A recent survey found that since the 1960s there has been a steady rise in the average age of first-time homebuyers and that it has now reached 35. This may or may not be good news to parents depending on whether or not they want to see their children move out. Whilst some will be renting many others are staying at, or returning to, a parental home. There has also been a rise in the number of people flat-sharing. Another survey showed that this had risen by just over 100,000 in the last year. Of course many other young people are living in rented accommodation either through choice or circumstance.
In this country home ownership has been the aspiration for more people than in many other places. Whilst there are countries on mainland Europe with higher rates than the U.K., many of our neighbours have far lower rates. It is noticeable that countries such as France, Netherlands and Germany have lower rates. This should also remind us that rates of home ownership and standard of living should not be seen as the same thing. Indeed some of those countries with the highest rates of home ownership, such as Ireland, Spain and Italy, are those facing the gravest economic problems at the moment. When we stop to think about it this should not surprise us as home ownership is closely linked to borrowing. Indeed it is the difficulty of borrowing that is making it harder for young people to buy. Most home owners rely on borrowing to buy, at least to start with, and usually for a very long time.
It wasn’t always like this. In our grandparents generation very many people would never have entertained the idea of buying and assumed that home ownership wasn’t “for the likes of them.” We might have cast aside that deference but in the process bought the aspiration of owning our home. Have we really considered the pros and cons, or just assumed it is a good thing? Perhaps the answer to the question is also linked not just to our circumstances but to our chosen values and lifestyle. Buying a house because we can afford it may not be the best option for everyone. Renting can be a positive option for many and should not be seen as a lesser option.
In 1964 when Derwent Living was founded, as Derwent Housing Society, it recognised the value of both renting and buying. Different options are needed for different people. To maintain that we have had to come up with different options including things like part-buy, part rent and Try Before you Buy. Whilst economics will always determine the options for many of us, it is perhaps time to look again at the merits of both buying and renting.
If you’ve got them at home – this might be an interesting discussion to have with your adult children.
A recent survey found that since the 1960s there has been a steady rise in the average age of first-time homebuyers and that it has now reached 35. This may or may not be good news to parents depending on whether or not they want to see their children move out. Whilst some will be renting many others are staying at, or returning to, a parental home. There has also been a rise in the number of people flat-sharing. Another survey showed that this had risen by just over 100,000 in the last year. Of course many other young people are living in rented accommodation either through choice or circumstance.
In this country home ownership has been the aspiration for more people than in many other places. Whilst there are countries on mainland Europe with higher rates than the U.K., many of our neighbours have far lower rates. It is noticeable that countries such as France, Netherlands and Germany have lower rates. This should also remind us that rates of home ownership and standard of living should not be seen as the same thing. Indeed some of those countries with the highest rates of home ownership, such as Ireland, Spain and Italy, are those facing the gravest economic problems at the moment. When we stop to think about it this should not surprise us as home ownership is closely linked to borrowing. Indeed it is the difficulty of borrowing that is making it harder for young people to buy. Most home owners rely on borrowing to buy, at least to start with, and usually for a very long time.
It wasn’t always like this. In our grandparents generation very many people would never have entertained the idea of buying and assumed that home ownership wasn’t “for the likes of them.” We might have cast aside that deference but in the process bought the aspiration of owning our home. Have we really considered the pros and cons, or just assumed it is a good thing? Perhaps the answer to the question is also linked not just to our circumstances but to our chosen values and lifestyle. Buying a house because we can afford it may not be the best option for everyone. Renting can be a positive option for many and should not be seen as a lesser option.
In 1964 when Derwent Living was founded, as Derwent Housing Society, it recognised the value of both renting and buying. Different options are needed for different people. To maintain that we have had to come up with different options including things like part-buy, part rent and Try Before you Buy. Whilst economics will always determine the options for many of us, it is perhaps time to look again at the merits of both buying and renting.
If you’ve got them at home – this might be an interesting discussion to have with your adult children.
