Inside Housing
08/01/1999

‘Credit watch' for Shaftesbury could lead to its rating being downgraded

23/10/2003

Shaftesbury Housing Association has been told it could lose its credit rating following the Housing Corporation's decision to put it under supervision.Standard and Poor's ratings services said it had placed its A- rating on ‘credit watch' – meaning it

‘Duplication' prompts trust to drop homelessness focus

06/01/2005

A charity which has specialised in homelessness is to switch its attention to helping offenders because it believes there are too many homelessness charities...

‘Ignored' tenants walk out on forum

11/07/2002

Concerns about the level of tenant involvement in regeneration schemes is growing after half the residents on a board elected to help spend £13 million on deprived estates in Leicester resigned, claiming their views were being ignored.Ten members of t

‘Let's get tough on private builders'

30/11/2006

The government advisor charged with pushing up the design standards of affordable homes has launched a blistering attack on house builders

‘Plane tickets offered' instead of homes

22/05/2003

Two women seeking to live in Britain have launched a legal challenge against two London councils for allegedly offering help with a plane fare home rather than with accommodation. The women, who cannot be named for legal reasons and are estranged from

‘Positive' deal averts strike

10/04/2003

Trade unions have agreed a deal with the Housing Corporation and have called off industrial action over staff reorganisation.Amicus and Unison originally planned to take their 400 members – one third of the corporation staff – out on strike on Monday

‘Risk elements' in meeting 2010 target

11/12/2003

The director of housing at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has re-stated the view that the 2010 decency target will be hard to achieve.

‘Soviet' council campaign attacked by MP

25/09/2003

Stroud Council's stock transfer information campaign is ‘totally unfair' and comparable to ‘Soviet-style command control', according to local Labour MP David Drew.Mr Drew told Inside Housing that he had concerns over the amount of money being spent on ‘

‘Totalitarian' ALMO campaign under fire

20/11/2003

The row over Camden Council's bid to set up an arm's-length management organisation has escalated with campaigners threatening to lodge a judicial review accusing the council of circulating misleading information and proposing a biased ballot question.

‘Void' at top as Rouse exits

22/03/2007

Double departure sparks fears over Communities England power vacuum

‘Zero carbon' project taking from grid

14/12/2006

A development which aimed to prove a ‘carbon neutral' home was possible, has become beset by problems that threaten to push the project even more over budget.

Cooper's economic focus

19/06/2003

Housing's wider economic context will be at the heart of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's agenda, new minister Yvette Cooper said yesterday.

Planners ‘need influence over housing types'

12/06/2003

Planning authorities should be able to specify the type of housing developed on a site-by-site basis to help match demand and nurture balanced communitie

£25 million market renewal boost

16/05/2002

£54m spent on the wrong services

16/09/2004

Local authorities spent at least £54 million of last year's Supporting People budget on non-housing related services, a study for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has revealed.

£70 million to plug grant gap

26/06/2003

Substantial extra help has been made available for councils struggling with the termination of local authority social housing grant after the Housing

212 councils to get extra funding

10/07/2003

A total of 212 councils will receive additional funding to ease the administration of housing benefit in the first tranche of a £200 million performance standards fund.The Department for Work and Pensions this week announced which councils would benefit

A better fit

01/05/2003

A new approach to starter tenancies – and a weeding out of inaccurate and obsolete information – could be the key to reducing failed nominations, say Hal Pawson and David Mullins

A break with the past

23/05/2002

The pace of change in the housing sector has never been faster. Peter Malpass looks at the skills required by the housing professional of the future

A culture of hopelessness

09/05/2002

Poor communication and a lack of joined-up thinking mean there could be hundreds more Victoria Climbié cases waiting to happen. Mario Ambrosi investigates

A leap of faith

09/05/2002

There's a new way for developing housing associations to demonstrate their commitment to the Egan agenda. Liz Willis says it's a giant step forward and Gordon Callaway explains how his association became the first to gain chartered client status

A million new homes could be built on brownfield land

31/08/2006

Up to a million new homes could be built on existing brownfield land, the government claims

A private passion

31/10/2002

The private finance initiative was under attack again at this week's Labour conference but Chris Wilson believes it deserves a better press. Rebecca Evans spoke to the new 4Ps boss

A radical vision

15/08/2002

Black-led housing associations may have lost their way but they still have a key leadership role, says new FBHO chair Leslie Laniyan. Paul Hebden spoke to him

A safe haven

16/08/2001

An exhibition of photographs exploring women's experience of domestic violence, their lives in a refuge and afterwards, is on show at the

A step too far?

01/08/2002

Plans to extend the use of introductory tenancies will create new ghettos, their critics claim. Kath Grant reports

Abbey boss renews sector confidence after takeover

02/12/2004

The head of the sector's second biggest lender has ended months of speculation by pledging his commitment to social housing.

Aberdeen tenants to vote on stock

24/10/2002

Aberdeen Council has set a date to ballot its tenants on stock transfer but the council is maintaining its support for the retention of its 26,500 ho

Academics to devise Thames strategy

07/08/2003

A team at the London School of Economics has been appointed to develop a housing strategy for the London area of the Thames Gateway sub-region. The research team will be led by LSE professor of social policy Anne Power. Their work, which is not expected

Acton takes biggest slice of ADP pie

28/03/2002

Ad watchdog blasts council over its stock transfer blurb

19/07/2007

Crawley is first local authority to have complaint against it upheld

Adjusting the balance

31/10/2002

One of the country's best state schools is reaching out to help youngsters from deprived areas fulfil their potential. Mario Ambrosi reports

Affinity looks towards its own paper programme

18/01/2007

One of England's largest housing associations could become the first to set up a short-term funding vehicle to lever in up to £150 million of borrowing

Affordable homes blamed for drop in property value

02/06/2005

Neighbours of an estate of affordable homes have taken their own developer to court in a case which highlights the difficulties of mixing tenures.

Against the flow

01/05/2003

Creating group structures has been all the rage. But one group decided to buck the trend, as Laurence Fowler explains

Agency leaves £50m unallocated

03/05/2007

FOI figures show corporation shifted chunk of affordable housing budget out of London

Ailing council drafts in help to boost performance

04/03/2004

A troubled council housing department has appointed a private contractor to help turn around its fortunes after receiving the worst possible rating in its comprehensive performance assessment.Chester-le-Street Council has contracted Pinnacle Housing a

Alarm as low demand problem escalates

11/10/2001

The low demand problem is spreading rapidly acros England, with the number of low demand homes rocketing by two-thirds in just three years, it emer

Albania uncovered

09/05/2002

Albania has come a long way in a decade. But there is still plenty to do on the housing front, as Malcolm Boorer discovered

All for one

09/11/2000

New human rights legislation came into force this week. In our second article on the issue, Jan Luba QC considers what it means for a single social housing tenancy

All present and correct?

09/05/2002

Will outsourced inspectors keep local authorities in line? Daniel Martin spoke to chief housing inspector Roy Irwin to find out

Alleyway closures combat crime

05/06/2003

The government plans to close a number of alleyways in housing estates in a bid to cut down on crime.Fourteen councils have applied to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for powers to close alleyways in 74 areas identified as crime h

Allocations policy blamed for community instability

15/05/2003

Social landlords' needs-based allocations policies are feeding community instability, new academic research in east London has suggested.In a book considering the experience of families in Hackney and Newham, London School of Economics social policy p

ALMO blames commission for first no-star report

25/08/2005

Arm's-length management organisation A1 Housing has hit out at the Audit Commission after it became the first ALMO to receive no stars with uncertain...

ALMO improvements put on ice after poor rating

18/11/2004

An arm's-length management organisation will have to delay its improvement programme after it received only one star in its Audit Commission inspection, meaning it cannot yet draw down any government funding.

ALMOs are transfer's poor relations

11/07/2002

Arm's-length management companies will never provide a long-term alternative to stock transfer until councils get greater financial freedoms, the government has been told.The view, presented in evidence to the Commons standing committee on the draft l

ALMOs call for housing grant

19/06/2003

Arm's-length management organisations have called on the government to allow them to apply for social housing grant to build new homes.

ALMOs look to axe council contracts

05/05/2005

The value for money drive is pushing arm's-length management organisations into demanding greater power to end inefficient contracts with their council...

Amendment says size doesn't matter

19/09/2002

The Chartered Institute of Housing has welcomed a decision by the government that will mean that stock transfer tenants who claim housing benefit but who occupy a home that is larger ‘than reasonably required' no longer need to be referred to the rent

Anchor Trust chief takes on Places job

23/10/2003

Anchor Trust chief takes on Places jobAnchor Trust chief executive John Belcher has been given the job of sorting out the governance problems at the Places for People Group.Mr Belcher, the highest-paid chief executive in the housing association sector

Anger over pay-off deal

22/08/2002

A six-figure pay-off for Orbit Housing Group's departing chief executive has re-ignited the bitter debate over the sector's fat cat image.Off

Annual property MOTs could cut repairs costs

17/02/2005

The Audit Commission is to scrutinise a raft of unconventional cost-cutting ideas as part of its drive to help organisations meet the Treasury's efficiency...

