By Moira Munro, Chris Leishman, Noah Kofi Karley and Janet Ford. For the high risk borrowers who have had earlier credit problems, falling behind on mortgage payments can quickly result in repossession of the property. Although borrowing from a sub-prime lender provides a route into owner-occupation it can bring uncertainties. The authors have looked at the sub-prime lending market to see how it works, the effect on lenders and the potential for sustainable home occupation.

The new Affordable Rural Housing Commission has met for the first time and will shortly be issuing a call for evidence to help it get the views of people and organisations with knowledge and experience of the problems of affordable homes in country areas.As well as calling for input, members of the Commission will visit a number of English regions to take evidence from community groups and individuals and to see for themselves a number of projects and schemes which have been successful in tackling the problem. The Commission’s Chairwoman Elinor Goodman, the former Channel 4 Television Political Editor, said the visits would help them learn lessons about good practice that could be implemented elsewhere.

Read more on NEW BODY LOOKS AT AFFORDABLE HOMES PROBLEM IN RURAL AREAS…

Public sector organisations have been told they need to give serious thought to meeting their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act, and not be content with ticking boxes. Anne McGuire, the Minister for Disabled People, said the ‘bottom line’ for the public sector was to think about disabled people’s needs ahead of time and not as an after thought.New regulations come into force in December that will require all public bodies to lead by example and to integrate disabled people in their policy-making as well as well as promoting ‘quality of opportunity’ for disabled people.

Read more on PUBLIC SECTOR URGED TO GIVE SERIOUS THOUGHT TO DISABILITY ACT…