Council Housing Boom?

AN interesting story caught my eye this morning while perusing the internet (in my tea break, I hasten to add - just incase the boss is reading this).

It concerns the disgraced former Westminster Council leader, Tory Dame Shirley Porter, and the council accomodation she flogged off at cut prices in what became known as the 'homes for votes scandal'.

Apparently, that particular authority is now trying to buy back those homes to ease the housing crisis in their area. The full story can be read here.

It ties in with an interesting letter in the Advertiser the other week about Margaret Thatcher's Right to Buy scheme, and how the writer thought her policy was short-sighted.

I think most councils would love to have a larger range of housing stock because the lack of choice at the moment only results in frayed tempers for prospective tenants and housing office staff.

A few years ago, councils sort of re-defined themselves as 'enablers' rather than 'providers' of services such as housing but is Westminter City Council's plan a sign of things to come?

Personally, I think the Thatcherite doctrine of 'the market will provide' is a little naive and far too simplistic for 21st Century Britain.

I'm lucky, I got on the ladder when prices were low, but millions of others aren't and they're now at the mercy of private landlords whose first consideration is bound to be their own pockets.

Councils and the government are happy enough to interfere in our lives when it suits them, so how about them being there for us when we need one of the most basic human rights - a roof over our heads?

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