• Council purchases a mix of new build and existing street properties
• New acquisitions assist the reduction in the Council’s reliance on costly, insecure, nightly-let accommodation
Newham council have purchased an additional 203 properties across the borough in an effort to tackle the homelessness crisis head-on. The new homes will assist in the reduction of the Council’s reliance on costly, insecure, nightly-let accommodation.
Newham is at the forefront of the housing crisis in London, and the Council supports 5800 households living in temporary accommodation. The increase in the number of households in temporary accommodation is due to local residents being priced out of the private rented sector in recent years and the lack of access to good quality, affordable rental homes.
The properties are a mixture of new build purpose built, existing blocks and street properties. All homes will be made available to households experiencing homelessness, moving people out of temporary accommodation and into long-term, sustainable homes.
We are ambitious and looking to purchase more homes to tackle the housing crisis using a range of routes from lease back schemes to street property acquisitions.
In the last 12 months we have purchased properties at;
- Donald Hunter House (80 homes)
- New Market Place, East Ham (43 homes)
- Upton Gardens, Green St (38 homes)
- Whole development at 44-46 Balaam Street, Plaistow (21 homes)
All homes will be made available to households experiencing homelessness at sub-market rent levels (Local Housing Allowance). The homes acquired by the Council will be leased to a 3rd party to manage.
Councillor Shaban Mohammed: Cabinet Member for Housing Management and Modernisation said:
“The Council have started an acquisitions programme to purchase accommodation to meet the needs of the crisis in supply. This will allow the council to drive up standards accommodation. The Government has caused this issue, but we are determined to support residents in this crisis.”
