New plans for dealing with York's key housing issues have been drawn up in our housing strategy "Creating homes, building communities". 

Improving homes, building new ones, helping people stay in their homes and homelessness are just some of the priorities over the next four years from 2011 to 2015.

Full details can be found in the strategy which can be downloaded from this page.

What are the priorities for housing?

Our "Creating homes, building communities" strategy includes six strategic aims and each aim contains key objectives to tackle the local housing issues identified. These are:-

1. Improve access to housing and housing services, including appropriate information, advice and support

• Develop an advanced housing options service
• Increase awareness of housing options for particular groups, such as older households and people with disabilities
• Increase awareness of York's social housing allocation system

2. Make best use of the existing housing stock

• Tackle under occupation
• Tackle long-term empty properties
• Swiftly re-let homes that become vacant in the social rented sector and tackle illegal sub-letting
• Increase the role of the private rented sector in meeting housing need

3. Maximize the supply of decent environmentally sustainable homes that people can afford

• Increasing housing supply, especially the supply of additional affordable homes
• Ensure all new homes are built to high environmental standards
• Tackle worklessness and financial exclusion
• Increase the range of housing options available to older households and those with disabilities
• Address the housing needs of gypsies, travellers and showpeople
• Ensure a planned approach to student housing

4. Improve the condition, energy efficiency and suitability of homes and create attractive, sustainable neighbourhoods

• Improve the condition and energy efficiency of existing homes
• Tackle fuel poverty
• Help people remain in (or safely return to) their homes
• Reduce anti-social behaviour
• Improve home security
• Increase residents' involvement in decisions about their homes and neighbourhoods

5. Reduce homelessness and tackle the causes of homelessness

• Prevent homelessness
• Reduce the use of temporary accommodation
• End rough sleeping
• Increase special provision for young people and teenage parents

6. Develop effective partnership working

• Improve partnership working with the health sector

How were these priorities developed?   

Our strategy is based on strong evidence gathered from a range of surveys and consultation that has taken place. 

This includes:-

• Strategic housing market assessment 2007 & 2011
• Private sector stock condition survey 2008
• York fuel poverty report 2008

It also includes the following which can be downloaded from this page

• Older people housing needs assessment 2010
• Gypsy & Traveller accommodation needs assessment 2009
• Black and minority ethnic/migrant worker housing needs assessment 2009 

The strategy has also been shaped by regional and sub-regional housing strategies such as the North Yorkshire housing strategy 2010-2015, which can be downloaded from this page. 

If you'd like to know more please call Paul McCabe on 01904 554527. 

Who did you consult?

Our strategy involved significant consultation with customers, service providers and wider stakeholders. We consulted widely during September and October 2010 to make sure we had identified the right priorities.

We asked for views through a variety of ways including:

• an on-line survey
• our tenant and leaseholder magazine Streets Ahead
• Ward newsletters
• Equalities fair

Reviewing the strategy

The strategy will be regularly reviewed and progress reports will be made available to download from this page.