More than 90 per cent of the public think social housing should be available to them if they need it, but 40 per cent don't want councils to run it
A new MORI poll, believed to be the first of its kind, should provide some encouragement to housing professionals besieged by reports on low demand for homes. But it provides a mixed message to those committed to council control.

The survey of more than 1,000 people was conducted to mark the launch of a major new inquiry by the Institute of Public Policy Research into the future of social housing (Housing Today, issue 136).

The poll found that while 89 per cent of people hoped their children and grandchildren would own their own home, 91 per cent thought that social housing should be available to them if they need it.

But almost a third agreed that council housing is usually poorly managed and run. And 40 per cent agreed that councils were no longer the best organisations to own and manage housing. Only 26 per cent disagreed.

There was surprising support for mixed communities. Almost half (47 per cent) said they would rather live in an areas where there is a mix of owners and renters. This figure climbed to 57 per cent amongst under 25s.

The poll also showed widespread support for opening up access to social housing to higher income groups. Two-thirds thought that social housing should be available to anyone who prefers to rent.

Launching the inquiry housing minister Hilary Armstrong said the figures showed the need for greater "flexibility" in housing choices. She said: "We all have aspiration but we also know that there will be periods in our lives when things are different.

Chartered Institute of Housing director of policy and inquiry member John Perry said it showed that Britain was not drifting towards the American experience of a segrated society. He added that although council ownership appeared to be unpopular this would not necessarily be the case if housing was run by arm's-length council-run companies.

National Housing Federation chief executive Jim Coulter said: "There's a recognition of the safety net aspect of social housing, rather than housing of last resort. And it is encouraging that people want to see much more mixed tenure than there is at the moment."

Source

Housing Today