Forum Topic

New Houslow homes built properties remaining vacant

The two new Hounslow Homes properties built on the old garages on Brook Road South have remained vacant since their completion in January 2015.  There is supposed to be a housing crisis with an ever increasing waiting list for such homes, yet these remain vacant as of May 2015.  What is the Council waiting for?  There are people desperate for homes.

Mark Skuse ● 3745d53 Comments

Ah yes - understood.

Steve Taylor ● 3711d

Steve, sorry my post was in response to Kath's post about people who own their properties.

Adam Beamish ● 3711d

"Requiring the owner"So they would be serving a notice on themselves then!

Steve Taylor ● 3712d

But there is a comeback - the Council can use its powers under Section 215 of the Town & Country Planning Act to serve a notice on untidy land requiring the owner to take steps to remedy the condition.

Adam Beamish ● 3712d

And Germany and Austria and Yorkshire

Steve Taylor ● 3712d

The do things differently in Switzerland ....

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 3712d

There are quite a lot of front gardens of people who own their properties who let them look like a tip. Pity there's no comeback on them.

Kath Richardson ● 3712d

I have a classic photo somewhere on my computer of the front gardens of two contiguous and therefore identical semi-detached properties. One with a carefully manicured front lawn, beautiful flower beds and an ornamental wheelbarrow planted out with tulips and the other with metre high grass, an old gas cooker and an abandoned fridge. From memory the back gardens were equally contrasting.Sometimes of course it is the tenants of private landlords who turn their gardens into rubbish tips.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 3712d

Thanks for the info Councillor.  I guess I'll be out with my camera because some of the social housing areas I see look quite disgusting. Some people just don't care about the curbside appearance of their neighbourhood if they have made no investment themselves. I shudder to think what their back gardens must look like. A shame really because some people who would love to have a garden are in flats and those who are allocated social housing with a garden just turn it into a dump or 'forest'

Steve Taylor ● 3712d

Its a good question to which I do not know the answer. However now that HH has been brought in-house we get to see their internal audit reports and to agree the annual programme of audits. It might be well worthwhile to have a look at how much debt owed by tenants has to be written off. We could also request this information via the Housing and Environment Scrutiny Panel.Thanks for the pointer.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 3712d

Did anybody ever cough up?

Anne England ● 3712d

May I add that with particularly persistent cases Hounslow Homes (now Hounslow Housing) used to threaten tenants that if they did not sort their gardens out then they would send in a garden maintenance team "hit squad" - and then bill to the tenants for the work done.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 3712d

Tenants are required by their tenancy agreements to keep their gardens in good order. Most in my experience do. Ultimately tenants who do not "shape up" are eventually "shipped out". The speed at which this happens will depend on how clued up the HH estate manager is and how loudly neighbours complain. My advice if there is a persistent problem is take some photos and email them to the Lead Member for Housing Cllr Dunne.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 3712d

Slightly off topic but what astounds me is the state of some social housing gardens in Hounslow borough. If one rents a house privately one is expected (contracted) to maintain the garden to landlords’  standards .  However, if one is allocated social housing and is lucky enough to be awarded a property with a garden, it seems one can allow the garden to become an overgrown ‘rubbish tip’ and never use the garden and the Council seems to care not a jot. IMHO there should surely be a ‘contract’ whereby those who allow their allocated properties to turn into mini rubbish dumps, should be told to shape up or face eviction.

Steve Taylor ● 3713d

Hi Ian sorry no my post related to an earlier 1 which I read. I have lived in Brentford for over 30 years having moved from Chiswick and am shocked to see how much house prices are these days when I think that back then not many people wanted to live here as Chiswick was always the favourite place and Brentford was always classed as the poor neighbour.

Barbara Dudley ● 3715d

Except the spec is far higher than the spec of current 2 bed properties in the area going in excess of £800k.The sale value is all smoke and mirrors but the buyers have got themselves terrific homes which in all honesty should be the benchmark for all new homes and not the rubbish that gets passed off these days as 'luxury'These are at least proper houses that will hopefully be happy homes.What is being completely evaded is the actual cost of construction and fitting as well as the extensive groundworks which made it unviable for most private developers. Underwritten ultimately by whom?

