Edinburgh-based Bield Housing, one of Scotland’s biggest providers of elderly care, is to close its residential care homes. Bield’s announcement will see the closure of twelve homes – two of which are in Edinburgh. Continue reading Bield Housing to close residential care homes
An ambitious project to build a new community of affordable homes in Leith is now underway.
Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) and the City of Edinburgh Council have started work on the Leith Fort housing development, with the first homes due to be completed in 2017.
A total of 94 new homes will be built on the former 18th century Leith Fort site, 62 of which will be owned by PoLHA and available for mid market rent and 32 units will be owned by the Council for social rent.
The new properties have been modelled on the Edinburgh colonies concept and are a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom homes. A particular feature of this development is that all homes have access to private south west facing gardens. There is also parking provision within the site and a communal landscaped area.
Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of PoLHA, said: “Building high-quality, affordable housing in Leith and North Edinburgh is at the heart of what we do and we are delighted to breathe new life into the former Leith Fort site which will complement our existing mix of developments in the city. Many people still have difficulties in accessing good quality homes which is why Leith Fort will help meet a wider range of needs.”
The main contractor is CCG (Scotland) Ltd and the development is being funded by PoLHA, the Council and the Scottish Government.
Councillor Cammy Day, Housing Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “I am delighted that work has started on this development, which will offer much-needed, high quality and energy-efficient homes at a price that people can afford. This is an historic site and the finished development, complete with gardens and landscaping, will be an attractive addition to the Leith community.
“We have trebled the number of affordable houses being delivered in Edinburgh to around 1,500 a year through programmes such as 21st Century Homes and will continue to work in partnership with organisations such as the Port of Leith Housing Association to deliver as many as possible.”
Homes selling more quickly as confidence grows
The property market in east central Scotland is growing in confidence, with an increased number of homes being sold and more properties achieving their Home Report valuation, according to the latest analysis by ESPC.
The number of new homes brought to market between the months of August and October 2015 increased by 1.6% annually, reversing the trend of year-on-year decreases seen since the House Price Report in May.
This follows a surge at the start of the year, then a dip over the summer in the number of homes being brought to market following the introduction of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).
‘Offers over’ is becoming the most popular as a way to market property, with 72% of properties brought to market with this pricing strategy, compared with 55% for the same period in 2014. Properties sold as ‘offers over’ are achieving an average of 6.2% over the asking price, up from 5.4% last year.
Maria Botha-Lopez, business analyst for ESPC, said: “This month’s House Price Report is continuing to demonstrate steady growth in the housing market in east central Scotland.
“As we have seen in previous reports, conditions are favourable for sellers with more homes being sold, which are taking less time to sell and are increasingly achieving their Home Report valuation.”
Average prices across east central Scotland are also continuing to remain steady, with a 1.5% increase between August and October 2015 compared with the same period last year. However, as with previous reports, there has been fluctuations in different areas of the region.
This time last year, the areas and property types that were showing the largest year-on-year increases in selling prices were three bedroom houses in Liberton and Gilmerton and properties in West Fife and Kinross.
Now, three bedroom homes in South Queensferry and Dalmeny are showing a 3.3% growth, while the average selling price of three bedroom homes in Liberton and Gilmerton has increased 1%.
Two bedroom flats in Portobello and Joppa are once again among the areas and property types showing the largest year-on-year increases in selling prices, as are one bedroom flats in Dalry, Gorgie, Slateford and Chesser, which are becoming popular areas for first time buyers.
podcast discussing the report in detail:
Key points
“In the 21st century, we need a private rented sector that is modern, stable, flexible, predictable and fair for those individuals and families that call it home” – Graeme Brown, Shelter Scotland
The City of Edinburgh Council has signed its support for a national campaign calling for fair rent for all.
Leader Councillor Andrew Burns and Deputy Leader Councillor Sandy Howat put their names to Shelter Scotland’s Make Renting Right campaign, which aims to make Scotland’s growing private rented sector fit for the 59,000 households in the capital that rent privately.
The campaign complements existing work between the Council and private landlords, which includes giving advice about what they must do by law, and how they can resolve problems with tenants. They are also legally required to register with the local authority by law and apply and comply with specific licences.
Councillor Burns said: “The Council has given its full backing to Making Rent Right because we are committed to housing people in high quality and affordable homes, which is a vital step in our battle against poverty.
“Renters are entitled to be treated fairly and while the majority of landlords do so, too many people are still experiencing the opposite. This campaign is a great step towards protecting them.”
Councillor Howat said: “We are delighted to support such an important and worthwhile campaign. Thousands of people rent in this city for many reasons, with many of them doing so by choice, and ensuring that they can do so safely and at a fair price is vital.
“The Capital Coalition is committed to providing affordable homes and will continue to work closely with our partners in order to do so.”
Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: “We are pleased that the City of Edinburgh Council has joined our calls for a better private rented sector for tenants and landlords.