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Posted in [Affordable housing
]
There has been reluctance in some quarters to discuss forced marriages. It seems to me that this is due to a number of factors.
First, there is confusion about the difference between a forced marriage and an arranged marriage. In the latter families play a part in selecting a suitable match but the decision to marry remains with the two people concerned. In a forced marriage there is no consent, it is all about compulsion.
Second, there is anxiety about commenting on the lifestyle of ethnic or cultural groups which may be different to our own. Whilst we should not comment on what we don’t understand, we should not let that obscure abuse. National charity Karma Nirvana doesn’t pull its punches, “Forced marriage is abuse not cultural.” And its staff do know what they’re talking about.
Third, there is often a shared failure to deal properly with issues affecting children.
The school summer holiday is a time when some youngsters are taken abroad and coerced into marriages against their will. Some will not return to continue their schooling in the autumn. It may well be a first trip abroad to the place where older family members came from. They may or may not speak the local language or understand what is going on. For some, getting married there will come as a complete surprise. Others may be afraid that it is going to happen. If a young person suspects that they are at risk of this they should leave a copy of their passport, the contact details of the person they are staying with and their flight details with a person they trust. They should also try and get support before they are taken abroad.
Karma Nirvana organises the Honour Network, a project designed to support victims and survivors of forced marriage and honour based violence. The Honour Network Helpline is 0800 5999 247. The Forced Marriage Unit also offers support to anyone who has been forced into or is afraid they are going to be forced into a marriage. It can help people in the UK or abroad. Its helpline is 0207 008 0151.
We shouldn’t hide our heads in the sand, but get to grips with this issue and protect young people from abuse.
First, there is confusion about the difference between a forced marriage and an arranged marriage. In the latter families play a part in selecting a suitable match but the decision to marry remains with the two people concerned. In a forced marriage there is no consent, it is all about compulsion.
Second, there is anxiety about commenting on the lifestyle of ethnic or cultural groups which may be different to our own. Whilst we should not comment on what we don’t understand, we should not let that obscure abuse. National charity Karma Nirvana doesn’t pull its punches, “Forced marriage is abuse not cultural.” And its staff do know what they’re talking about.
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Posted in [People]
Last Thursday’s Big Get Together at the Quad was one of the biggest events we’ve organised at Derwent Living in recent times. As I squeezed around the packed out cinema and arts centre taking photos, I got a feeling that people were coming together. Customers were making new friends, talking with Derwent Living colleagues and meeting representatives from our partner organisations. There was a real buzz around the place and it was quite satisfying to see all of the planning work we had done pay off.
Nearly 150 customers attended the event. Another 30 watched a live web broadcast, something which we hadn’t done before but which allowed us to reach customers who weren’t able to be there on the night. In case you’re wondering the broadcast is still available and can be found here in true watch again iPlayer style.
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Posted in [Customers]
Changes have been introduced in law and across the education system to help protect the victims of domestic violence. A number of tragic cases have highlighted serious flaws in the way that the police and authorities deal with perpetrators and victims of violence in the home.
As a result, from April 2011, all deaths that have involved domestic violence will have had to be automatically reviewed by all agencies involved. The review process is designed to prevent further deaths and to learn valuable lessons.
All agencies that have contact with a victim whether female or male will be compelled by law to conduct thorough investigations, and will be forced to ask themselves, “Could we have done more?”
The changes go further. To educate children about the dangers of domestic abuse every school pupil in England is to now to be taught that domestic violence is unacceptable. Children will be taught from the age of 5 years old how to prevent violent relationships as part of the personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum.
Work by the Home Office revealed that attitudes can create cultures where offenders of Domestic Violence can feel justified, and where women and girls feel they may in some way ‘deserve’ to be attacked or abused.
A 2009 opinion poll suggested a third of those asked thought a woman should be held fully or partly responsible if she was drunk and was sexually assaulted or raped.
Around one fifth thought it would be acceptable in certain circumstances for a man to hit or slap his wife or girlfriend in response to her being dressed in ‘sexy’ or ‘revealing’ clothing in public. It is estimated that up to 1 million women experience at least one incident of Domestic Abuse every year.
