Housing Hope For Locals

February 25, 2005 11:29 AM

Graham Oakes has welcomed the Affordable Housing policy launch by Charles Kennedy.

Charles said ""Decent homes, decent communities, and the opportunity to own your own home. Liberal Democrat housing policy aims to make these aspirations a reality."

"We have a simple ambition: a decent home for everyone at a price within their means."

"In some communities high house prices and lack of affordable housing stock have become an acute crisis. Many people simply cannot afford a home in the area where they were brought up, or near their jobs."

"Our innovation is to create a completely new housing market to help people make the transition from renting to buying. Mutual homes will offer people the opportunity to build up an equity stake in a home gradually, investing only as much as they can afford."

South Dorset Lib Dem PPC Graham Oakes said "The Lib Dems are offering first time buyers in South Dorset real hope of getting a home. The three schemes for new mutual homes, for boosting investment in shared equity and for "golden share" homes offer a range of options for local young families.

"The environment is at the heart of our housing strategy. We will also reform the ridiculous VAT system that encourages building on green field sites while making it too expensive to repair or convert old buildings."

ENDS

Note to Editors

Mutual Housing - land provided by a Community Land Trust at peppercorn rent. House built and owned by Mutual Home Ownership Trust. The individual or family would buy shares in the Trust and pay rent for the house. The value of the house would not include the land value. When they want to move they sell their shares to the next family or back to the Trust. The value of the shares rises in line with property values.

Shared Equity schemes exist already but councils need to be encouraged to set new ones up.

Golden Share homes are built as part of planning gain, only eligible local residents can buy them, sold at build cost only, and only re-sold to other eligible local residents at a controlled price (based on rise in property prices).