Local people are being asked for their views on the big housing issues in the borough as the council considers important changes to Town Hall housing policies.

An online survey gives residents the opportunity to have their say on how social housing should is allocated and how first-time-buyer initiatives could be improved.

To take part visit www.wandsworthmatters.co.uk/uc/housing_futures1

Among the new proposals being considered is a plan to offer local first-time-buyers interest-free loans of up to £50,000 which they can use as a deposit to secure their first home.

The scheme could be part-funded through Right to Buy sales which are set to increase following changes proposed by Wandsworth Council which are now being taken forward by the Prime Minister.

The council is also considering plans to move working households higher up the waiting list for social housing. Currently more than two thirds of council homes are going to unemployed residents and councillors want to give higher priority to local people who go out and find lasting employment.

Wandsworth Council’s home ownership spokesman Cllr Guy Senior says: “The Government’s move towards localism is providing councils with the powers they need to tackle key local issues. In Wandsworth we want to use these new freedoms to create a new home ownership initiative which would offer frustrated first-time-buyers a deposit to secure a new home.

“We also want to correct the imbalance in social housing allocation which means two-thirds of council homes go to unemployed households. We think giving people who work a better chance of accessing these properties is not only fair but would encourage more people to take up job offers.”

For more information home ownership schemes in Wandsworth call the Home Ownership Team on (020) 8871 6016/8171, email housesales@wandsworth.gov.uk or visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/homeownership



November 7, 2011