We all have a responsibility to speak out and challenge domestic violence. Speak up, speak out, change attitudes – save lives.
If you are being affected by Domestic Violence you are not alone, we can and will help you.
Changes have been introduced in law and across the education system to help protect the victims of domestic violence. A number of tragic cases have highlighted serious flaws in the way that the police and authorities deal with perpetrators and victims of violence in the home.
As a result, from April 2011, all deaths that have involved domestic violence will have had to be automatically reviewed by all agencies involved. The review process is designed to prevent further deaths and to learn valuable lessons.
Read more...
Posted in [Customers]
Resident involvement is one of the things that organisations always have on their radar to ‘embed’, especially at board level. But what is meant by embedded involvement? How does it work? And why should housing providers bother to do it at all?
From my point of view, embedded involvement has always meant that throughout the work that we do, we are always considering what impact a change, development or improvement will have on the customer. We should also be asking them what they think to it. For involvement to be truly effective and embedded, this has to take place in all areas of the business.
Some of this can be achieved through having robust and well-tested processes in place. Our team have worked hard with TPAS (Tenant Participation Advisory Service) to ensure our approach is the best it can be and are TPAS accredited as a result. It also requires an innovative forward thinking team to make it happen. I am pleased to say we have both at Derwent Living.
“There is now a greater emphasis on co-regulation with customers delivering reviews”
Consultation isn’t everything of course. These days residents aren’t just being consulted, they’re actively involved in delivering an improving service. In recent times our regulator the Tenant Services Authority has launched new guidelines which change how housing providers are governed. To strengthen our organisation we have recently co-opted resident Vivien McCurdy onto the Board to give more resident input to decision making and there is now a much greater emphasis on co-regulation. Customers are more active and are working to deliver reviews and inspections through a programme of resident scrutiny.
The recently formed resident scrutiny team at Derwent Living have just completed their first service review. I’m personally really excited about this piece of work and about their future and the role that they will play. The scrutiny idea was viewed by some in the industry with scepticism when it was first announced. I think we have proved it is actually the basis for a working model of challenge and improvement and I am really pleased with how everyone has approached it – on both sides.
“Its one of those things that landlords are always trying to demonstrate and justify when an inspection looms”
It’s not just one group of residents who are having their say though. At present the team at Derwent Living are taking involvement out to the wider community through a new programme of Challenge Hour sessions. Challenge Hour ties in with new local offers and lets customers have their say about the issues that affect them in their area. It’s also an opportunity to challenge those delivering the services directly. The team are working to ensure those who aren’t able to attend meetings are easily able to have their say in a number of different ways. New technologies such as live internet streaming for meetings and providing feedback on Derwent Living’s services through the reading panel are just a couple of ways customers can get involved.
So how is all this involvement work translating into better services for customers? I find it’s one of those things that landlords are always trying to demonstrate and justify when an inspection looms or an annual report is due. But in reality is it that simple to explain?
I think to a certain extent it probably is. This new concept of ownership and being an equal stakeholder in the business is refreshing from a resident’s point of view. The increasing number of involvement opportunities on offer is clearly informing customer focused changes throughout the business. The repairs review; through to customer forums and challenge sessions, to customer input into literature are all evidence of this in practice. Going forward this approach should see services improve naturally and yield even greater results for customers.
I’m a great believer in working together and if you’re thinking of getting involved I encourage you to do so. If you’re interested, why not come along to the Big Get Together on June xx and speak to a member of the resident involvement team.
Resident involvement is one of the things that organisations always have on their radar to ‘embed’, especially at board level. But what is meant by embedded involvement? How does it work? And why should housing providers bother to do it at all?
From my point of view, embedded involvement has always meant that throughout the work that we do, we are always considering what impact a change, development or improvement will have on the customer. We should also be asking them what they think to it. For involvement to be truly effective and embedded, this has to take place in all areas of the business.
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Posted in [Customer involvement]
