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LGA responds to latest rough sleeping figures

Thursday, 27th February 2020

Responding to the annual single night snapshot of the number of people sleeping rough in England, Cllr David Renard, the Local Government Association’s housing spokesman, said: “Any fall in the number of rough sleepers is good news, but while progress... View Article

How technology is driving change in access control and door entry management

Wednesday, 26th February 2020

Technology developments have brought big changes to access control and door entry provision, enabling local authorities and housing associations to manage door entry & access control in a better and more secure way that’s also more convenient for residents. James... View Article

Councils receive extra £4m to crack down on rogue landlords

Monday, 24th February 2020

More than 100 councils across England have been awarded a share of over £4 million to crack down on criminal landlords and letting agents. The new funding will be used by councils to take enforcement action against rogue landlords and... View Article

Birmingham will require planning permission for small HMOs

Monday, 24th February 2020

A citywide direction on houses in multiple occupation is being introduced by Birmingham City Council from June 2020, giving the council greater control over the conversion of residential properties in the city. The Article 4 direction will mean that planning... View Article

Over two-thirds of council homelessness services pushed into the red

Monday, 24th February 2020

Rising levels of homelessness and the increasing cost of using expensive bed and breakfast accommodation have plunged more than two-thirds of all council homelessness services in England into the red, according to new analysis by the Local Government Association. Figures... View Article

Rogue landlord crammed 30 residents into unsafe property with just a single kitchen

Monday, 24th February 2020

A property guardian company has been found guilty of multiple offences after it crammed upto 30 tenants into a Grade Two listed building in disrepair and had not been licensed as a House in Multiple Occupation. Camelot Guardian Management Company... View Article

Tenant found guilty of attempted Right to Buy fraud

Monday, 24th February 2020

A council tenant has received a 20 month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for fraudulently attempting to purchase a three bedroom house with a £80,900 discount. Debbie Mclean, 54, from Hove, was prosecuted by Lewes District Council after claiming... View Article

Jobcentres receive £3million for homelessness outreach work

Monday, 24th February 2020

Jobcentres across the UK are to benefit from a boost of up to £3 million to support homeless people and rough sleepers with a variety of projects, designed to get them back on their feet and to find work. The... View Article

Six things social housing providers need to consider in 2020

Monday, 24th February 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

Landlords demand a speeding up of court processes

Monday, 24th February 2020

Courts across the country are struggling to cope with the volume of property repossession cases they are hearing, with private landlords warning this could reduce the supply of homes available for rent in the future. The delays are worse in... View Article

Social sector has lessons to learn over furnished tenancies

Monday, 24th February 2020

The End Furniture Poverty organisation claims the social housing sector has lessons to learn from the private rented sector over the use of furnished tenancies. While furnished tenancies are commonplace in the private sector, they are rarely found in social... View Article

Private rents rising above inflation with growing demand

Monday, 24th February 2020

Average private sector rents across the UK rose at inflation busting rates in December, with rises of almost 10 per cent being recorded in some areas of the UK fuelled by a strong demand from tenants. HomeLet’s Rental Index for... View Article

Wales bans use of combustible cladding on all new high-rise buildings

Monday, 24th February 2020

The use of combustible cladding on the external walls of all new high-rise buildings in Wales has been banned from mid January 2020. The ban applies to combustible cladding on all new residential buildings (flats, student accommodation and care homes)... View Article

Government rejects renewal of Liverpool’s citywide licensing scheme

Monday, 24th February 2020

Plans to renew a citywide selective licensing scheme for the private rented sector in Liverpool have been controversially rejected by the Government following campaigning by a major landlords’ organisation. Liverpool City Council had proposed renewing its licensing scheme for another... View Article

Overhaul of tenancy agreement to include an end to pet bans

Monday, 24th February 2020

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has called on landlords to make it easier for responsible tenants to keep well-behaved pets in their homes as he announced an overhaul of the model tenancy contracts. It is understood that only around seven per... View Article

HA maintenance costs soar, driving operating surpluses down

Monday, 24th February 2020

Increased expenditure on repairs and maintenance by housing associations, driven by a sharper focus on health and safety after the Grenfell Tower fire has been revealed in the sector’s global accounts for 2018/19. The global accounts published by England’s Regulator... View Article

New electrical safety rules for rental properties

Monday, 24th February 2020

New rules for carrying out electrical safety checks every five years in private sector tenancies are being introduced from July this year, with fines of upto £30,000 for non-compliance. Checks will initially be required for all new tenancies let from... View Article

Thousands of flats still in dangerously clad blocks of flats as removal deadline is missed

Monday, 24th February 2020

Ninety-one tower blocks in the social housing sector with approximately 7,000 flats remain clad in the dangerous ‘Grenfell-style’ ACM panels, after the end of year deadline for its removal was missed. There are many more thousands of flats covered in... View Article

Pregnant homeless woman left to sleep on floor by London council

Monday, 24th February 2020

A pregnant woman, who approached Tower Hamlets council for help when she was made homeless, was left in an unfurnished flat, miles from her support network, the Local Government Ombudsman has found. The woman was left in the flat for... View Article

Ombudsman criticises councils over poor housing benefit practices

Monday, 24th February 2020

Councils are failing vulnerable people and families, putting them at risk of rent arrears and eviction through mistakes in how they process housing benefit claims according to the Local Government Ombudsman. The Ombudsman upheld over three-quarters (78 per cent) of... View Article