“Along with the council, we want to see a private rented sector that is fit for families and protects all tenants – a sector that provides long-term homes, not short-term housing.
“Too often we hear of people being moved on, evicted or rents increased unreasonably, forcing people into the disruptive cycle of having to move house – every six months in some cases – preventing them from ever being able to put down strong roots and being part of a community.
“In the 21st century, we need a private rented sector that is modern, stable, flexible, predictable and fair for those individuals and families that call it home.”
Pictured (L-R): Matt Lock, Hubs Manager for Shelter Scotland; Fiona King, Shelter’s Campaigns and Public Affairs Manager; Deputy Leader Councillor Sandy Howat; Leader Councillor Andrew Burns; Adam Lang, Shelter’s Head of Communications and Policy.
OMSE scheme means ‘ome, sweet ‘ome’ for Scots first timers!
£70 million will be invested in a scheme to help eligible first-time buyers on low to moderate incomes buy a home, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed today.
The Scottish Government’s Open Market Shared Equity Scheme (OMSE) provides assistance to eligible buyers in the form of an interest free loan.
Eligible buyers are normally required to purchase between 60 per cent and 90 per cent of the value of a home within certain price thresholds that is for sale on the open market.
During a visit to Alloa The First Minister and Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil visited the home of Craig and Jude Deacons who purchased a home with assistance from the scheme.
Ms Sturgeon said: “”We want to help today’s generation of young people to access home ownership where this is sensible and sustainable for them.
“This scheme will have a huge impact on people’s life chances and will help them make a move from living in the social rented sector, the private rented sector or residing in the family home.’
“We will do all we can, within our powers and our resources, to help people like Craig and Jude get a foot onto the housing ladder”.
Jude Deacons said: ““Craig and I are grateful for the scheme as it has allowed us to secure a great first home fit for our family life.
“We got married in 2009 just as the housing market changed significantly. We were unable to buy our first home as we had no way of securing the sizeable deposit required, despite both being in full time employment.
“As both of us were first time buyers the OMSE scheme allowed us to purchase a house fit for purpose to accommodate our two children.
“Another benefit to the OMSE scheme was that we could look at all homes and not just new builds. This opened up more choice with regards to purchasing the right home for us.”
Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil said: ““The Open Market Shared Equity scheme has not only helped people to buy their first home, it has also helped ‘second-steppers’ to be able to sell their home and to move to a new property.
“The scheme has also helped free up houses in the social rented sector and it will continue to provide priority access to social renters, disabled people, serving members of the armed forces and veterans’.”
An additional £20 million will be invested to cut fuel poverty and improve the energy efficiency of Scotland’s housing, Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil confirmed today. And with energy costs tumbling, Mr Neil also urged energy providers to implement price cuts NOW.
£6 million is earmarked for home energy efficiency programmes that will support measures such as solid wall, cavity or loft insulation.
An additional £14 million will be invested in low cost home energy efficiency loans available to households in the private sector to supplement existing grant schemes to help install energy efficiency measures.
This additional funding will take the Scottish Government’s investment to tackle fuel poverty and boost energy efficiency over the three years 2013/14 to 2015/16 to around £300 million.
Details of the loan schemes will be announced in due course.
Mr Neil said: “This Government is determined to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency head on, as this additional £20 million investment for energy efficiency measures demonstrates.
“Fuel costs have risen six times faster than incomes since 2003. In 2013, fuel prices rose by seven per cent, pushing more people into fuel poverty. The fact that this is happening in an energy-rich country is outrageous.
“Given the recent reductions in energy costs, all energy providers must implement price cuts now and not wait until the Spring.
“This additional funding means we have allocated over half a billion pounds since 2009 to make Scotland’s homes more energy efficient”.
“Over 700,000 households have benefited from measures like new boilers or insulation targeted in particular at those in or at risk of fuel poverty.”
Empty shops and properties which are blighting Scotland’s town centres could be transformed into affordable housing thanks to a new £4 million fund.
The Town Centre Empty Homes Fund will provide grant and loan funding to help increase the supply of housing in Scotland’s urban and rural towns.
The Fund, which will open for bids shortly, will offer funding to regenerate both homes which have been lying empty for long periods of time, and to convert empty commercial spaces into residential accommodation. The properties will then be available for affordable rent or sale.
It comes on top of the work of the Shelter Scotland managed Empty Homes Partnership which recently had its funding doubled and received a three year extension, to help bring more private sector empty homes back into use.
Housing Minister Margaret Burgess announced details of the new Fund at the Shelter Scotland Homelessness Conference. She said:
“Making sure everyone has access to affordable homes where they can feel safe and warm, is a priority for the Scottish Government. But it’s not just about building new homes, we need to make better use of our existing housing stock and properties.
“It makes absolutely no sense for us to have more than 30,000 homes lying empty when homelessness still exists in Scotland.
“Empty shops and flats can be an eyesore in our communities, devaluing our properties and even encouraging anti-social behaviour.
