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Construction industry takes first steps at improving product information

Tuesday, 5th November 2019

A survey report launched last week is expected to lay the foundations for reform to the way construction product information is provided by manufacturers and communicated to those that use it. Insights from the survey will help form recommendations for... View Article

Successful applicants for LGA Housing Advisers Programme announced

Tuesday, 5th November 2019

The Local Government Association has announced the 14 successful applicants for its Housing Advisers Programme 2019/20 (HAP), an innovative scheme to help councils overcome housing challenges in their local areas and meet the housing needs of communities. The HAP is... View Article

Revealed: Over 2,800 social housing repossessions so far in 2019

Monday, 4th November 2019

Social housing provides low rent living solutions to those who cannot afford housing on the private market. Social landlords tend to be councils or housing associations. Interested in social housing, Sell House Fast analysed the latest statistics from Gov.uk to... View Article

Expect ‘Green’ issues to come to the forefront in the general election

Monday, 4th November 2019

Patrick Mooney explores why this election has to focus more on the environment Thanks to the inconvenient, disruptive and noisy protests of Extinction Rebellion activists there can be very few adults who are not aware of the dangers we face... View Article

Meanwhile is worthwhile on regeneration projects

Monday, 28th October 2019

Meanwhile uses are far more than a nice-to-have during estate regeneration projects. An influx of people, projects and energy to fill space which would otherwise be empty can smooth the process and improve outcomes in the short- and long-term. If... View Article

Housing contractor Kier reveals £245m loss

Friday, 25th October 2019

Giant housing contractor Kier has announced a £245m annual loss after enduring “a difficult year” which saw its revenues fall and significant losses on a number of its contracts. The firm completes repairs and maintenance work for landlords across the... View Article

Present and former Housing Ombudsmen in the news

Friday, 25th October 2019

Boris Johnson’s former deputy mayor for housing in London, Richard Blakeway, has started work as the new Housing Ombudsman taking over from Andrea Keenoy, who had been in the role on a temporary basis. Mr Blakeway joins the ombudsman at... View Article

Blazes beset timber clad housing blocks

Friday, 25th October 2019

The social housing sector’s confidence in the safety of its residential stock has been badly shaken after a number of fires destroyed or badly damaged a number of developments over the course of the Summer months. Two years on from... View Article

Nationwide Windows hosts informative fire door seminar for social housing professionals

Friday, 25th October 2019

To coincide with the launch of its latest product, Nationwide Windows held informative CPD-accredited seminars on fire doors at the Draycote Hotel in Rugby on 18 and 19 September. ‘The future of fire doors’ was one of a series of... View Article

Report finds direct payments effective in curbing rent arrears

Friday, 25th October 2019

Private landlords are calling for payments of housing benefit to be made directly to them as the best way of preventing rent arrears and evictions. A report from the Smith Institute, commissioned by Southwark Council has found that direct payments... View Article

Wates celebrates extension of its Birmingham housing repairs contract

Friday, 25th October 2019

Housing contractor Wates Living Space is celebrating a multi-million pound extension to its repairs and maintenance work to 31,000 homes for Birmingham City Council. Over the past three years, its work for the council has included 338,578 housing repairs completed,... View Article

CIH Scotland welcomes energy efficiency regulations for the private sector

Friday, 25th October 2019

The Scottish Government is preparing to introduce a minimum energy efficiency standard for privately rented homes of EPC band E at change of tenancy from April 2020 and EPC band D at change of tenancy from April 2022. A consultation... View Article

Government consults on reducing sprinkler height threshold for high-rise blocks

Friday, 25th October 2019

Ministers have launched a consultation on proposals to reduce the height of new high-rise blocks of flats where water sprinkler systems need to be installed as a legal requirement. The consultation closes on 28 November. It is also seeking views... View Article

Number of empty homes rises by 11,000 properties nationally

Friday, 25th October 2019

The number of empty homes across the country rose significantly last year, increasing by more than five per cent as nearly 11,000 long-term empty homes were added to the total. The rate of increase was double the rise in 2017.... View Article

A third of claimants left ‘with only £100 a month to live on’

Friday, 25th October 2019

The freeze on welfare benefits has left more than a third of claimants with less than £100 a month to live on after they have paid rent and essential bills for food, gas and electricity, according to the Citizens Advice... View Article

Regulator acts against Kent councils over safety failings

Friday, 25th October 2019

The Regulator of Social Housing has found that four councils in Kent had breached the Home Standard over a number of health and safety issues found throughout their homes. The RSH issued Regulatory Judgements against Thanet, Dover, Canterbury and Folkestone... View Article

Kent council tackles drug dealing at properties as it cracks down on anti-social behaviour

Friday, 25th October 2019

Ashford Borough Council has successfully applied for court orders at three separate properties which have all been associated with persistent drug use and anti-social behaviour. It is the first time that the council has brought three cases in one day... View Article

Grenfell Tower inquiry – first phase report to be published

Friday, 25th October 2019

The outcome of the first phase of the inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire will be published at the end of October. The report is expected to limit itself to the events that occurred on the night of 14 June... View Article

Stable financial position despite weak sales reported for social housing sector

Friday, 25th October 2019

The latest quarterly survey from the Regulator of Social Housing shows that the sector’s overall strong financial position has been maintained despite weakening sales performance and concerns over increased safety costs. The regulator found the HA sector has access to... View Article

Number of homeless deaths at highest level

Friday, 25th October 2019

A record number of homeless people died last year on the streets or in emergency shelters and hostels according to official figures from the Office for National Statistics. An estimated 726 homeless people died in England and Wales in 2018,... View Article