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Clarion strongly criticised for its complaint handling failings

Friday, 17th June 2022

The Housing Ombudsman plans to conduct an investigation of property maintenance services at the country’s largest social housing landlord after issuing two severe maladministration findings within a few weeks of each other. After the second critical judgement was published Richard... View Article

Complaints against property agents provides mixed feedback

Friday, 17th June 2022

The annual report on complaints made against property agents showed a slight increase in overall numbers, but a reduction in the complaints made against individual agents. The Property Redress Scheme (PRS) is operated by the Hamilton Fraser Group, owners of mydeposits, Landlord Action, Total... View Article

Private rents forecast to climb by as much as £1,500 in next year

Friday, 17th June 2022

In just 12 months time the average private sector tenant could be paying between £800 and £1,500 more a year in rent, according to research by a rental platform specialising in affordable homes. Following a turbulent 24 months, the UK... View Article

Building Safety into Law – Housebuilder & Developer’s latest white paper

Thursday, 16th June 2022

Housebuilder & Developer recently researched the industry’s opinions on the Building Safety Bill. From their findings, they have developed a detailed white paper which is now live and available to download from the link below. Five years after the Grenfell... View Article

New app providing vital support to housing association customers

Wednesday, 15th June 2022

Essex-based housing association CHP has created a new welfare app which is helping to provide additional support to vulnerable customers. Employees are able use the app if they pick up prompts during a visit that a customer may require some... View Article

Grenfell inquiry: New “massively significant” report released

Monday, 13th June 2022

The Fire Brigades Union has termed a new report to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, released to the public today, “massively significant” evidence. The report (visible at https://www.grenfelltowerinquiry.org.uk/evidence/professor-luke-bisby), written by Professor Luke Bisby, a professor of fire and structures at Edinburgh University and an... View Article

LGA responds to extension of Right to Buy scheme to housing association tenants

Friday, 10th June 2022

Responding to today’s announcement that the Government’s Right to Buy scheme will be extended to include housing association tenants, Cllr David Renard, housing spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said: “Owning your own home is an important step for many... View Article

LGA responds to DLUHC social housing regulation bill announcement

Wednesday, 8th June 2022

Responding to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announcement that ‘Ofsted-style’ inspections and unlimited fines will be introduced for failing social landlords, Cllr David Renard, housing spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said: “The vast majority of social... View Article

Landlords to check energy efficiency compliance ahead of new rules or face fines

Wednesday, 8th June 2022

The clock is ticking for landlords to ensure their properties meet minimum energy efficiency standards ahead of 1 April 2023, warns commercial property specialist Rajinda Sanghera. Rajinda, an associate at national law firm Clarke Willmott LLP, says the coming into... View Article

Social housing provider pledges 30% of its land to nature

Monday, 6th June 2022

Orbit, leading social housing provider and developer, has announced it will be committing to managing at least 30% of its huge estate for nature by 2030. The announcement comes as Orbit unveils its new biodiversity approach. Orbit plans to achieve... View Article

Window specifiers advised to ‘fact check’ around future homes as new regs come into force

Wednesday, 1st June 2022

Window specifiers in the local authority sector are being urged to pay close attention to the latest information regarding the Future Homes Standard as the first changes officially come into force on 15 June 2022. Technical experts at the leading... View Article

Industry Viewfinder: Meeting the Needs of an Ageing Population

Wednesday, 1st June 2022

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), by 2041, one in four people in England will be 65 or older, and by the same year, the number of English citizens aged 85 or over will double to 3.2 million.... View Article

Ark Launches Pioneering £4.2m Affordable Housing Development in Livingston

Tuesday, 31st May 2022

Ark Housing Association has announced the start of work on one of Scotland’s most energy-efficient developments, at Crusader Rise in Livingston. The pioneering £4.2m project, which will deliver 20 much-needed affordable homes for social rent, will be one of the most... View Article

Advanced expands sales team to accelerate UK growth

Friday, 20th May 2022

Fire protection solutions company Advanced, has appointed Iain Stevenson to drive further growth in South-East England. Iain joins the company with over 26 years’ fire industry experience, having worked as a commissioning engineer on a wide range of high-profile projects... View Article

Advanced Named Fire Safety Manufacturer of the Year

Thursday, 19th May 2022

Advanced has been recognised in two categories at the FSM (Fire and Security Matters) Awards. Selected from a shortlist of worthy nominees, Advanced was named Fire Safety Systems Manufacturer of the Year and also received recognition in the Fire Innovation of the Year category for... View Article

Sefton council consultation on extending it’s 5 year housing licensing schemes is underway

Monday, 9th May 2022

A consultation is underway to see whether local people want Sefton Council’s housing licensing schemes for privately rented properties extended for a further five-years. Since March 2018, Sefton Council has had a Selective Licensing scheme for private landlords in the... View Article

Over 18,000 affordable houses lost in office-to-residential conversions

Monday, 9th May 2022

More than 18,000 affordable houses have been lost as a result of office-to-residential conversions under permitted development, the Local Government Association warns. A total of 73,575 new houses have been converted from offices under permitted development rights, where full planning... View Article

Essex based housing association launch Sustainable Financing Framework

Tuesday, 3rd May 2022

Essex based housing association CHP has published a sustainable financing framework which will support its ambitious environmental and social targets. This includes ensuring that all its new and existing homes are as energy efficient as possible. CHP has a number of... View Article

The latest episode of the Building Insights podcast is now live

Thursday, 28th April 2022

In this episode, our deputy editor Jack Wooler speaks to Jack Dangerfield of the Town and Country Planning Association, or TCPA, about the omission of legislation around the health of a home, as well as the state of planning in... View Article

Double awards success as Salix Homes is recognised for building and fire safety

Monday, 25th April 2022

Housing association Salix Homes has once again been hailed as one of the top landlords in the North of England in recognition of its commitment to building safety. The Salford-based social housing provider, which owns 8,000 homes, is one of... View Article