Raymond Havelock ● 3715d

Barbara, if your post related to one of the two I made above...... I did not mention £800k, the three beds were £650k...... 25% is actually £16250 but I abbreviated it to £162k......Other new build houses available locally range from c.£695k to £950k. I will be interested to see what the houses currently being built overlooking the Brent/Canal at the rear of the Magistrates Court go for.......

Iain Muir ● 3716d

Where do you get the value of the house at £800k when you say £160k for 25%, it is not by the Dock

Barbara Dudley ● 3717d

`So what was the eventual cost and what sort of return can be expected to be ploughed back into the community?`This is when the councillor and his colleagues disappear for another few months Raymond

Paul Fisher ● 3717d

So what was the eventual cost and what sort of return can be expected to be ploughed back into the community?

Raymond Havelock ● 3717d

Any chance you might butt out a bit, Andrew?

Anne England ● 3717d

You insult Council Tenants,a great many do go out to work for the minimum wage of £13,520 per year. They can't get onto the Housing Ladder because they will never have enough money.That kind of salary goes nowhere,when you pay rent have children to feed,exorbitant food prices,over the top charges for Gas & Electricity,Water. I'm not making excuses just stating facts.

Dawn Hardy ● 3717d

Your right,our Granddaughter & her husband both work but cannot afford the 10% deposit of £40000 on a house,consequently they rent privately at a cost of £1450 per month plus £140 per month Council Tax.Will they ever be able to buy their own property,probably not it would help if greedy landlords rents were capped at a respectable & affordable rent!!! Berlin have just introduced capping why can't London???

Dawn Hardy ● 3717d

Well, that'd be nothing short of a miracle here in Isleworth! Engage? I wonder they can even find Isleworth a lot of the time!

Vanessa Smith ● 3718d

Good to see you engaging on here as a local councillor Theo.  Any chance you might start a trend? :)

Phil Andrews ● 3718d

The shared ownership houses on Lateward Road and Brooks Road South have been sold.  Number 13 Lateward Road has been sold and completion was on 29 May, 30 Brook Road South has been sold and completed on 29 May too and the Council is awaiting confirmation of the completion date from the purchaser’s solicitor for 28 Brook Road South.Residents can expect their new neighbours v soon.

Theo Dennison ● 3718d

"i was lucky enough to be educated under conservatives"Either your house purchase didn't leave you enough spare change to purchase a computer with an upper case option or the "conservatives" sold you short on the education front friend.

Phil Andrews ● 3723d

Part of the I'm alright Jack an F.U. society. Let's hope your world never crumbles and mummy and daddy are alive to bail you out if it does. You've either had a massive deposit to put down (where'd you get it?) or you lied on your mortgage application!

Paul Phillips ● 3723d

Lydia, the rent is based on a percentage of the un bought value. The figures from the Redloft site for one of the two 3 beds are: Value £650k, min share 25%, Purchase cost £165250, Remaining Value, £487550, Mortgage £864.73, Rent, £203, Service inc Buildings Ins, £49.79, Total Monthly £1104.83. So the % is currently 0.5, ie Bank Rate. I think its a pretty good deal, unlikely much staircasing will happen but if interest rates stay low it might........ If buying a previously owned S/O property always check the capital value for the rent and the rate of annual rent increase stated in the lease. A property built when interest rates were high will have an equivalently high % and ditto rent increase rates.........

Iain Muir ● 3738d

I have to say I think it is hilarious that someone thinks that having a light up door bell is luxury!! Every home built today should be wired for standard services and I imagine that these houses have not been. Take a look at this link and see what the standard is for new build homes:http://www.select.org.uk/downloads/CEDIA%20Recommended%20Wiring%20Guidelines.pdfThe houses are average spec and in keeping with the area. I have no problem with them whatsoever and my garden backs on to theirs. I much prefer looking at gardens rather than crumbling garages.