“Bringing these empty properties back into use is a cost-effective way of increasing the supply of housing available to families across Scotland and it also aides community regeneration.
“By transforming derelict shops and flats into new homes, we will be able to inject some life back into our town centres and make them attractive places to live and work.”
Thinking about moving house? Miller Homes is to open it’s doors for Part Exchange and Assisted Move events this weekend …
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This weekend, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 January, Miller Homes is hosting open doors events across selected developments to help advise buyers looking to make the most of Part Exchange and Assisted Move incentives. During the weekend, buyers can also reserve their dream new home for £99.
Miller Homes’ unique Home Exchange is a part exchange scheme where buyers can upsize, downsize or just move into their new home, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.
With Home Exchange, Miller Homes carries out independent evaluation of the seller’s property and offer a potential buyer, making the process of securing a new home seamless and hassle free. It also prevents a property chain developing and avoids the risk of home buyers losing the house of their dreams because they can’t find a purchaser in time.
Aimed at providing detailed information and advice to those interested in purchasing using these offers, Miller Homes sales advisors will be on hand to guide potential buyers through the process.
Developments hosting the open house weekend include:
Anne Marie Britton, Scotland Area Sales and Marketing Director at Miller Homes said: “We have a fantastic range of homes for new buyers. Whether you are looking to purchase for the first time, upsize to accommodate a new addition to the family, downsize as the family flees the nest, or simply to move into another exciting new area.
“From one bedroom apartments up to five bedroom luxury quality detached homes, each buyer can be assured that they will receive the quality of craftsmanship synonymous with Miller Homes. All for a reservation fee of £99.
“During the open weekend, our experienced sales advisers, mortgage specialists and financial advisers will be on hand to help new home and first time buyers through the purchasing process and learn of the latest range of incentives available.
“Our quality new homes are also currently available to reserve now under the Help to Buy Scheme (Scotland), for completion in April 2015.”
All appointments are available on a first come first served basis.
Information on open times for each development are available at www.millerhomes.co.uk
Funding will target lower income families and first time buyers
Housing Minister Margaret Burgess has announced changes to Help to Buy (Scotland) which will support more people to get onto or move up the property ladder. As of Wednesday (October 22 2014), the shared equity scheme will apply to homes worth up to £250,000, rather than the current maximum of £400,000.
This change will ensure that more people can benefit from available funding and help to target funding at lower income families and first time buyers.
With 85% of all Help to Buy (Scotland) sales to date already at or below this new threshold – and an estimated 94% of sales having been to first time buyers – most new build houses will not be affected by the changes.
Since Help to Buy (Scotland) was launched in September 2013, more than 3,000 homes have been purchased with an additional 1,500 expected to be completed by the end of this financial year.
Mrs Burgess said: “The Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme has opened up the housing market to thousands of house buyers. By targeting the scheme at properties at or below a value of £250,000, the scheme will support first time buyers and people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford to buy a new build home.
“The changes will also see the benefits of Help to Buy extended for as long as possible and build on the widely welcomed arrangements for the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax announced by the Finance Secretary last week.
“We will continue to monitor this successful scheme and will look at ways of making sure everyone in Scotland has access to good quality, affordable homes.”
Demand for the scheme has been high with Ministers allocating £275 million to the scheme to date, which is £55 million more than the industry’s original £220 million request. £100 million of that funding has been allocated to the 2015-16 budget.
Mrs Burgess added: “Housing continues to be a priority for this Government and we are investing over £390 million next year to deliver 6,000 affordable homes, of which 4,000 will be for social rent. Our 2015-16 budget makes clear that by investing in housing we are boosting the economy, improving the energy efficiency of housing stock and reducing fuel poverty.
“By replacing the stamp duty with the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, the tax paid will be more proportionate to the house price, which means that the tax is fairer and will be based more closely on the buyer’s ability to pay.
“This new approach will benefit the majority of Scots, with nobody paying tax on the first £135,000 of a house purchase and 90 per cent of homebuyers either paying less or the same amount as they would under current arrangements. It will be a major boost to first time buyers and improve the affordability of starter homes.”
Mark Lazarowicz MP has criticised the Westminster government’s failure to make the energy efficiency of new homes a central plank of its Help to Buy scheme in order to boost jobs, cut energy bills and carbon emissions.
THE North & Leith MP was speaking at Treasury Questions in the House of Commons, and said afterwards: “Increasing the energy efficiency of our homes can help cut fuel bills, create new skilled jobs and meet our targets for reducing carbon emissions.
“For instance, surely the Government could have seen that a scheme aimed at first-time buyers should have prioritised energy efficiency so helping young couples with mortgages save money on fuel bills.
“Building all new homes to a high level of energy efficiency helps avoid the need for retrofits later on and Help to Buy could have been used to provide a strong lead by setting a benchmark for the industry.
“It’s an example of where regulation can create new skilled jobs and apprenticeships and boost small businesses but once again the Government has just sat on its hands and failed to act.”
