星空传媒

Tenancy turnover rates for housing associations were three times higher in the North of England than in London last year, according to a report published last week by the Housing Quality Network.

Associations in the North relet about 9.8% of their stock during 2003/4, compared to 3% in London.

However, overall tenancy turnover has fallen year-on-year. Net relets fell to 9.5% in 2003/4, compared to 11.6% in 2002/3.

Hal Pawson, the senior research fellow at Heriot-Watt University who compiled the report, said Northern associations were reletting more properties because people in the region found it easier to buy homes.

He said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 still a lot more affordable to move into the private sector in the North. A higher proportion of people in the region are leaving the social rented sector.鈥�

But Pawson added that overall tenancy turnover was declining because of rising house prices outside the South-east.

He said: 鈥淭he house price ripple has spread into the North and Midlands and it鈥檚 becoming more difficult for social housing tenants to enter the private rented sector.鈥�

Associations in the North also find it more difficult to relet properties, the study found.

Pawson said: 鈥淚n the North, landlords have to offer a property to two or three people before someone accepts it while, in the South-east, a lot of tenants will accept a property on a first viewing.鈥