Renting a property privately in York – Letting fee petition launched

high-rent-pricesYork’s property market has been lively over recent months although several new specialist blocks of flats aimed at students are expected to reduce pressure on accommodation this year.

Nevertheless it is disappointing news that the government have decided not to lift the ceiling on the amount of housing benefit that can be claimed in the City. Rather than use the limit which applies to the similarly prices Harrogate area, the government persists in linking York with lower priced Selby.

In effect this discriminates against low paid workers.

On the west of the City a two bedroomed house in Tudor Road is currently advertised for rent at £650 ppm while a similar property in Thoresby Road is advertised for £700 ppm. These are the cheapest properties advertised. Some properties attract rents of over £1000 a month (The maximum housing allowance for a two bedroomed property in York is £536)

Petition on Agents fees

Another problem faced by potential tenants are the fees charged by letting agents. These fees are currently unregulated in England (although not in Scotland) and can vary considerably.

It is not uncommon for “up front” costs of £1000 to be incurred by potential tenants.

The petition organisers say,

“Walk down any high street in England and you could go into five different letting agents who would all charge you a different fee. You have to pay for the privilege of dealing with them, to secure a property and even to change the name on a piece of paper? You’re then also charged an inflated fee for a credit check, which actually costs as little as a tenner.

For instance, the fee charged by one agent to change a name on an existing tenancy is £210. ‘For what?!’ one friend of mine protested recently, before she called them and offered to go in and print off the documents herself.

I have paid as little as £80 and as much as £552 in agency fees on different properties. How is it possible that fees can vary so much from agency to agency? It’s a rip off and the agents are getting away with it”.

The petition has attracted over 225,000 supporters so far and can be signed by clicking here

Gale Farm Court care services rated ‘good’

Gale Farm Court sheltered accommodation

Gale Farm Court sheltered accommodation

Care and support services at City of York Council’s Sheltered Accommodation with Extra Care facilities has been described as ‘good’ by independent inspectors

The Personal Support Services (PSS), which offers care services to a number of tenants at Glen Lodge, Barstow House, Marjorie Waite Court and Gale Farm Court, was assessed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in January. It was described as ‘safe, effective, caring and responsive’ by the team of inspectors, who spoke to tenants and members of staff as part of their visit.

Comments from customers included: “I feel safe because they’re [the carers] are so efficient.”; “The care workers are very professional in everything they do.” “The carers and very good and considerate. They always look after me well and are most kind and careful.”

Councillor Carol Runciman, Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health, City of York Council, said: “I’m pleased that the inspection has highlighted so many areas of good practice in the care and support provided at our sheltered housing accommodation. It’s particularly heartening to see so many positive comments from customers about the care they receive.

“Extending the existing facilities at Glen Lodge and creating additional purpose-built Sheltered Accommodation across the city is a key part of our plans to improve accommodation for older people in the city and I’m delighted that our existing services are rated as ‘good’. I’d like to thank all the staff for their continued hard work and dedication.”

Future of York Council housing to be decided on Thursday

“This is likely to require the demolition of the poorest housing stock to replace with new homes”.
click to download

click to download

The report states that 60% of Council homes were built between 1930 and 1968. Older ones may be reaching the end of their lives. The report claims that the popularity and value of all properties have been assessed in a “Housing Asset Register” although no link to the document has been provided.

The report’s conclusions could have far reaching effects on many Council tenants living in York.

 It is a shame, therefore, that the report – and an accompanying review of the Housing Revenue Account – have been added to the agenda for the busiest meeting of the year, with tenants and their representatives having had little time to digest the report’s content (or even see it in most cases).

No consultation with stakeholders has taken place nor is any promised.

The Council confirms that – in advance of government legislation – it will sell any high value Council houses that become vacant, although It does not indicate the threshold for such sales.

It will also consider selling other sub-standard properties when they become vacant. Non-standard built houses like “Orlits” and those liable to flooding or dampness are specifically mentioned.   

Orlit houses may face demolition

Orlit houses may face demolition

One piece of good news is that the Council may in future use “right to buy” receipts to fund “a programme of purchase and repair of individual homes from the open market if no use has been identified (for the receipt) with 6 months to go”.

The Council is right to come up with plans for a regeneration of its housing estates. Too many of them have been subject to decline over several years with officials having ignored the need to provide basic improvements, like car parking spaces, for too long. 

