Praise for housing advice

Thursday, April 16, 2009

The borough’s one-stop-shop for home ownership has been praised as one of the best in Britain by Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps MP.

Above: (L-R) Sandra Fletcher, Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps MP, H&F Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh

He was given a tour of the H&F Home Buy facilities on King Street earlier this month and said it was a model for other councils to follow. He added: “I have toured the country for two years and have never seen a housing drop-in centre as good as this one.”

H&F Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Greenhlagh, showed him around the modern reception and introduced him to the H&F Home Buy team, who offer residents comprehensive advice on their housing options. Mr Shapps also spoke to long standing Fulham resident Sandra Fletcher, who is struggling to buy her own home.

Sandra, 51, said: “The advice I got from the Home Buy staff has been invaluable. I have lived with my mum in the same council flat for 34 years and have never been able to buy my own place, despite working long hours five days a week.

“I don’t want to move out of the borough as my friends, family and work are all here. Buying a percentage of a place in Fulham or a part of our current home, through one of the Home Buy products, could be a very attractive option for me.”

The H&F Home Buy team are working with customers to increase the number of owner-occupied households in the borough from the current 44 per cent to 50 per cent by 2014. The team have re-housed more than 390 families, who decided that social housing was no longer for them, in private rented homes this year.

Cllr Greenhalgh says: “With the fourth highest house prices in the country this council is determined to help people who are renting or working in the borough to get that vital first foot on the property ladder. We realise that buying a home on the open market is difficult and in response we have introduced new incentives and developed exciting products to help as many people as possible to own their own homes.

“This council does not only offer residents the one dimensional social housing route we are responsive and tailor our products to residents’ needs. We are a housing trailblazer and our innovative approach is receiving praise from not just the Shadow Housing Minister, but from all those who are interested in a more forward thinking approach to getting low and middle income earners on to the housing ladder of opportunity.”

The Home Buy team now offer drop-in sessions as well as an appointment service to customers. They offer a face to face service from an initial enquiry through to the home purchase with help and advice all the way. The team offer a range of products to people who live and work in the borough, such as the Right to Buy, Tenants Incentive Scheme and New Build shared ownership products amongst others.

For more information about the products available from H&F Home Buy call 020 8753 6464 or email h&fHome-Buy@lbhf.gov.uk.