Nick Fichte ● 3738d

Have to say when we moved back here we did take a look at shared ownership. It was a lower cost option at first but worked out a very expensive option long term.We are happy for the moment renting. But we are blessed with a good landlord who although family is also very good and fair with her non family tenants as well.Rents in this street are minimum of £1600 pcm for two beds of decent standard.

Raymond Havelock ● 3738d

They won't get the house for 640k though - they'll get the relevant percentage that they buy & pay up to £1200pm rent on the rest.  If you want to increase your share of a shared ownership property it's revalued (at the purchasers cost, & usually with a valuer of the HA's choosing) and you can then purchase the additional share after paying all the usual costs for your solicitors, mortgage arrangement & so on that you already paid once when you moved into the property.  Obviously when re-valued the property could have decreased making your additional share purchase cheaper, but chances are it will have increased.

Lydia Fowles ● 3738d

Our house has just been valued by the landlords agent at £630kEyebrow raising for sure but as he is family he won't sell, just curious.It's 100 years old, two bedroom, has all the usual problems of an old house ( although we love it!!) A hall too narrow to get a bicycle in, no side access no off street parking.The house I'm staring at as I write is brand new, has all mod cons, solar panels, a stunning kitchen, top quality carpets, side access, wide doorway off street parking and hi spec glazing and a landscaped garden (although it is now probably overgrown)At £640k it is a bargain - by a very long chalk.

Raymond Havelock ● 3739d

I recently purchased a shared ownership property and I wouldn't consider that anybody doing so is getting a "bargain" as mentioned above.  You buy the share that you can afford and pay rent on the rest.  Assuming 160k is a 25% share then the property is valued at £640k.  Rent will be paid on the remaining £480,000 value to the Housing Association that actually own the rest of the property.  Rent is generally capped at around 2.5 - 3% so for the property in question could be £1200 per month plus the cost of your mortgage on the £160,000 share that you actually bought.  To actually buy the £160k share you will probably need a minimum of 5% deposit (£8000) plus money for all the other fees associated with moving & setting up a mortgage.  The idea is that you can eventually staircase up and buy more shares until you own the whole property.  Bear in mind that every time you want to buy more shares you have to pay the HA a fee to have a valuation done.  Also when you come to sell, if the HA still own some of your property you have to pay them another fee (in the thousands) to arrange the sale.Oh yes, also if your shared ownership property is a flat you will have to pay a monthly service charge (can range from £80 to £200ish depending on the block).  Also despite only owning a portion, you are considered the homeowner and are responsible for the usual homeowner repairs, maintenance etc unlike if you rent privately.  Shared ownership mortgages are only available from a few providers so they can be less competitive.  It took us 7 months from when we started looking until we were able to actually move in.  There are a LOT of hoops to jump through and the criteria is fairly strict - a single person will only be able to purchase a studio or 1 bed even if they can afford more.

Lydia Fowles ● 3740d

This house isnt really a bargin. its £160k for 25%, the person who can obtain this house (not for the rich), will in the end only own 25%. The house value is £800k and someone eligible for this will find it hard to pay the full 100%, as they need to still pay a rent fee for the 75%.Right to buy is not an option, as this wont be a council house. The person who can buy this, will need to be young and have a partner, otherwise all they will own for the rest of their life is 25%, which is false to say ....."on the property ladder", when all you are doing is renting....Sorry, but affordable housing needs to be affordable....this part buy share is a time bomb waiting....