Another blow for ‘frail' home improvement sector

25/10/2007

Arena lets go of six HIAs as fears over sustainability of funding grow

Answer to prayer

26/02/2004

A Coventry church is being given a facelift thanks to a new project by Whitefriars Housing Group's training and development agency.A team of five previously unemployed people are working on the renovation project at St Anne's RC Church in the Willenh

Anti-crime project fails to allay residents' fears

09/10/2003

A scheme to reduce fear of crime by putting ‘bobbies on the beat' has had the exact opposite result. Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust's initiative to cut fear of crime among residents actually saw a rise in reported crime and an increase in dissatisfaction

Anyone for squash?

30/11/2000

A threefold increase in affordable homes is needed in the south east, says Bernadette Stokoe

Approval of regional plans ‘depends on stakeholders'

10/07/2003

Ministers will not approve regional housing strategies unless they demonstrate that ‘key stakeholders' such as housing associations, tenants' representatives and ethnic minority groups have been involved in drafting the document.But Wendy Jarvis, head o

Are you decent?

25/07/2002

Meeting the decent homes standard is a huge challenge. Are transfer associations ahead of the game? Louise Rodgers takes a look

Arm's-length bids to approach £1 billion

28/02/2002

Arm's-length comes a step closer for two councils

09/05/2002

Tenants in Leeds have given overwhelming support to proposals to switch their homes to an arm's-length management organisation.A total of 70 per cent of tenants who answered the questionnaire supported the ALMO option, with 24 per cent opting for don'

ASBOs are only part of the solution

18/04/2002

Anti-social behaviour orders must not be the only option available to social landlords, the Local Government Association has said.In a response to the government's consultation on cracking down on nuisance neighbours (Inside Housing 5 April), the LGA

Ashram looks out for a partner

09/05/2002

Ashram Group Housing Association is looking to join a group structure as the Housing Corporation extended its supervision of the organisation.The association hopes to select a partner in the next three months after an options appraisal recommended the

Assembly members defy Rooker over growth

21/10/2004

Assembly members have defied the government over the house building total in a key growth area – but are still set to give the go-ahead for nearly half a million new homes in their region.

Assessing the value of local transport

13/06/2002

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors have commissioned research examining the effect public transport provision has on land value.ATIS Real Weatheralls, University College London and Symonds Group will

Association defends transfer campaign

15/05/2003

A housing association dogged by claims it benefited from a misleading transfer campaign has hit back at the district auditor.An investigation

Association invests £2m in schools academy scheme

01/12/2005

New Charter Housing Trust is to invest £2 million in the development of a new secondary school for Greater Manchester.

Association issues writ to partner over repair dispute

08/01/2004

A housing association has issued a High Court writ against one of its partner local authorities in a dispute over the cost of housing repairs.Cornish social landlord Ocean Housing has taken legal action against Restormel Council over an estimated £780

Association to address tenant's ire

25/07/2002

Fortunegate Community Housing, which is part of the Ealing Family Group, has received 13 complaints in a letter from Pawan Gupta, chair of the Taylors Lane Tenants' and Residents' Association. The complaints include an allegation that a consultation m

Associations call of BME merger

29/08/2002

Family First Housing Association and black-led Tuntum Housing Association have decided not to join together in a group structure 11 months after negotiations began. The announcement follows concerns that black-led associations stand to lose their inde

Associations' computer systems are inadequate

18/11/2004

Computer systems used by the great majority of housing associations fail to meet the requirements of the Supporting People regime.

Associations do not fear Homebuy

10/02/2005

The opportunity for tenants to buy an equity share in their homes will not necessarily drain the countryfs stock of social housing, housing associations...

Associations face hefty tax bills for VAT avoidance

02/03/2006

Housing associations could face huge tax bills following a ruling by the European Court of Justice that could prevent them claiming back VAT

Associations frozen out over deals

24/03/2005

Developers are freezing housing associations out of affordable housing deals as they gear up to receive development grant themselves, Inside Housing has...

Associations given financial shot in arm

02/02/2006

The Housing Finance Corporation has developed a new borrowing model intended to ease the financial burden on developing associations.

Associations in south-west plot rival strategy

09/10/2003

Housing associations in the south-west of England are planning to produce an ‘alternative' regional housing strategy to challenge the document produced by the South West Housing Body. Western Challenge Housing Group chief executive Wayne Morris, who is

Associations line up to bid against private developers

06/01/2005

Top developing housing associations are planning to stake a claim for a significant share of the first pot of social housing grant also available to private...

associations must take centre stage

19/06/2003

Housing associations must be at the heart of neighbourhood management or they risk serious dents in their financial viability, delegates at the Chartered Institute of Housing conference heard this week.Richard Longman, neighbourhood management team lead

Associations 'preferred' to manage developers' homes

28/10/2004

The Housing Corporation would prefer housing associations to manage grantfunded homes built by private developers, Inside Housing has learned. A draft document on how the system will be run is to be discussed by the corporation's board next week.

Associations to have easier access to currency markets

21/06/2007

Rule change will benefit larger, ‘sophisticated' organisations

Associations told: you're not listening to tenants

04/01/2007

Housing associations have come under attack from the London mayor and a newly elected member of an influential parliamentary committee for supposedly failing to listen to tenants.

Associations urged to widen dispersal role

19/06/2003

The government will invite more social housing providers to bid in the next round of contracts to house asylum seekers. Susan Hadland, acting head of the community cohesion unit based at the Home Office, said she wanted more social housing provide

Assurances from government as sector speculates over HICP

18/12/2003

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has assured housing associations they will not lose out financially if a new inflation measure is used to calculate rents under the restructuring regime.Chancellor Gordon Brown confirmed last week that the Treas

Asylum ruling could cost councils millions

04/09/2003

The High Court has ruled that councils must continue to support asylum seekers who arrive unaccompanied as children after they reach adulthood.The ruling, which could cost councils millions in support costs including housing, was made after four asylum

Asylum seekers left homeless by flaws in welfare system

13/01/2005

Asylum seekers are continuing to be forced into destitution and homelessness, new research has found.

Asylum seekers target slips away

15/02/2007

Councils kept in the dark over plan to place failed asylum seekers in contract housing

Attack on exclusive development policy

24/07/2003

Associations have attacked the Housing Corporation's decision to invite only Challenge Fund winners to bid for development sites made available through the corporation and English Partnerships' joint unit. The unit, known as Housing Partnerships, has

Audit Commission praises Carr-gomm

19/06/2003

Carr-Gomm Housing Society provides a good service to its tenants and is raising standards in service delivery, the Audit Commission has found.In the commission's first published inspection of a national supported housing provider, it praised the associa

Audit Commission slams 'weakness' of Welsh housing

18/07/2002

Improving housing repairs and maintenance has been identified by the Audit Commission as one of the key challenges facing councils in Wales.The commission's report, Delivering a better Wales, an across-the-board survey of Welsh public serv

Auditor decided council produced ‘unlawful material'/

21/02/2002

Auditor decided council produced ‘unlawful material'/Critics argue for long-term homelessness solution/Welsh urged to consider finance options

Auditor questions value of transfer deals

09/09/2004

Glasgow Council failed to get value for money from elements of the transfer to Glasgow Housing Association, the council's external auditor has found.

Authorities powerless to stop retaliatory evictions

10/05/2007

Advisor wins support for campaign to regulate private sector

Authorities struggle with private sector

09/05/2002

Local authorities are finding it tough to meet the demands of best value for their private housing services, new analysis suggests.An assessment by the Housing Quality Network of the latest housing inspection findings says ‘best value reviews of priva

Authority must re-open case

31/07/2003

A homeless couple refused housing by Highland Council have won the right to have their application reheard. John McAuley and his partner Fiona Stewart claimed they were driven from the home they owned in Airdrie by a campaign of harassment. They moved i

Authority to embark on pioneering ALMO transfer

04/12/2003

Westminster Council has drawn up groundbreaking plans to transfer part of its stock currently managed by its arm's-length management organisation to a housing association.The council wants to transfer ownership of three tower blocks to Stadium Housing

Award for ‘transformed' space

11/07/2002

North west housing association Space has won Manchester Chamber of Commerce's Shamrock award, sponsored by Aer Lingus, for excellence in workforce development. Business improvement manager Sharon McCambridge said Space had undergone a ‘dramatic' inter

Awards recognise planning

12/06/2003

The Greater London Authority, Royal Town Planning Institute and employers' group London First have launched a planning awards scheme for the capital. The London Planning Awards aim to recognise outstanding planning achievements that have made a special co

B&B halved in target push

11/09/2003

A massive fall in the number of families housed in bed and breakfast accommodation has been recorded amid concern that councils outside London may not be moving as quickly as those in the capital.The number of families in B&B in England plummeted to 3

Back from the pits

21/12/2000

Communities die when a major industry collapses. Paula Rohan looks at how one landlord is turning one area around

Back of the queue

09/08/2001

The number of families forced to live in bed and breakfast accommodation is at record levels. Sarah Brownlee sees at first hand the miserable existence forced on one homeless family