There is little pride in some communal areas and some politicians see local open spaces and the stock of 968 garages only as potential building sites.

However, by giving all homes what it calls a sale “opportunity rating” the Council seems to be oblivious to the resulting blight that could affect whole neighbourhoods.

It would be easy to dismiss a report on the future of the 7731 Council houses in York as the work of a Borneo Witch Doctor. It certainly contains a lot of mumbo jumbo.

The proposals need a lot more thought and debate.

Round the clock care available at York council Extra Care Scheme

 Tenants at City of York Council’s Sheltered Housing with Extra Care Scheme, Glen Lodge, will be able to access round-the-clock care and support from this month.

PAY--Glen-Lodge-nursing-home-in-York-where-Pamela-Hudson-75-was-allegedly-bitten-by-a-rat

The new scheme will see Glen Lodge’s current extra care provision extended from 7am-11pm, to 24 hours, seven days a week.

With the number of people in York  aged 75 and older expected to rise by 50 per cent by 2030, and with the popularity and quality of its current provision at Glen Lodge and extra care services at Auden House, these new plans are part of a city-wide scheme to modernise accommodation for older people.

The programme seeks to address the needs of York’s ageing population by making the best use of existing sheltered housing, by offering people with higher care needs the services and accommodation they need now and in the future.

A planning application has also been submitted to build a further 25 flats and two bungalows on the Glen Lodge site, whose tenants can use the extra care services as their needs change. The application will be considered by the Area Planning Sub Committee on 4 February.

A number of staff from Grove House and Oakhaven – the two council residential care homes which are due to close this spring as part of plans to modernise care and support for older people as part of r the Older People’s Accommodation Programme – will help to deliver the extended care and support at Glen Lodge.

Residents are still awaiting the results of the independent inquiry into the alleged “rat biting” incident at Glen Lodge  (more…)

New Council homes to be built in York over next 12 months

Building work on 22 new City of York Council homes begins this year.

Groundworks have started on six houses on Pottery Lane. The two-bedroomed homes in Heworth are aimed at families and will be built by ESH Property Services.

Work will begin in February at Fenwick Street off Bishopthorpe Road where eight two-bedroomed apartments are being built for tenants looking to downsize to more manageable homes . The aim is to free more, larger council houses for growing families.

Under the last Labour Government Council house building reached a, post second world war, low.

Later this Spring, construction will also start on eight new homes at Chaloners Road, Dringhouses providing two, two-bedroomed houses and six two-bedroomed apartments for people in housing need.

All will be built by ESH Property Services to lifetime homes standards. This allows them to be adapted to meet a tenant’s changing needs, and all will achieve high levels of fuel efficiency through insulation and heating systems.

Meanwhile, the first tenants of Lindsey House, a new development of 14 council apartments in Holgate bought from RHW Developement, moved into their new homes in December last year.

Across the city, eight new apartments built by Transcore are nearing completion at Hewley Avenue, Tang Hall.

Aviva York offices set to become 48 apartments

Aviva offices to be converted into Apartments?
Aviva offices to be converted into apartments?

Developers have submitted a planning application which, if approved, would see the Aviva insurance building on Rougier Street converted into 48 apartments. The office block was the home of the Yorkshire Insurance company for many years

There would be 10 two bedroomed flats and 38 three bedroomed apartments.

53 parking spaces would be provided.

The developer is seeking to take advantage of a recent concession in the law which allows commercial buildings to be converted into residential units without the need for “change of use” planning permission. The Local Authority though has still to determine detailed issues such a contamination, transport and flood risk.

Planning permission had previously been granted to turn the adjacent Roman House building into flats although this proposal subsequently stalled.

The ambitious plan confirms the burgeoning demand for city centre homes.

 It may put more pressure on the Council to maximise the value of its, currently unused, office block adjacent to the Guildhall. Offices are currently scheduled to be built on that site, but some commentators believe residential use could bring in a higher return for taxpayers.

Floorplan for planned Rougier Street apartment
Floorplan for planned Rougier Street apartment

£365,000 for York Central’s development plans

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

City of York Council has been awarded £365,000 of Government funding to help develop plans for York Central, a Housing Zone and an Enterprise Zone which aims to help create to 7,000 new jobs, up to 120,000 sq m of office space and up to 2,500 new homes.

York Central was identified as a Housing Zone in April 2015 and the award of this capacity funding will add to the £355k earmarked by the council in December to progress the next development stage.

