Fixed term tenancies: no 'Higgs boson' for the housing sector

short term leases have their supporters and detractors, but it will not solve the housing problems. Everything depends on the government to fund new homes

When I started working in the 1980s, private tenants had few rights. My job was to keep them at home as long as possible. If we can not answer this, a handful chance to win the lottery for the rental of the board. We all breathed a sigh of relief when it happened, because they could not stay there forever.

Now

advice and housing associations should not grant new leases on life. Is this a step forward for justice or just another example of two wrongs do not make a right? You can make a strong case for and against five-year leases social landlords.

owners fixed long-term leases say they can accommodate more people. It is simply a better way to sweat assets, houses to let out more often and if you load new tenants higher rents more money for construction

You can tell more tenants move or pay to stay. No more empty nest with two spare bedrooms while families in need are trapped in overcrowded housing. Some owners claim that term leases are more accurate. Why does everyone get a lease for life? It is a certainty that race, at one time, others will have more interest in the property.

However, the case against fixed term lease is just as powerful. If people can afford to leave social housing in general, yes, but today it is difficult to get a mortgage for people not leaving. Why not solve rental instead of playing? Do we want people who are able to leave our land? It is a scorched earth approach to sensitive models?

Council housing managers also fear that the costs associated with the management of lease duration. Where is the money coming from to run the tests of means and resources inevitable? When tenants change as there are significant costs associated with abandonment, check and repair the house. There is a final moral question: Is it fair to force a family to relocate? We still have some sympathy for the old adage 'an Englishman's home is his castle. " People form an attachment to your house, and an area for schools and support. Fortunately, it is not for me to exercise the Wisdom of Solomon and select the winner of these two. Some owners are testing the long-term fixed leases, so that in time we will find out what works and what does not.

• My prediction is that the fixed-term lease is not the Higgs boson for the housing sector. It will not solve all mysteries and complexities of our social housing system. The fact of the matter is that this will be the plan of the coalition government for five years for growth, not the five-year lease, which can get us out of the housing crisis.
• simply build more houses. If these houses are pretty good tenants move upwards. If not, what right do we have to force them to leave?

Alistair McIntosh is the Chief Executive Officer

Housing Quality Network

This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional.

Find best price for : --Higgs--