Backing for HMO recommendations

24/07/2003

A campaign to update ‘Dickensian' overcrowding regulations has received a major boost from the committee.The Commons select committee on the Draft Housing Bill said government should take forward Shelter's recommendation that the bill modernise statutor

BALLOT SPECIAL
Executive support secured victory

11/04/2002

Balls allays cutback fears

17/06/2004

Fears that housing will lose out to other priorities in the Chancellor's spending review have been assuaged by his chief economic adviser. Ed Balls told the Chartered Institute of Housing conference in Harrogate that Gordon Brown will back government co

Banking on a new home in Fife

06/01/2000

A former bank in the centre of Cowdenbeath is to be transformed to provide affordable rented housing.Work started this week on the £354,000 scheme by Fife Special Housing Association, which will result in six new homes in the prominent town centre bui

Barker pledge on tenure gap

08/01/2004

Levelling the playing field between owner-occupation and renting will be a key consideration when economist Kate Barker draws up her policy recommendations on housing supply.Speaking at a seminar organised by MP Andy Love and sponsored by Shelter, Ms

Bashing the opposition

01/05/2003

Former housing minister Gerald Kaufman has survived decades as an MP. Paul Hebden reports on a bruising encounter

Battle beyond the stars

31/05/2001

You may think a visit from the inspectorate is tough, but chief housing inspector Roy Irwin reckons that for authorities looking to win arm's-length status that's the easy bit. Kate Murray finds out more.

Battle steps down from federation post

17/04/2003

National Housing Federation North head of northern regions Jim Battle has stepped down from the post to focus on other interests. Mr Battle told Inside Housing he wanted to focus on his role as a Labour councillor and to pursue consultancy work. ‘Afte

Befriending scheme to inspire others

09/05/2002

An award-winning befriending scheme for young black homeless people could provide a model for supporting other vulnerable groups, according to an evaluation of the project. The Azuka scheme in Nottingham, which won the 2001 Sir Roy Griffiths Award, has he

Beggars could face jail after landmark case

21/08/2003

Councils are lining up to take advantage of yesterday's landmark injunction against a persistent beggar despite concerns from homelessness organisations.Westminster, Oxford, Leeds and Liverpool have all indicated to Inside Housing they will consider i

Bellway signs corporation contract

13/07/2006

Bellway has become the third private company to agree to the Housing Corporation's demands for its affordable housing competition, the quango's chief executive has confirmed.

Benefit change ‘to happen' despite lenders' concerns

25/03/2004

The Department for Work and Pensions has refused to bow to pressure from lenders opposed to changes in the housing benefit system. A group of lenders met officials from the DWP behind closed doors this week to outline their concerns over plans to end dire

benefit communication gap

19/06/2003

A report on the outsourcing of housing benefit has found that there is still a ‘gap of understanding' between the public and private sector.The report by the Institute of Rating, Revenues and Valuation identifies good practice examples for successful ou

Benefit docking missing from speech

27/11/2003

The government has denied it has scrapped plans to dock the housing benefit of anti-social tenants.The initiative, which has the personal backing of Prime Minister Tony Blair, was omitted from the Queen's speech delivered on Wednesday. But a spokesper

Benefit priorities must be set out prior to reform

25/04/2002

The sector must decide whether its priority for housing benefit reform is simplification or social inclusion, the chair of an influential campaigning think tank has said.Speaking at a National Housing Federation conference on the future of the benefit

Benefit reform needed for poorest Londoners to work

13/09/2007

Capital's high housing and....

Best value changes come under fire

11/04/2002

Tenants in Wales are against the replacement of best value by the Wales Programme for Improvement, according to TPAS Cymru.TPAS and the Welsh Tenants Federation have held a series of seminars to gather tenant opinion on best value and the degree to wh

Best value pilots score on tenant satisfaction

07/12/2000

Significant savings and real improvements were delivered under the first phase of the ‘best value' initiative, according to a report published this week.The final evaluation of the best value pilots programme says tenant satisfaction with housing serv

Better the devil you know?

09/05/2002

The speculation about why Birmingham rejected transfer has been intense. Rebecca Evans asks the voters

BFI apologises after shaming benefit department

27/03/2003

The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate has apologised after a successful housing benefit department complained it was unfairly branded alongside the poorest.

Bids for development grant will not be judged equally

25/11/2004

The first competition for development cash between housing associations and private companies will not be fought on a level playing field, the Housing Corporation conceded this week.

Big cash boost for involvement

18/07/2002

The Housing Corporation has made £11 million available to social landlords looking to increase tenant involvement.The cash is available over three years from the regulator's community training and enabling grant programme.Head of innovation and go

Big landlords climb up rankings list

10/02/2005

Larger housing associations and partial transfer landlords in England are performing better than ever, according to the latest list of top performers.

Biggest continue to grow even bigger

21/06/2007

Eight HAs hold more than 40,000 homes, compared with one a decade ago

Bill to protect corporation will be rushed through

16/03/2006

The government has been forced to accelerate the passage of a new law through Parliament to fill the hole in the Housing Corporation's constitution.

Billion-pound pledge not enough for pathfinders

22/11/2007

Bids outstrip government's funding commitment

Birmingham bolsters repairs effort

11/12/2003

Birmingham Council is to pay for the clearance of its repairs backlog with money originally allocated to meeting the decent homes standard and demolishing unsustainable stock.The routine repairs budget will be increased from £12 million to £23.7 milli

Birmingham saves by ‘reprioritising'

25/07/2002

Birmingham Council's cabinet has voted to shave £3.4 million off its management costs this year to contribute towards a £5 million increase in repairs revenue.The saving includes reducing pay award funding from 3.5 per cent to 3 per cent and releasing

Birmingham transfer moves a step closer

18/01/2001

England's largest ever stock transfer came a step closer this week. Birmingham's ruling Labour group voted by a majority of 32 to 10 to move to the next stage of the stock transfer process.The council will now spend £327,000 consulting tenants on the

Bitter row erupts over value of soup runs for homeless

15/09/2005

A furious row has broken out between large homelessness organisations and faithbased soup run organisers over the value of on-street assistance for...

Blackpool to be first with benefit change

25/09/2003

Blackpool Council will be the first pathfinder to introduce the new flat rate housing allowance in a massive shake-up of housing benefit.Blackpool's start next month will be followed by Lewisham in December. Coventry and Teignbridge councils will follow

Blame game over benefit reforms

21/12/2000

Councils have welcomed proposals aimed at improving housing benefit administration, but have told the government to 'take its fair share of the blame' over the crisis surrounding the subsidy.But social security minister Angela Eagle said: 'The primary

Bloated loan facilities are ‘ridiculous and inefficient'

02/12/2004

A leading lender has branded the housing association sector ‘ridiculous' for incurring heavy charges on nearly £10 billion of loans.

Blunkett praises community spirit

12/09/2002

Home Secretary David Blunkett has praised the work of housing associations in helping to build strong communities.Speaking at the annual general meeting of Arches Housing Association in Sheffield, Mr Blunkett said that housing associations had an impo

Blunkett tells landlords to get tough on nuisance neighbours

03/06/2004

Home Secretary David Blunkett has directed councils and housing associations to step up the fight against antisocial behaviour by sending nuisance neighbours on compulsory rehabilitation programmes. Mr Blunkett wants social landlords to ensure that te

BME association accuses corporation of hypocrisy

24/11/2005

A black and minority ethnic housing association has accused the Housing Corporation of ignoring its own equal opportunities advice and ‘lining the pockets' of its ex-employees

BME groups at most risk of overcrowding

26/06/2003

Black and minority ethnic groups are most likely to suffer housing overcrowding in London, a report published by the Greater London Authority has revealed. An analysis of the 2001 census has found that 21 per cent of all households lack one or more of t

BME landlords take partners

10/04/2003

Westway Housing Association and Nashayman Housing Association are the latest black-led housing organisations to team up with mainstream organisations.West Yorkshire-based Nashayman is to merge with Home Housing Association. And London-based Westway Ho

Board member payouts allowed

03/07/2003

Housing associations can make payments to their board members under a historic rule change announced by the Housing Corporation.As predicted by Inside Housing last summer, associations will be able to pay out sums up to £20,000 (12 July 2002).But the

Board members face expulsion

11/09/2003

One of the ‘rebel' board members leading a move to unseat the chairman of the Places for People group has called into question the Housing Corporation's ability to deal with the boardroom wrangle.This week it emerged that Places for People had tabled

Board payments for largest group

05/02/2004

The UK's largest housing association group is to introduce payment for board members as part of a drive to improve its heavily-criticised governance arrangements.Places for People Group will pay a salary of £20,0000 to its chair, £16,000 to its deputy

Bogus ALMO researchers target elderly residents

09/09/2004

A group of bogus callers in Bury claimed to be conducting research for the government into arm's-length management organisations in order to extract the personal details of elderly residents

Bolton project boosts refugee protection targets

04/11/2004

The government this week reaffirmed its target to house 500 of the world's most vulnerable refugees within a year, as Bolton became the second local authority to accept people through the Gateway Protection Programme.

