BERNESLAI Homes is bracing itself for a turbulent future under new government legislation which could dramatically reduce its housing stock and price families out of council homes.
At a scrutiny meeting on Tuesday, Berneslai Homes’ chief executive, Helen Jaggar, warned of the serious challenges it faces should proposals for a Housing and Planning Bill - which is being debated in Parliament - be brought in.
Councillors were told that from April 2017, households earning more than £30,000 will be charged ‘market rents’ and the additional income will be returned to the government to fund housing association ‘Right to Buy’ schemes.
Also from 2016/17 the council will be forced to sell ‘high value ‘properties which become available and make a payment back to the government in order to fund the extension of the Right to Buy scheme to housing association tenants.
Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle
