By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
A group aiming to create a fairer housing market in Southampton has backed council plans to borrow £3million to purchase properties for emergency accommodation.
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Southampton Tenants Union said this was a “great start” to establishing cost savings and improving the ability to provide homes of an appropriate standard.
As reported, councillors signed off on borrowing the seven-figure sum with the aim of buying 20 properties.
These would be used to accommodate homeless households and reduce the need to use costly bed and breakfast and hotel rooms.
A further £1.7million from repaid housing improvement grants will also be used on the project if approved at a future council meeting.
Phil Tyler, of Southampton Tenants Union Limited, said: “If this scheme can prioritise the repurchasing of homes previously sold under the ‘Right to Buy’ scheme, and the purchase of private lets up for sale by landlords, this would be advantageous.
“Avoiding the bear traps when buying appropriate homes and getting value for money with accountability must be a priority.”
Mr Tyler said Portsmouth City Council’s ‘Buy Back Better’ scheme was increasing affordability of their housing stock by purchasing homes previously sold through ‘Right to Buy’.
He added that the Office for National Statistics reports that the average price for flats and maisonettes in Southampton in July was £155,000, so the target of acquiring 20 homes with the £3million looked “quite attainable”.
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