Rakesh Patel ● 3741d

Interesting Iain, that you have information that has been refused disclosure since the first planning notice. I have the leaflets from Hounslow Homes which were circulated in our street when the planning application was lodged. It makes no mention of shared ownership just a partnership with a building company. What is mentioned is affordable social housing. Nothing else.Nor was this discussed or mentioned at the planning meeting in which no-one was allowed to ask a question and details (like the electricity sub station ) were ommited from the ordnance survey map presented to councillors and the audience.I suggest you come to Brook Road and Lateward Road and see for yourself the spec of these houses. They are nothing short of excellent. Then go to the corner ofEaling Road and New road and look at the comparable houses just built for the private market.  Take a look at the bespoke kitchens, landscaped gardens, luxury carpets and flooring. No contract standards in any of these houses. Make a comparison. The ground works involved re routing high voltage power cables over 150m as well as relocating water ducts to prevent flooding in Lateward,Grosvenor and Brook roads and it may already be causing problems in basements and underfloors and the back of the site is also flooding in rain, so there may well be an insurance claim forthcoming if it turns out to no be a glitch.These groundworks were very costly and why the site has not been built on.The sub station is now unaccessible to emergency service vehicles and indeed specialist service vehicles.So the cost is way short of the gain.  With the right to buy, someone is going to get an absolute bargain. A new high spec house, off street parking at a fraction of what a 100 year old house with an endless list of rectifications and not even a side entrance to keep a push bike costs.Given that comparable houses of this size and spec are in excess of  £800,000 They even have off street parking.That's a massive subsidy of ratepayers money for a few homes which won't be going to those of lesser means.

Raymond Havelock ● 3741d

A lot of ignorance and prejudice on this thread. The 3 houses were always to be sold on shared ownership. They are not luxurious but built to current govt standards which include a requirement for some sort of renewable energy. They will have a standard of fitting to appeal to purchasers but nowhere near say the Kew Bridge development. The values come from the market, have you seen the price of new build houses nearby? So a 25% share for £16250 for the 3 beds and £183 odd for the 4 bed detached. All 3 are being marketed by a specialist SO agency, Redloft. (Redloftsales.co.uk). They have all been marked 'reserved' for some time. The sales period might seem long but generally 6 months is built into the costings. There will be a queue of potential purchasers but its a fairly narrow market. You have to qualify as a LBH resident, earn enough but not too much. Quite a lot of eligible purchasers are accepted but then fall out as they cannot get a mortgage for some reason..... Hence the agency have to move to the next on the list. Despite Raymond's comments the ground and preparation works would not have been excessive. In any event the land was already LBH owned so costs vs value was always positive for LBH. I would not advise SO on large flatted developments, especially if a head landlord like Barratts are involved as you never know what will happen with service charges. These houses I think will be a good buy with minimal s/c and a rent which will be limited to small increases by the lease. Hopefully they will occupied soon.......

Iain Muir ● 3743d

We bought our first place in Grosvenor road 14 years ago for £165,000 then moved away. Always regretted selling that place. We now rent from a family member.

Raymond Havelock ● 3743d

Well, 5 years ago a two bed house around Brook Road South was from £280,000.

Alex Shpinkov ● 3744d

I think the !5 years ago from Raymond was a typo for 15 years.The average property value in BRS is currently c.£360k (this is value not asking price). Five years ago it was c.£65k less Extrapolating this for 15 years and his fgure is about right. (source: Zoopla).

Nigel Brooks ● 3744d

I am trying to point out that council houses was introduced to help people who did something for the country...and now it is a life style for people.....all people need to do is visit jobsite.co.uk and look for jobs in London ...there are loads of jobs in London paying over 30k and guess what you don't need to be brains of Britain to do it....just apply

Rakesh Patel ● 3744d

Brentford area five or six years was very cheap, as was other parts of london.......Shared ownership is ok, but try and use the govenment loan system, as woth shared ownership, the running cost can be so expensive. You still need to pay rent on top of the share you own, and this is can be hard for people....also the interest rates on shared ownership can be 5-7%, as you need to go via an apporved list......just be careful.....

Rakesh Patel ● 3744d

"These are to be shared ownership but currently the rumoured share is just £160,000. This is roughly what houses in the neighbourhood were costing !5 years ago!"Sorry Raymond, are you saying houses around Brook Road South 5 years ago were £160,000?