Boom or bust?

27/03/2003

The Communities Plan sets out very different ways of tackling abandonment in the north of England and booming demand in the south. But does the north/south divide have to be permanent? Anne Power takes a look

Both sides of the coin

22/08/2002

The spending review may not have delivered as much as had been anticipated – but the extra investment has been universally welcomed. Steven Fyfe and Judi Watkinson consider the implications for the low-demand north, while Michael Irvine offers a view from

Bouquets and barbs

09/05/2002

Do councils in the north really perform worse than their counterparts in the rest of the country? Ian Wright and Sharon Fleming take a look

Breaking the cycle

09/05/2002

This week's Homelessness Task Force report proposes wide-ranging changes which could revolutionise the way homelessness is tackled in Scotland. Task force member Liz Nicholson explains

Brent ALMO impresses third-round inspectors

07/08/2003

Brent Council's arm's-length management organisation has become the first in the third round to attract an excellent three-star rating.The result unlocks £30 million of investment to bring Brent Housing Partnership's stock up to a decent standard by 200

Brent lodges record ASBO applications

18/09/2003

Brent Council is applying for a record eight anti-social behaviour orders in one go.The council, in partnership with the Metropolitan Police, has applied for the orders to be taken against an eight-strong gang who have terrorised elderly residents in an

Broker banned from misleading tenants

22/05/2003

The Office of Fair Trading has stepped in to stop a mortgage broker from falsely claiming the government is planning to scrap the right to buy.Kent-based Michael Hanchett, trading as The Mortgage Master, distributed leaflets urging council tenants to

Brown government scraps Blair's respect task force

11/10/2007

Scheme to tackle anti-social behaviour replaced by youth task force

Brown toughens target

10/04/2003

Funding for affordable homes in England's growth areas will be tied to whether councils meet house building targets as part of a wide-ranging revie

Brown: corporation must revive ailing Homebuy

22/03/2007

Competition launched to help first-time buyers

Browne ends uncertainty on Supporting People

24/04/2003

More than £153 million is to be pumped into Northern Ireland's Supporting People programme over the next three years. Almost a month since the sc

Brownfield data springs surprise

14/08/2003

The level of brownfield land available for development in England is little changed from last year, according to government figures released this week. Figures from the national land use database of previously-developed land estimate that there is 65,00

Budget cuts will force councils to make big Supporting People savings

09/12/2004

Councils across England will have to drive through ‘huge efficiency savings' in their Supporting People services in the face of a three-year round of budget...

Building drought feared for capital

16/12/2004

Property experts have warned development in the capital could dry up after the government enforced London Mayor Ken Livingstone's affordable housing target...

Bulk of uncovered fraud in housing benefit

23/05/2002

Housing benefit constitutes the bulk of a 60 per cent rise over two years in benefit fraud uncovered by the national fraud initiative.Benefit fraud detected during the initiative in 2000 was £24 million – up from £15 million detected during a similar

Bureaucracy wields a double-edged sword

10/10/2002

The National Housing Federation will be keeping a ‘double-regulation watch' on the new single inspectorate to ensure it does not increase bureaucracy

Buying home 'further out of reach'

28/07/2005

Housing minister Yvette Cooper has defended the government's plan to expand its home ownership programme by claiming that buying a home could soon...

Byers' fair funding call

29/05/2003

Stephen Byers, the Cabinet minister in charge of housing until last year, has said he would have pushed for a greater number of options for councils

Byker district redesign

29/04/2004

Designer Wayne Hemingway is to work with the Newcastle-Gateshead market renewal pathfinder to ensure high quality urban design. The pathfinder is inviting architects and designers to develop proposals for the regeneration of the Byker area. Inside Housi

Cabinet member resigns over gesture

16/05/2002

Southampton Council's cabinet member for housing has resigned after making what his party described as an ‘inappropriate gesture' to an unsuccessful candidate at this month's local election count.Paul Jenks, former chair of the Local Government Associ

Call for ‘living' compacts

24/10/2002

The head of the Tenant Participation Advisory Service has called on the government to make tenant participation compacts ‘living' documents that are subject to regular review.The advice is outlined in TPAS chief executive Phil Morgan's submission to a

Call for anti-social behaviour orders in province

04/09/2003

The outgoing chair of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has called for the introduction of anti-social behaviour orders.Sid McDowell, who steps down in the new year, said: ‘In the rest of the UK anti-social behaviour orders have become an important

Call for council-managed gypsy sites

01/07/2004

Council housing departments should be responsible for maintaining and managing gypsy and travellers' sites, an influential committee of MPs has been told.

Call for forum job descriptions

24/04/2003

Regional housing forums should have their role formally set out to prevent inconsistencies in the way they operate, the Chartered Institute of Housing has said.CIH director of policy Sarah Webb was this week writing a letter to the Office of the Deput

Call for inquiry on Scottish affordability

28/08/2003

The Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland has urged the Scottish Parliament to set up an inquiry into affordable housing, criticising Communities Scotland's approved development figures for this year as inadequate.The CIH has written to the Parli

Call for more clarity on HMOs

09/05/2002

Shelter has called for clarification on rules over the registration of houses in multiple occupation, ahead of a Commons debate scheduled for today.Des Turner MP's Home Energy Conservation Bill originally would have required all HMOs with more than tw

Call for private investors to help diversify tenure

06/07/2006

Insurance companies and pension funds should be encouraged to invest in affordable housing to help break up mono tenure estates, according to two private companies that work closely with the social housing sector.

Call to extend benefit to home-owners

16/10/2003

A call to extend housing benefit to low-income home-owners forms a key part of the Home Ownership Task Force's report, Inside Housing has learned.The idea is among a range of proposals including help with repairs and maintenance for low-income household

Call to limit student population

22/05/2003

Liverpool's mixed community is under threat from rising numbers of students, according to the leader of the council.Mike Storey is keen to limit the building of new student accommodation in the Everton area, where students already account for more tha

Call to raise rent ceiling for shorthold tenancies

27/09/2007

Tenants oustside newly-designed regime could end up losing out

Call to speed up infrastructure delivery

07/12/2006

A new independent planning commission to fast track the delivery of major transport projects should be established by the government, according to recommendations outlined in the Eddington Transport Study

Camden bans lets to vulnerable on Maiden Lane

24/10/2002

Camden Council has instituted an official exclusion policy as part of its sustainable estate drive.The borough's executive has agreed to bar lettings to single people with known drug or alcohol problems and to vulnerable people at 100 bedsits on the M

Camden PFI pullout puts plans in doubt

27/06/2002

Camden Council is reviewing plans for its pathfinder housing private finance initiative scheme after a bidder pulled out of the process, leaving the council with only one consortium remaining on its shortlist.Bovis Lend Lease has announced that it wil

Campaign calls for an end to doorstep debt

01/12/2005

The government must cap the high interest rates offered by home credit agencies to stop people without bank accounts racking up huge debts to doorstep loan sharks, according to a new campaign

Campaigners welcome financial review

29/08/2002

Defend Council Housing has welcomed the government's wholesale review of housing finance as the ‘beginning of the end' for stock transfer. The campaign said it was particularly impressed by proposals to give councils the same rights to borrow as RSLs and

Capacity unlikely to limit borrowing

02/10/2003

The housing sector's ability to borrow is unlikely to be undermined by housing associations running out of financial capacity, according to the Housing Finance Corporation.THFC chief executive Piers Williamson spoke to Inside Housing following the publi

Capital affordability target challenged by new report

22/08/2002

A study has questioned a proposal to make new developments in the capital include a 35 to 50 per cent affordable housing target.Research by ATS Real Weatherall into the Greater London Authority's plans for social housing construction has questioned th

Capital markets hit by US sub-prime mortgage crisis

30/08/2007

Borrowers squeezed as bond market lenders eye better returns

Capital strains

09/05/2002

Can the local authorities in London do more to tackle the homelessness crisis in the capital? Sylvia Carter and Charlie Forman take a look

Care needs of asylum seekers must be met by social services

19/09/2002

Disabled asylum seekers and refugees face a lack of support from social services and so find themselves in unsuitable housing with unmet care needs, a report for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has found.Study co-author Dr Keri Richards said: ‘We found

Case made to address non-pathfinders

14/08/2003

Intervention is needed to tackle low demand outside the market renewal pathfinders, a study of housing markets in the north-west of England argues.The report into changing housing markets in Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria, carried out by the Universit

Cash pledged to improve planning system

18/07/2002

Radical changes to the land-use planning framework – including ‘comprehensive institutional reforms' and fast-track decision-making – have been promised by the government to accompany the shake-up in housing.Extra money has also been allocated to the

Cash to counter capital homeless costs

20/06/2002

London boroughs should receive extra money to cover the costs of placing homeless people in temporary accommodation, the Association of London Government has said. In its submission to the government's review of the revenue grant the association said:

Catalyst for a like-minded partnership

29/08/2002

The merger of Kensington Housing Trust and Ealing Family Group has gone ahead, creating a new housing group called Catalyst. The new group will also include Ealing Family's shared ownership arm Northcote Housing Association, which will take on Kensington'

Cave review could release landlords from EU shackles

05/04/2007

Less red tape could mean freedom from European buying rules

Census ‘puts london plan in doubt'

24/10/2002

The London Assembly has called into question the validity of the draft London Plan after it was revealed that the estimate used for London's population was higher than the figure in the 2001 Census.The census indicates that London's population is arou

Chair resigns over conflict of interest

18/01/2001

The newly-appointed convenor of the Scottish social justice committee, which oversees Glasgow's stock transfer proposals, has been forced to resign over an alleged conflict of interest.Glasgow MSP Johann Lamont resigned from her position as chair of t

Challenge Fund plans hit brick wall

16/12/2004

A flagship government scheme designed to speed up the delivery of affordable homes could be held up for three years because the land supplied by English...

