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Improved housing services gives power to the people of Wandsworth and Richmond Upon Thames

Wednesday, 15th January 2020

The two London boroughs of Wandsworth and Richmond upon Thames Council have gone live with NPS Housing, Northgate Public Services’ (NPS) Housing system. The technology is set to transform the councils’ housing services through online self-service capability and allow mobile... View Article

Tackling climate change will force us to make huge lifestyle changes

Monday, 13th January 2020

Household domestic energy use currently accounts for roughly 29% of the UK’s total energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Radically reducing this figure is vital if the country is to achieve its goals of cutting emissions to 51% of 1990... View Article

Six things social housing providers need to consider in 2020

Thursday, 9th January 2020

2019 has been one of the most tumultuous years of the past decade, with Brexit again dominating the national conversation. But social housing providers have had to contend with much more. What does 2020 hold in store for social housing... View Article

A quarter of landlords plan to exit the market this year, putting over half a million homes up for sale

Tuesday, 7th January 2020

A quarter (26%) of landlords plan to cash in on at least one property this year, potentially putting over half a million homes up for sale, according to new research by landlord insurance provider Simply Business. The survey of 800... View Article

Mapei’s high-demand training dates revealed for 2020

Monday, 6th January 2020

Mapei has unveiled its extensive list of training dates for 2020, as part of plans to continually utilise its impressive training facility based in Halesowen, West Midlands. Following a successful first year of training courses at the facility situated at... View Article

Thurrock records UK’s highest house price rise this decade with 76 per cent increase

Thursday, 19th December 2019

Thurrock, Essex, has seen the largest increase in house prices this decade, analysis of Land Registry data by modular housing developer Project Etopia shows. Comparison between the average house prices at the start and end of this decade1 show increases... View Article

Damning inquiry report into Grenfell Tower finally published

Wednesday, 18th December 2019

Flawed leadership at the top of the London Fire Brigade, delays in ordering an evacuation and the flammable cladding used to wrap the building in, were all strongly criticised in a damning report from the Grenfell Tower public inquiry. The... View Article

Stay put policy being reviewed after heavy criticism

Wednesday, 18th December 2019

One of the most significant outcomes of the Grenfell Tower inquiry phase one report has been the chairman’s demand to end the automatic ‘stay put’ policy for all high-rise blocks. Sir Martin Moore-Bick told Ministers to develop national guidelines for... View Article

Refurbishment of Grenfell Tower breached building regulations

Wednesday, 18th December 2019

A shocking finding from the Grenfell inquiry was that as a result of the £10 million refurbishment completed just months before the fire, the high-rise tower block was not compliant with building regulations. Sir Martin Moore-Bick said the main reason... View Article

Government adviser to new Building Safety Regulator named

Wednesday, 18th December 2019

Dame Judith Hackitt will provide independent advice to the Government on how best to establish the powerful new Building Safety Regulator and avoid a similar disaster as the Grenfell Tower fire. The appointment follows Dame Judith’s Independent Review of Building... View Article

New rough sleepers in the capital jumps 50 per cent in a year

Wednesday, 18th December 2019

The number of people recorded as sleeping rough in London for the first time has risen sharply by 50 per cent, according to figures from the Greater London Authority. Some 3,985 individuals were recorded as sleeping rough in the capital... View Article

Biggest council landlord warns of possible repair cutbacks

Wednesday, 18th December 2019

The country’s biggest local authority landlord has warned that an estimated £93 million bill for fire safety works will force it to cut spending on repairs and maintenance work to its housing stock. Birmingham City Council owns around 62,000 homes,... View Article

Over half a million people could be living in unsellable flats

Wednesday, 18th December 2019

A possible six hundred thousand people are living in high-rise properties deemed to be unsafe or unsellable due to a lack of Government action and unclear advice over cladding safety, according to the Labour Party. Analysis by the main opposition... View Article

Ombudsman consults on faster service with tougher powers

Wednesday, 18th December 2019

The new ombudsman has been consulting the social housing sector on plans to improve his organisation’s service and to spark big changes in customer service for tenants. It would be fair to say that Richard Blakeway was a controversial choice... View Article

End of benefit freeze announced as food bank use surges

Wednesday, 18th December 2019

The benefits freeze is due to end in April, bringing an end to one of the most contentious austerity policies brought in by the Coalition Government over four years ago, but the announcement coincided with a huge increase in food... View Article

Regulations affecting private landlords up by a third

Wednesday, 18th December 2019

The number of laws creating an obligation on private landlords has increased by 32 per cent since 2010 according to new analysis undertaken by a leading landlords organisation. The Residential Landlords Association claims the total number of regulations affecting landlords... View Article

Extra funds to help councils crack down on criminal landlords

Wednesday, 18th December 2019

The Government has made an additional £3.8 million available for councils to tackle criminal landlords in the remainder of the current financial year. The money is to support projects which take effective and targeted action against criminal landlords, support good... View Article

Coalition formed to tackle ‘ticking timebomb’ of inaccessible housing

Wednesday, 18th December 2019

A new coalition of ten housing organisations and charities has called on the next government to ensure that all new homes built are accessible and adaptable for an ageing population. Campaigners predict a ‘dangerous shortage’ of suitable homes in the... View Article

Cladding removal deadline ‘expected’ to be met, despite delays

Wednesday, 18th December 2019

Government Ministers expect all Grenfell style ACM cladding panels to be removed from social housing high-rise tower blocks by the 31 December deadline despite the current slow rate of progress. The deadline was originally set by the former Housing Secretary... View Article

New homes plan to replace derelict garages

Wednesday, 18th December 2019

Derelict garage sites across Walsall in the West Midlands could soon be transformed into new and energy efficient housing developments, after whg revealed its modular homes vision. Social landlord whg currently houses over 40,000 people in 21,000 properties, across 18... View Article