Alex Shpinkov ● 3744d

The fact is these homes on this site ( which are built to a serious luxury spec right down to light up doorbells and solar roof panels will not make a profit even on the open market.The sheer cost of moving and preparing the groundworks were huge and would not be viable to a small developer. Possibly even a self build would not be viable either.These are to be shared ownership but currently the rumoured share is just £160,000. This is roughly what houses in the neighbourhood were costing !5 years ago!  Absolute bargain and you will have the right to but at a discounted price.The question is just who gets to live in these well appointed properties paid for by the local taxpayer.On the other hand, these are exactly the sort of homes people want to live in and what ought to be built. But there is no serious space left here. High rise is not the answer without adequate facilities and space. Social problems will, as before, start to manifest because the very same problems have not been addressed fully.

Raymond Havelock ● 3744d

Not working out of choice? Get out there and generate some wealth, you lazy cow!

Ian Speed ● 3744d

VanessaThere really is not need to be quite so aggressive.The £70k income figure relates to houses inside the M25.It is absolutely nothing like that just a mile or two outside.I really cannot understand the obsession with building and living in London.There are so many areas easily commutable where the house prices are a fraction of those inside the M25 barrier.What about the low-paid and 'essential workers'?My daughter teaches and her best friend is a paramedic.Neither earns anywhere near £70K, both have 3 bedroom houses just a 30 minute commute from work.

Nigel Brooks ● 3744d

"We found numerous HH properties empty in some cases for 5 plus years."Well what else would one expect from a Labour run council? Only nice promises, complete lack of efficiency and blaming the Tory government.

Alex Shpinkov ● 3744d

Nothing surprises me. We found numerous HH properties empty in some cases for 5 plus years. Cllr. Curran has had this Portfolio since  2011. I'll ask LBH why they remain empty.John

John Todd ● 3744d

Some people are beyond reasoning with - so I hope it all keeps fine for you and you never are in want of some help and understanding - just pull the ladder up when you've finished. And there was me thinking Thatcher's dreadful legacy had passed, apparently not.

Vanessa Smith ● 3744d

Wow 70k p.a. To live in a modest house....where does this garbage come from....sorry but i have done so for the last few years live in a three bed on salary well under 70k, with my gf ( not working out of choice) and child....and i was not able to cliam any benefits, as i have a mortgage... I think people need to plan their lives alot better, and gettig on the property ladder would be easier.....i was lucky enough to be educated under conservatives, so i had decent gounding...shame as a whole generation was schooled under labour and now they need to claim benefits or need so much help to buy a house.....the council job is not to put up everyone in a house, they need to provide a service but in a cost effective manner.....mark is correct, in that the system is a mess, and council homes are only for those who need it, not for a life choice....the five next years will be hard, but we need to change the welfare state, otherwise many people will just end up living of it for the rest of the lives and that is not a way to live.......

Rakesh Patel ● 3744d

What needs to be scrutinised here are the Council's crazy, misguided criteria which hands out these homes to those that do not deserve. Look up the criteria on the Hounslow Borough website for being allocated a house.  You need an income of less than 50k and a large family to get to the top of the list.  It matters not if you have worked, are on a zero hours contract or have ever paid into the system.  As for landlords, these are the very same people who are also paying tax (hopefully) on their property income and they also provide a service and fill a gap where the local council is failing.

Mark Skuse ● 3744d

God - no wonder we got another five years of Tories if this is what people really think. In case you missed it it is reckoned you now need £70,000 p.a. to be able to afford a modest house, we need a massive public house building programme as there are very, very few people doing ordinary jobs who will ever be afford to buy a home. That's even less likely if you are on a zero hours contract as you haven't got a regular income. A lot cannot even afford to rent, and the people doing very nicely thank-you are private landlords and the taxpayers are subsidising these sharks.

Vanessa Smith ● 3744d

Maybe now they realised that council housing is not the best option...council housing was brought in for those who need it, not for people who cant be arsed to work....they should sell the house and use the profits to benefit the community not for a family who want to live on the cheap......or at least make sure it goes to a family that deserves it, like people who did something for this country.......

Rakesh Patel ● 3744d