Championing the benefits of partnering

13/06/2002

Partnering in repair and maintenance delivers ‘significant and quantifiable benefits', according to research commissioned by property services firm Connaught.Partnering: Slogan or solution?, launched this week at the Chartered Institute of Housing con

Changes could cost ALMOs millions

19/08/2004

Arm's-length management organisations fear they will lose millions of pounds in revenue and fail to meet the decent homes target as a result of changes to the way they are financed.

Changes to maintenance allowances welcomed

24/07/2003

The Northern Consortium has welcomed proposed changes to the distribution formula for management and maintenance allowances.Inside Housing revealed last week that the government wanted to introduce a new formula to shift funds towards the north and away

Changing performance indicators may jeopardise fair comparisons

05/08/2004

Proposed changes to performance indicators for local authorities could make it harder to compare councils and housing associations, consultants warned this week.

Charity gets tough in bid for move-on accommodation

28/10/2004

Councils will be forced to house people languishing in hostels unless they contribute voluntarily to a project to unblock the log jam.

Charity warns of rising capital rough sleeping figures

25/04/2002

The number of people found sleeping rough in central London has soared, according to The Simon Community.The charity counted 266 rough sleepers in eight boroughs, up from the 224 found in the same boroughs in November 2001.It coincided with a surv

Chelsea TMO rated 'good'

17/07/2003

A tenant management organisation has reached the standard necessary to draw down extra government investment under the arm's-length management programme.Kensington and Chelsea TMO will be entitled to £36.1 million after receiving two stars with excellen

Chief executive arrested after forest blaze

29/09/2005

The chief executive of Islington & Shoreditch Housing Association has been arrested by Spanish police after being accused of starting a forest fire in one of the country's national parks.

Chief leaves supervised association/starter home media campaign launched/new affordability indicator proposed/Unison criticises stock transfer report

28/08/2003

Chief leaves supervised associationThe chief executive of Riviera Housing Trust is leaving her post four months after the Housing Corporation put the association under supervision.Louise Barnden's departure follows an internal review that identified

Chiefs' pay is below council average

30/09/2004

Chief housing officers in England and Wales are earning significantly less than their counterparts in other local government departments.

Chief's pay-off condemned

25/09/2003

A massive pay-off to a departing chief executive has been condemned for damaging the reputation of housing associations amid across-the-board pay rises in the sector. Bob Herbert received a package worth £233,291 when he took early retirement from Dow

Child protection proposals must close loopholes, warns Keeble

02/10/2003

The role of housing needs to be strengthened in the government's proposals for child protection, former junior housing minister Sally Keeble has warned. Responding to the government's green paper on children Ms Keeble said a ‘stronger framework' was nee

Children Bill plan ‘unworkable'

11/03/2004

The Children's Bill's proposal for each local authority to have a children's services director who is also responsible for housing is ‘virtually unworkable', council directors warned this week.The new bill, which sets out the government's plans to refor

Chisholm offers stake to buyers

10/03/2005

Low-cost home ownership in Scotland could be completely transformed following the introduction of a new scheme by the Scottish Executive, Inside Housing...

Choice scheme revised after challenge

29/07/2004

Choice-based letting came under renewed pressure this week after a tenant launched a High Court case claiming it failed to prioritise people in greatest need.

Choice-based lettings ‘not a factor' in racial segregation

13/10/2005

Fears that choice-based lettings will increase racial segregation are unfounded, according to the early findings of major new research.

CIH argues benefits of arm's-length

18/04/2002

The Chartered Institute of Housing is urging anti-stock transfer MPs to lobby for more investment in arm's-length companies rather than continue their opposition to the transfer programme. Institute president Richard Kitson, in a letter responding to

CIH seeks stock options investigation

11/09/2003

The Chartered Institute of Housing in Northern Ireland wants an evaluation of all stock management options.In a document being sent to all political parties in Northern Ireland, the institute argues that social housing has become stigmatised over the ye

Circle 33 aims to end benefit burden

22/05/2003

A major housing association has stopped receiving housing benefit direct from local authorities in a move aimed at stressing tenants' rights and responsibilities.Circle 33 Housing Trust has stopped receiving the benefit for new tenants, meaning they h

Cities in for long haul

04/09/2003

Two of England's biggest councils have admitted they are facing huge problems in achieving government housing standards.Speaking in advance of the publication of a re-inspection of the council's no-star repairs and maintenance service, Birmingham Coun

City inquiry despite two-star ratings

06/11/2003

Leeds Council could be asked to rethink its housing investment strategy after mixed ratings for its arm's-length management organisations.The Audit Commission this week announced that two of the six ALMOs for the city had received a two-star rating fr

Claims backlog lets Harrow down

21/08/2003

Failure to adopt inspectors' recommendations means a backlog of benefit claims at Harrow Council remains as high this year as it was in 2000.That is the finding of inspectors who returned to the London borough in March this year. While praising the veri

Clarification after Byers' cash pledge

18/04/2002

The government has again clarified its policy on council borrowing after comments made by Stephen Byers to a conference of housing authorities.Speaking at the Core Cities housing conference in Manchester the secretary of state at the Department for Tr

Clear case for rationalisation, conference told

26/09/2002

Larger housing associations will not necessarily be the ones to benefit from moves to rationalise stock, according to evidence emerging from a pilot scheme in Manchester.Max Steinberg, the Housing Corporation's director of investment in the north, sai

Clearance harder with new rating system

19/06/2003

Government plans to revamp housing fitness regulations may undermine efforts to clear unpopular homes, the low demand pathfinders warned this week.Giving evidence to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister select committee's inquiry into the draft Housi

CLG remains tight-lipped on private finance study

30/08/2007

Second freedom of information request rejected....

Clusters of poor mental health put strain on services

13/09/2007

‘Residential sorting' bad for communities and vulnerable people

Coalition takes on Field over bill

11/07/2002

A total of 18 organisations have voiced their opposition to a bill to withhold housing benefit from anti-social tenants.Frank Field MP's private member's bill, which was due for discussion in the Commons yesterday, is ‘ill-thought-out' and will cause

Cohesive communities

23/05/2002

Commmunities built around solidarity and mutual support could be one weapon in the battle to tackle the affordable housing crisis. Neale Coleman explains

commission defends hull treatment

19/06/2003

The Audit Commisson has dismissed criticism by Hull MP Kevin McNamara of the way it carried out a corporate governance inspection of the failing local authority.Mr McNamara has reportedly produced a lengthy document criticising the way the commission ca

Commission set to raise ratings bar

28/04/2005

Housing organisations could be given lower inspection ratings for the same standard of service by the Audit Commission as part of the drive for higher...

Commission to enhance inspection methods

20/05/2004

Value for money will form one of the Housing Inspectorate's key lines of enquiry in its inspection of housing associations and local authorities, the Audit Commission has said. The commission this week announced immediate changes to its inspection met

Commonhold agreements arrive at landmark stage

19/01/2006

Planning applications are to be submitted on the UK's first large-scale development to use commonhold agreements

Compensation for family

27/01/2005

Blackpool Council has been ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation to a homeless family of 10 after failing to respond properly when they presented themselves...

Computer mix-up caused stress

11/04/2002

Leeds Council has offered to pay a mother-of-two £1,500 after a computer mix-up which may have delayed her move to a larger home.A report by Local Government Ombudsman Patricia Thomas found the woman applied for a transfer from her two-bedroom home in

concern grows over regional imbalance

10/07/2003

Housing associations in the south-east of England have added their voices to concerns that the focus on the region's three growth areas will not tackle housing need in the region. Responding to the consultation on the draft housing strategy for the sout

Concern over grant surplus leakage

26/06/2003

Housing associations have warned that the government's proposals to make social housing grant available to developers may see surpluses leaking out of the social sector. Responding to the government's consultation on the issue, the National Housing Fede

Concern over introductory tenancies

09/05/2002

Homelessness charity Shelter has raised concern over the operation of introductory tenancies after a council was found to have wrongly evicted a tenant.The error came to light after Shelter case worker Dave Weinbren found that a Salford Council tenant

Concern over refugee support

13/06/2002

Concerns delay Supporting People announcement

02/10/2003

The government has delayed announcing the final level of Supporting People grant due to concerns over the size of the fund. Details of the final grant reconciliation – dubbed the platinum cut – were expected last month but an announcement is now not e

Concerns rise over ‘messy' reform to grant accounting

11/08/2005

Housing associations may have to renegotiate their covenants with lenders if they are ordered to record grant as revenue rather than capital.