The council will use the grant to help fund the delivery team and undertake further technical assessments to ensure the project makes progress whilst a partnership is being shaped with Network Rail, the NRM and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The HCA has also earmarked £9.4m of equity investment to the site (subject to final agreement of the partnership arrangements and the actual expenditure).

The partnership is also sourcing funding to invest in the infrastructure required to unlock the 72 hectare site which, as usual, was not flooded in the recent events.

Meanwhile, work continues between council, Network Rail, the NRM and the HCA to develop a planning framework.

The Enterprise Zone status means that half of business rates generated from the site, which would have gone back to government, will be retained in the area for 25 years following completion. Businesses moving to York Central will also get business rate relief for the first five years, providing an incentive for inward investment and business growth

Estimates suggest this could help to create up to 7,000 jobs in the city, and over £1.1 billion value for the region’s economy. The jobs created would be high-value office based jobs, helping to grow York’s economy by an estimated 20 per cent and would increase average wages in the city.

The Enterprise Zone status will also support the infrastructure for housing elements of the site, helping to create much-needed new homes on brownfield land and protect the greenbelt.
(more…)

House sales in west York buoyant

House sales in west York over the last few months have been buoyant.

Sales have included:

45, Bellhouse Way, YO24 3LL £180,000 30 Sep 2015 2 bed semi-D
12, Hatfield Walk, YO24 3LX £160,000 09 Oct 2015 4 bed terraced
16, Corlett Court, YO24 3LR £145,000 15 Oct 2015 3 bed terraced
49, Huntsmans Walk, YO24 3JZ £210,000 28 Sep 2015 3 bed detached
47, Lydham Court, YO24 3NU £122,000 23 Sep 2015 1 bed terraced
20, Lydham Court, YO24 3NU £122,500 15 Oct 2015 1 bed terraced
1, Bradley Drive, YO24 3NX £120,000 25 Aug 2015 1 bed terraced
93, Cornlands Road, YO24 3ED £156,000 24 Sep 2015 2 bed semi-D
25, Chantry Close, YO24 2SJ £190,000 28 Aug 2015 3 bed semi-D
25, Carrfield, YO24 2SG £197,500 23 Oct 2015 2 bed semi-D
Homes currently on the market include
  • 3 bed semi in Otterwood Lane for £205,000
    The Gallops £259,950
    The Gallops £259,950
  • 4 bed end terrace in Walker Drive for £167,500
  • 4 bed detached in The Gallops for £259,950
  • 6 bed terrace in Oldman Court for £167,500
Properties available for rent include:
  • 2 bed flat in Church Mews for £625 pm
  • 3 bed house in Hinton Ave for £740 pm
    Church Mews £625 pm
    Church Mews £625 pm
  • 2 bed house in Milner Street for £750 pm
  • 3 bed semi in Fellbrook Ave for £995 pm
Other interesting properties include
  • A chain free 5 bed home in Askham Bryan available at £900,000
  • A 3 bed terraced home in Hope Street has been discounted to £155,000

More details of these and other properties can be found on the Mouseprice web site click

 https://data.gov.uk/apps/mouseprice-property-information-site

Rat attack in York – Inquiry ordered by government

PAY--Glen-Lodge-nursing-home-in-York-where-Pamela-Hudson-75-was-allegedly-bitten-by-a-ratFollowing our story on Tuesday, the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has now ordered an investigation.

We had asked for the matter to be reported to the Councils Health Scrutiny Committee which is meeting on Tuesday, but the Council has not yet confirmed that the issue will be added to that agenda.

Patricia Hudson, 75, suffered injuries to her face, body and arms caused, her family believes, by a rodent at the council-run home Glen Lodge, in York.

York to get £4.6 million “New Homes Bonus”

In figures released by the government today, York has been allocated a New Homes Bonus payment of £4.6 million.

DerwentthorpeThe bonus reflects the number of new properties built in the City.

The government says that  646 homes were built in the City between October 2014 and October 2015, . 

That is the largest number of houses built for several years and reflects the City’s climb out of the recession.

Additionally, 67 empty homes were brought into use.

134 “affordable” homes were built which attracted a “premium” on the bonus.

York is receiving a New Homes Bonus of £3.6 million in the current year.

Although intended to encourage house building, the York Council has tended to use the housing bonus payments to underpin its general capital and revenue programmes. (See also NHB 2013)