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You and Yours: Timber cladding, Antique sales, Homeless prevention loans

31/07/2019

Timber cladding, Antique sales, Homeless prevention loans

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, Timber cladding, Antique sales, Homeless prevention loans

Sales in charity shops and antiques helped boost retail figures in June.

Retail figures for June were better than expected thanks to a boost in second hand and antiques sales. The home owners in blocks with timber cladding that can't sell or remortgage.

Leaseholders in blocks of flats with timber cladding have found that their homes can't be sold or remortgaged until safety work is carried out. Earlier this year the government announced a fund to pay for the removal of unsafe cladding on blocks of flats, but it only applies to ACM, Aluminium Composite Material panels. Timber is one of the materials that in some cases has failed fire safety tests and will need to be removed. The National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations. has called for a new national fund that will address all unsafe cladding materials across all sectors, both social and commercial. 

Retail figures for June were better than expected thanks to a boost in second hand and antiques sales. According to ONS figures, second-hand and antiques sales are currently 25% up on last year. The month of June saw the highest sales in that category since 2006. Antiques dealers had previously reported that the industry was struggling as we turned our backs on large, old, brown furniture in favour of flat pack Scandi chic. So what's changed?

Lewisham Council in London has saved over a million pounds through a scheme that offers loans to tenants at risk of eviction. The council gave an £85,000 grant to Lewisham Plus Credit Union in 2010, and since then the credit union has lent over £350,000 and prevented more than 300 evictions. The loans are used to pay off rent arrears, and when they are repaid the money is lent again to other tenants at risk. The council says the million pound saving comes from the cost of temporary accommodation such as B&B's that the council would have to pay for if families became homeless. 

Presented by Winifred Robinson.
Produced by Beatrice Pickup.

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