Conditions survey reveals decent homes successes

01/02/2007

The number of homes that miss the government's decent homes standard has dropped by three million in nine years.

Confidence tricks

10/10/2002

Helping homeless people find greater independence is never an easy task. But empowering people through education is a step in the right direction, as Mike McCall explains

Connection points

13/02/2003

Committed individuals in the housing association sector have formed a group to research and campaign for connected communities. But they face a real challenge, says Maggie Gebbett

Considerable choice

10/10/2002

The array of investment options for councils trying to meet the decent homes standard is growing wider. Do incentives for options such as arm's-length mean that stock transfer has had its day?

Construction skills shortage poses threat to plan

14/08/2003

The government's targets to build thousands of homes in England's four growth areas could be under threat unless there is a step change in the number of construction workers being trained, the Liberal Democrats have warned.Last week work minister Des Br

consultant to plan space in Hamlets

12/06/2003

Tower Hamlets Council has commissioned planning consultancy Scott Wilson to develop an open space strategy for the borough. One issue the strategy will address is land around social housing. Tower Hamlets landscape team manager Rosalind Brewer said the co

Consultation promise does 'not go far enough'

20/06/2002

Government assurances that it will consult fully with the sector before extending insolvency provisions in the Enterprise Bill to all industrial and provident societies do not go far enough, according to the National Housing Federation.Melanie Johnson

Continental comparison

09/05/2002

Why do British social landlords pay more for private finance than their European counterparts? Mark Stephens looks at the price of money

Continental shifts on exclusion

31/10/2002

The concept of social exclusion is a European one – but it means different things in different countries, as Paul Spicker explains

Controversial means test clause set to be dropped

20/12/2007

Concerns over housing bill wording force government's hand

Co-op calls for restoration over mass demolition

21/10/2004

The Hull & East Riding market renewal pathfinder needs to focus on selective demolition rather than the ‘wholesale destruction of streets', according to a report by a local housing co-operative.

Cooper slates Birmingham over land costs

16/03/2006

Housing and planning minister Yvette Cooper has blasted Birmingham Council for jeopardising the development of new social housing in the city by ‘pushing up the cost of land' it sells to housing associations.

Cooper stresses economic link

03/07/2003

Housing associations have a wider role to play in regenerating neighbourhoods than simply providing housing, Yvette Cooper has said.Speaking to Inside Housing at the start of a consultation into tackling unemployment in poor areas, the junior regenerati

Corporation acts over Selhal housing

15/08/2002

Oldham-based Selhal Housing has had three statutory appointments made to its board by the Housing Corporation.The appointments were made following financial problems at the association, which is part of the Selhal Housing Group. The group manages

Corporation attacks £3 million office

10/06/2004

A struggling stock transfer housing association has been criticised by the regulator for spending £3 million on a new office. Chester & District Housing Trust's decision to buy new premises could mean less money is available to spend on tenants' homes

Corporation hits building targets

28/08/2003

The Housing Corporation is still working with 23 associations to overcome problems in implementing rent restructuring – more than a year after the regime came into force.The associations are in discussions with the regulator to agree an appropriate pl

Corporation looks out for mixed tenure schemes

04/09/2003

The Housing Corporation will favour mixed tenure schemes that include an element of low cost ownership in the 2004/05 funding round for London.The move follows the publication of a report by the regulator looking at the impact of 23 corporation-funded s

Corporation places transfer trust under supervision

10/07/2003

The Housing Corporation has placed Walsall Housing Trust under supervision and appointed a team of statutory appointees to its board.Inside Housing revealed last week that the corporation was on the verge of making a supervision order at the stock trans

Corporation responds to local funding fears

12/09/2002

London boroughs and housing associations have been assured that development funding from the Housing Corporation will continue to be allocated on a local as well as a strategic basis.Concern has been growing that investment will be channelled to major

Corporation to stop funding ‘opportunistic' associations

29/04/2004

The Housing Corporation is to slash the number of housing associations awarded cash in the growth areas in a move that will increasingly favour bids from a select group of lead developers. The corporation believes too many associations have taken an ‘

Corporation: funding only if you meet quality criteria

27/11/2003

The Housing Corporation has issued a stern warning to private house builders that they must meet the organisation's quality standards if they are to receive development cash. London's director of investment and regeneration Steve Douglas told delegate

Cost of best value must be recognised

27/06/2002

Government-inspired targets and inspection regimes are demoralising council staff, according to Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Adrian Sanders.Councils should be fully compensated for the full cost of best value targets, he said. ‘The govern

Cost puts ministers off tenants' equity stakes

20/03/2003

A potential bill of £7 billion has deterred ministers from pushing forward proposals to introduce equity stakes for social housing tenants.Cl

Costs spiral as authorities push for bigger homes

21/07/2005

Councils' demands for larger homes are pushing up the cost of affordable housing, Inside Housing has learned.

Council apology over tenants' details

06/12/2001

A council has apologised to tenants after it emerged that their personal financial details had been routinely circulated to politicians, party agents and utility companies.Norwich Council said it regretted any distress caused to tenants after it was r

Council condemned over temporary home charges

30/05/2002

Shepway Council's policy of charging the cost of temporary accommodation to council tenants has been slammed by the Audit Commission.The council was found to be in breach of legislation over the practice which housing inspectors estimated had cost ten

council faces action over allocations

22/05/2003

Newham Council is facing a legal challenge over the way it allocates temporary accommodation.The council's director of housing Chris Wood said his department would be the subject of a judicial review that centred on the degree of choice applicants had

Council 'lost its way' in anti-social case

09/05/2002

A council ‘lost its way' in a case involving nuisance neighbours and then failed to take appropriate action, the Local Government Ombudsman has ruled,Ombusdsman Patricia Thomas said Pendle Council opted to concentrate on re-housing a tenant because of

Council picks private sector help to house refugees

02/08/2007

Associations turned down in bid to prevent....

Council private leasing set to overtake associations'

14/08/2003

Local authorities' use of private sector homes for temporary accommodation is set to overtake housing associations', according to research carried out in London.London Housing reports that 3,538 private sector homes were leased to councils in 2002/03 co

Council repairs payout hits £5.5m

14/10/2004

The UK’s biggest council landlord paid out more than £5 million in compensation and legal fees last year after being targeted by ‘no win, no fee’ solicitors.

Council tenancies to combat truancy

20/11/2003

Manchester Council is considering new measures to make school attendance a condition of council house tenancy.The council's housing and education departments are drawing up the plans as part of a wider drive to tackle truancy across Manchester's schoo

Council under attack for ‘harassment' of ITA

24/11/2005

Islington Council has been accused of harassing the independent tenant adviser appointed to help steer residents through a stock transfer process on the north London borough's Packington estate.

Councils ‘shocked' after e-targets announcement

14/07/2005

All councils will struggle to meet the government's e-government targets within the required deadlines, it was claimed this week.

Councils assess impact of landmark VAT judgement

15/06/2006

A European tax ruling could threaten councils' ability to reclaim tax on repairs and refurbishments, analysts have warned.

Council's eviction win ends the use of human rights defence

16/03/2006

Lambeth Council has won the right to evict a number of former short life tenants who claimed eviction would violate their human rights.

Councils fall down on BME efforts

15/02/2007

CRE threatens to take legal action against Welsh authorities if they do not act fast

Councils given lead role in setting affordability targets

31/07/2003

The government would like a quarter of the new housing planned for the Thames Gateway to be affordable, housing minister Keith Hill said on Wednesday.‘In broad terms we are encouraging local authorities to look at one in four of new houses for afforda

Council's homelessness policy illegal

01/02/2007

Councils with desperate housing shortages are breaching their legal duty when they force families to remain in unsuitable housing for more than a very short period of time, a High Court judge has warned

Councils may build again

17/07/2003

Councils could soon be building homes again after the Treasury announced a study into whether local authorities should be able to develop using the private finance initiative.Chancellor Gordon Brown this week launched a new drive on PFI and highlighte

Councils not bound by Brixen ruling

16/03/2006

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has confirmed its view that councils will not be banned from automatically awarding housing management contracts to arm's-length management organisations.

councils support health rating

05/06/2003

An evaluation of the first version of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, which will replace the current fitness standard, has found that councils favour the new measurement. The system was announced in an outline of the draft Housing Bill (Ins

Councils to define 'key workers'

16/11/2000

London mayor Ken Livingstone's housing commission has recommended that councils should be given discretion to define who qualifies for key worker accommodation.The three month inquiry into the capital's housing needs names the health, education, t

Councils to lose say on associations

28/07/2005

Councils are to lose their say over which housing associations they can work with, Inside Housing has learned.

Councils urged to make more of planning laws

03/08/2006

Housing minister Yvette Cooper has told local authorities to make better use of planning laws to ease shortfalls in affordable homes.

