From the world’s tallest to smallest homes

The conference streams at HOMES feature some of the UK’s leading residential developments. Here are eight of the best. 1. George Street modular towers: The sky is the limit Interest in modular built housing is growing but some housing providers continue to cite... View Article

Social sector league tables expected within two years

League tables for social landlords are expected to appear within two years and they will include housing associations, councils and ALMOs according to the sector’s regulator. The prospect of using tables to rank social landlords by their performance was included... View Article

HAs to scrap fixed-term tenancies

Housing Associations are turning their backs on fixed-term tenancies and returning to the previous regime of granting permanent tenancies to their residents. L&Q was the first major social landlord to make the decision, converting all of its existing 8,500 fixed-term... View Article

Council unveils drone service to survey roofs

A council-owned organisation is to start a new drone-based service by surveying the roofs of almost 8,000 local authority homes in the city of dreaming spires. Oxford Direct Services (ODS) is the service and delivery arm of Oxford City Council.... View Article

Landlords welcome rental housing standards review

The Government’s decision to review the safety standards expected of rental housing has been welcomed by the Residential Landlords Association. David Smith, Policy Director at the RLA, said: “We welcome the Government’s decision to review the safety standards around rented... View Article

Bill to give tenants more powers makes good progress

Tenants in both private and social housing are to get more powers to challenge their landlords over homes that are “unfit for human habitation” after a Private Member’s Bill won Government support. From next year tenants in England will be... View Article

HA boards alerted to sector’s reputational risks

After a turbluent year in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire and with austerity measures still affecting rents, the social housing sector has been warned by its regulator that it is under greater scrutiny than ever before. In its... View Article

Fresh concerns raised about tower block safety

Concerns over the safety of hundreds of tower blocks housing an estimated 100,000 people have been raised by residents and construction experts, with warnings that the properties are at risk of collapse. In a report run by The Independent newspaper... View Article

Welsh regulator intervenes over ‘serious’ failures at HA

The Welsh Government is intervening at a medium sized housing association after it found evidence of “serious failures of governance.” Hendre requires regulatory intervention because a “significant risk has not been effectively managed”. It has also failed across a number... View Article

More HA mergers proceed

The trend for housing associations to merge in a bid to reduce their costs and increase the amount of new housing they can build, shows no sign of abating. In the Midlands a new 45,000 home landlord called Platform Housing... View Article

Midlands tower blocks to be demolished

Hundreds of high-rise homes are to be demolished in Birmingham and Rugby as a result of decisions to knock down seven tower blocks. In Birmingham the council is demolishing five large panel system tower blocks as part of a £43.3m... View Article

Calls to end banks’ discrimination against tenants on benefits

An influential private landlords’ group is demanding urgent Government action to tackle discrimination against benefit claimants by buy-to-let mortgage providers. It follows news that a landlord had her mortgage revoked because she is renting to a benefit claimant. The Residential... View Article

Bespoke qualification professionalises housing experience

A major social landlord is using £100,000 from the Apprenticeship Levy to fund a new bespoke qualification in housing, helping experienced staff to back up their on-the-ground experience with a nationally recognised certificate. The first cohort of students at Sovereign... View Article

The scandal of empty homes exposed

The number of long-term empty homes in England has risen for the first time since 2008 and now stands at more than 205,000 vacant properties across the country. Figures collated by the Empty Homes charity from local authority council tax... View Article

Lords welcome launch of new Property Guardian trade group

Seven of the UK’s leading property guardian firms have come together to form the sector’s first trade association to lead on safety and standards, to represent and promote the industry, and to foster best practice. The Property Guardian Providers Association... View Article

Social housing landlords get £248m for cladding removal

Almost £250 million has been allocated to 43 social housing landlords to pay for the removal and replacement of unsafe combustible aluminium composite material cladding from 135 high-rise tower blocks. This is the first tranche of money to be released... View Article