Countering claims

23/05/2002

Compensation claims for disrepair are rocketing. What can landlords do to protect themselves? Iwan Borszcz reports

Country matters

22/03/2001

Rural housing problems are more than a village-wide issue. Tim Brown says we need to expand our horizons

Court ruling prompts fears over rent rises

11/11/2004

Fears that housing associations could be hit by legal challenges over annual rent increases have resurfaced following a court decision.

CPA looks set for poor reception

27/06/2002

Delegates at the Local Government Association annual conference look set to condemn the Audit Commission's new comprehensive performance assessment.A motion from Portsmouth Council said the CPA would only be useful if the assessments were seen to be f

CPRE: house builders must be generous with land

25/09/2003

House builders have been urged to be ‘more generous' in their planning gain obligations after research into their available landbanks uncovered capacity for the construction of an extra 280,000 homes.The Campaign to Protect Rural England has trawled f

CRE praises the Housing Corporation over race laws

10/07/2003

The Commission for Racial Equality has called the Housing Corporation a success story among bodies charged with implementing new race relations legislation.It was shown to set clear expectations and inspect race equality in the CRE's evaluation of imple

Credit crunch makes social housing a safer bet

15/11/2007

Housing associations could benefit from a ‘flight to quality'

Criminal elements

09/05/2002

Tackling crime is one of the top priorities for tenants. Sian Gibson looks at some of the latest initiatives

Crisis management

08/08/2002

How can the south east cope with an ever-rising demand for affordable homes? Kerry Pollard MP shares some ideas

Critics give asylum plans cold reception

18/04/2002

Measures to reform government's immigration policy have been roundly criticised by homelessness charity Shelter.The Nationality Immigration and Asylum Bill published by the Home Office last week confirms plans to place asylum seekers in reception cent

Cross to tell Cooper: allow greater powers or lose out

13/09/2007

Associations must be able to raise rents in order to meet targets

cultivating community

08/11/2001

Britain's monolithic social housing estates must vanish if our cities are to enjoy a true renaissance, argues Nicholas Schoon

Curran unveils chairty plan

02/10/2003

Scotland's communities minister Margaret Curran has set out proposals for a draft charity bill to be published next spring. It includes plans to make the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator an independent statutory organisation, which will have the

Cut to the chase

16/11/2000

New LGA housing executive chair Paul Bettison is not afraid to express controversial views about the sector. He talks to Katrina Fox

Cuts will hit vulnerable say disappointed providers

13/12/2007

Forty-three authorities face Supporting People budget.....

CV lies force associations to pull jobs

25/08/2005

Housing associations are being forced to withdraw up to one in 15 job offers because applicants have lied on their CVs or concealed a criminal past....

Dean calls for benefit dock to be scrapped

05/12/2002

Baroness Dean has written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions asking him to waive the requirement to dock benefits from people who become

Death to the neighbourhood?

18/07/2002

David Blackman asks if neighbourhood renewal is always the right solution for decaying communities

Debate opens on paying association boards

22/03/2001

A ‘significant minority' support an option to overturn the long-standing tradition of unpaid board members running housing associations.The revelation comes in a consultation document issued by the Housing Corporation on modernising the governance

decency changes could be costly

12/06/2003

Changes to the way housing decency is assessed could cost housing associations £23 million and hit their ability to meet the decent homes standard, the National Housing Federation has warned.The Housing Bill would replace the existing housing fitness st

Decency to go partially private

18/07/2002

The decent homes target, which critics say is already under strain, is to be widened to include vulnerable people in private homes.But while social housing which does not meet decency standards must be eliminated by 2010, there is only a commitment to

Decent homes finish line is further than estimated

01/03/2007

Government study says providers' non-decent claims are unreliable

Decent homes standard ‘too low'

13/05/2004

The basic level of the decent homes standard could contribute to the continued stigmatisation of social housing, a parliamentary committee has warned. As Inside Housing exclusively revealed last week, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister select commi

Decisions, decisions

09/05/2002

Tenants need all the help they can get when they're asked to make a decision on transfer. Barbra Carlisle examines the role of the tenant adviser

Delay risks second ballot

26/09/2002

The council behind the UK's biggest stock transfer could be at risk of having to re-ballot its tenants, after consultants predicted its deadline for

Demand ‘will not lead to sector growth'

17/07/2003

Demand for new housing is unlikely to translate into rapid growth in the housing sector, a study has suggested.Market intelligence provider Key Note suggests that ‘onerous' planning application processes militate against expansion by private house build

Denial dogs housing shake-up

11/07/2002

Rent restructuring risks repeating the mistakes of the Railtrack fiasco unless the sector faces up to reality. But at least housing associations know what they're in for, don't they? Economist John Hargreaves tells Paul Hebden he's not sure they do

Deposit scheme considered for private landlords

23/10/2003

Private sector tenants could have their deposits protected under government plans to introduce new terms into written tenancy agreements.Junior housing minister Yvette Cooper told MPs last week that landlords could be forced to use a tenancy deposit sch

Design plea over Thames Gateway

17/05/2007

Consultant urges stern measures to prevent bad design from ruining landmark...

Developer steps in to halt buy-to-let investor siege

10/05/2007

First Base to retain ownership and rent proportion of new build

Developers primed for a fight over corporation snub

31/08/2006

Developers have reacted furiously to being excluded from plans by the Housing Corporation that could see developing associations handed exclusive contracts to build all social housing on major sites.

Development agencies relish challenge

18/07/2002

England's regional development agencies have welcomed new responsibilities for housing and an increase in resources that will see them pump £2 billion into the regional economies by 2005. Speaking on behalf of all nine agencies, chair of Yorkshire For

Digital masters

13/02/2003

What does a housing association do when broadband providers are reluctant to invest in a seriously deprived community? It does the job itself. Samantha Lyster reports

Director's cut

11/07/2002

Patrick Keiller's films present a highly individual and often despairing view of life in Britain – and now he's turned his attention to our housing stock. Sian Gibson spoke to him

Disabled ‘failed' by social housing

27/01/2005

A damning indictment of the way social housing has failed disabled people has been published by Prime Minister Tony Blair's Strategy Unit.

Dispersal designed to ‘appease fearful voters'

31/07/2003

The asylum seeker dispersal system is costly and inefficient, and is driven by the government's desire to ‘appease a fearful white electorate', a new study has argued.Vaughan Robinson, professor of human geography at the University of Wales, said cluste

Dissatisfied tenants call on ombudsman

24/10/2002

Junior housing minister Tony McNulty has dropped the strongest hint yet that the Queen's Speech will outline plans to introduce legislation on the licensing of houses in multiple occupation.Speaking in a House of Commons debate on affordable housing t

Divisional structure to be adopted by Home Group

31/07/2003

Home Group is preparing to ditch its group structure in the next few months, a senior director has revealed.Group finance director Alan Park told Inside Housing that Home plans to gain charitable status and then move to a divisional structure ‘by the en

Dixon sees stars for sector

07/08/2003

The new chair of the Housing Corporation has set himself on a potential collision course with associations by saying he was open to the idea of a star rating system.In his first interview since his appointment was announced, Peter Dixon told Inside Hous

Do the right thing

11/01/2001

The housing sector's efforts to combat racial harassment leave a lot to be desired. Gerard Lemos offers a plea for innovation

Dodds to rally for resources

09/05/2002

Northern Ireland's social development minister has pledged to fight for the resources to ensure housing is firmly at the centre of regeneration work.Nigel Dodds told the Chartered Institute of Housing in Northern Ireland conference that ‘significant

Doing the rounds

13/02/2003

Roy Wood wished it could be Christmas every day – and when you're Steve Fleece, it pretty much is. Here he let's us take a peek at his festive diary

Dowry funding could make a comeback

29/04/2004

Dowry funding for difficult stock transfers looks set to be re-established if the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister gets its way in the spending review, Inside Housing has learnt. The ODPM has accepted the need to provide gap funding for negative va

Drastic move

01/05/2003

Consumer dissatisfaction and a new policy agenda will force many local authorities to take a radical look at how they manage mixed tenure property in Scotland, argues Sheila Gilmore

Drop in poverty not mirrored among working age

07/12/2006

The government's anti-poverty drive risks being undermined by the large numbers of people who are low paid and the acceptance of gross inequalities in rates of pay, a study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation claims.

Dutch architect for Barking Reach

14/08/2003

English Partnerships, the London Development Agency, Bellway Homes and Barking & Dagenham Council have selected Dutch architect Maxwan as the masterplanner for the Barking Reach area of the Thames Gateway.Rotterdam based Maxwan will work with landscape

DWP refuses rule change for board members

03/07/2003

The Department for Work and Pensions has rejected a Housing Corporation plea for tenant housing association board members not to have their benefit docked if they are paid.Inside Housing revealed that corporation chairman Baroness Dean had written to wo

Dykes aims to stem stroubles at Chester

08/07/2004

Chester & District Housing Trust has hired consultant Rodney Dykes as acting chief executive in an attempt to restore Housing Corporation confidence.

Eagle ruffles critic's feathers

22/03/2001

Social Security minister Angela Eagle has dismissed claims that Scotland is being kept in the dark about changes to housing benefit policy.Speaking at the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland conference, Ms Eagle said: ‘We will want to look at h

Early intervention curbs court

11/09/2003

The widespead use of measures designed to pre-empt anti-social behaviour has been cited as a reason for a decrease in the level of legal action taken by landlords against anti-social tenants.Research by the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group show

East-west link vital piece of jigsaw

03/07/2003

A £10 billion transport scheme linking east and west London is vital to the government's plans to build 200,000 homes in the south-east, according to senior housing and planning figures.Representatives of more than 50 organisations, including the London

Eco-friendly building standards must rise

14/09/2006

New housing in the UK must surpass environmental standards set in Scandinavia within a decade, housing minister Yvette Cooper has demanded.

Economical truths

08/02/2001

Temporary housing not only makes life hard for homeless people, it also costs more than providing affordable homes, argue Peter O'Kane and Liz Sutton

Edinburgh transfer would bring £2bn in investment

13/05/2004

Edinburgh Council has announced plans for what would be Scotland's second biggest stock transfer to a single housing association. The authority announced its strategy last week to transfer 25,000 homes to a new association. It also outlined early plans

Efficiency drive on bids set to stall PFI programme

19/04/2007

Pressure to shave funding requests could mean....

Efforts to reduce ‘sickies' see private firm take calls

02/12/2004

An arm's-length management organisation is claiming to be the first public sector body to hire a specialist to reduce the amount of time staff take off sick.

Elderly could rent room to jobseekers

26/08/2004

Pensioners in London and south-east England could be encouraged to share their homes with young people in need of affordable housing under a shake-up of social care services planned by the government.

ELECTION: Labour suffers growth area losses

08/05/2003

The chair of the Local Government Association's housing executive has lost his seat in the local elections.Labour's Paul Jenks lost out to a

Embracing the future

10/10/2002

A series of pathfinders is showing both councils and housing associations the real benefits of e-government, say Louise Russell and Martyn Pearl

Empowering Birmingham

08/08/2002

Government adviser and academic Anne Power has been drafted in to salvage a solution from the wreck of Birmingham's stock transfer plans. And she's not shying away from difficult choices, as Rebecca Evans discovers

End of the line for Scottish transfer

09/11/2006

Stock transfer lending in Scotland is set to come to an end with only two more councils left looking to sell their homes to new housing associations

End to direct payments could breach human rights

01/07/2004

The government's plan to end direct payment of housing benefit could breach human rights laws, a legal expert has said.

English Churches pay strike 'may be first of many'

21/10/2004

A strike by staff at one of the UK's largest supported housing providers could be the tip of the iceberg for the sector, the chief executive has told Inside Housing.

EP appoints new chief executive

16/03/2006

The government's regeneration agency has signalled its intention to forge stronger links with the private sector by appointing the head a major developer as its new chief executive.

Equity link to property prices ruled out

31/01/2002

Estate of disrepair?

09/11/2000

It can take years for a stigmatised estate to live its reputation down. Jo Dean and Annette Hastings look at how to challenge negative images

EU rules threaten build targets

29/07/2004

European Union rules that force developers to clean up contaminated brownfield soil threaten to undermine housing associations' building efforts.

Euro money for Ulster's trouble areas

11/07/2002

Twelve communities across Northern Ireland are to benefit from £12 million European Union funding announced by social development minister Nigel Dodds.Three neighbourhoods in Londonderry and four in Belfast are among those that will benefit from the m

Evolving social attitudes must be understood by the sector

23/10/2003

Changing social attitudes must be taken into consideration if the housing sector is to keep its customers satisfied, says the Audit Commission's chief inspector of housing.Speaking at the Northern Housing Consortium's customer excellence conference in

Ex-forces staff set to have equal access to housing lists

28/06/2007

Loophole barring veterans on local connection grounds to be closed

ex-offenders struggle to find homes

24/07/2003

Ex-offenders with mental health problems are struggling to find appropriate accommodation because they are excluded by social housing providers, according to a new report by ex-offenders' charity Revolving Doors.Chief executive Crispin Truman said that

Explosion risk for south London estate

24/02/2005

A flagship New Labour scheme to regenerate a massive south London council estate has hit a fresh hurdle after claims it is at risk of a Ronan Point-style...

Extra cash wanted on homes sales

15/04/2004

People selling shared ownership properties are demanding ‘premium payments' of up to £12,500 in a bid to cash in on rocketing demand for affordable homes....

failure of urban villages concept

11/07/2002

The concept of urban villages has been ‘lost' according to a report by the Economic and Social Research Council.The ‘urban village', as endorsed by the Urban Villages Forum – part of the Prince of Wales' Prince's Foundation – has ‘not yet been success

Failure to reuse materials a ‘tragedy'

15/03/2007

Decent homes landfill dump lamented as pressure to be eco-friendly builds

Fair shares

15/08/2002

Investigations into the potential for equity stakes have shown they really could help tenants buy into social housing. Sue Regan and Mark Lupton explain

Falconer promises New Deal refunds

23/05/2002

All New Deal for Communities partnerships will have their VAT costs reimbursed, housing minister Lord Falconer has announced. Up to now, only NDCs with a close relationship with their local authority were able to reclaim VAT, while those with an arm's-len

Falling household numbers could slow capital new build

30/05/2002

House price inflation and high rent levels are forcing people in the capital to delay setting up heir own home, meaning fewer new homes may be needed.Figures published by the Greater London Authority this week estimated that the number of households i

Family values

08/08/2002

Tower Hamlets has traditionally welcomed immigrants – and then waved them goodbye. But now the Bangladeshi community is putting down roots, as Gerard Lemos and Frances Smith explain

Fast not furious

12/12/2002

Speed should be one of the essences of Benefit Fraud Inspectorate reports in future. Martin Gale explains how

'Fat cat pay-off' association jobs threat

28/03/2002

Favourable review?

10/10/2002

We may not have all the figures yet, but the spending review picture is starting to look clearer, as John Perry explains

Favoured few could help slash developer numbers

03/06/2004

The Housing Corporation has cherry picked a select group of housing associations to lead development in London as it steps up its campaign to slash the number of developers bidding for government cash across the country. Under a protocol agreed by the

Fch moves into Orbit talks

21/08/2003

Orbit Housing Group and fch Housing and Care are in exploratory talks about fch joining Orbit.A partnership would fit Orbit's plan to develop the group as a corporate support to associations working within a ‘framework of autonomy with support'.Orbit

Fears of ‘watering down' over softer ASBO approach

23/08/2007

Advisors say jail sentences should be avoided for order breaches

Fears over reaching decency

17/07/2003

Councils' ability to meet the decent homes target was questioned this week as it was revealed 1.6 million homes in the social sector are below standard. The final five-yearly English house condition survey revealed a 700,000 fall in the number of non-de

Fed hopes to subsidise fees with lucrative office move

22/01/2004

The National Housing Federation is buying 30,000 square feet of office space in central London – some of which it intends to use as a money-spinner to subsidise affiliation fees.The federation will be moving in May from its offices in Gray's Inn Road,

Federation calls for partnership safeguards

06/12/2001

Housing associations have detailed a list of caveats they want applied to Housing Corporation proposals to implement partnering in its approved development programme. The National Housing Federation has warned that housing needs in some areas migh

Federation divided over regional board invitations

22/05/2003

The National Housing Federation is considering whether it should accept invitations to join regional housing boards.Opinion is split at the NHF over whether associations should have a say on the boards, which will advise on how regional housing subsid

Federation slates funding shift

19/08/2004

Moves to give Scottish councils control of development funding should be halted until the system is improved, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations said this week.

Feel the benefit

09/05/2002

Nowhere are performance standards more urgently needed than in housing benefit. John Coxon explains the new regime

Festival 'has not hit accommodation'

22/08/2002

Edinburgh Council has spent up to £200 in a month on taxis to transport homeless people out of the city into temporary accommodation elsewhere.Five people were driven from the city to bed and breakfast accommodation in neighbouring authorities such as

Field's benefit bill comes under fire

13/06/2002

Figures do not justify new build drive, ODPM told

13/10/2005

New figures that show only three out of 10 of today's youngsters will be able to afford to buy their own homes do not justify the focus on building homes for sale, the government was warned this week.

Figuring it out at arm's length

11/07/2002

Now that the first arm's-length organisations are up and running, there are plenty of contractual, accounting and tax issues for future bidders to consider. Cathy Osborn and Geetha Rabindrakumar explain

Final effort to alter status of shared ownership sales

31/05/2007

Position on balance sheet at heart of long-running...

Finance watchdog urged to lower loan deficit demands

18/10/2007

Lenders say 10 per cent assumption for landlords is too high

First refusal for English Partnerships on public sector land

31/07/2003

English Partnerships and other public sector landowners are to be given first option to buy surplus public land under new plans announced by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.Under the new arrangements, aimed at freeing up more land for affordable h

First Scots transfers to complete days apart

27/02/2003

The housing associations involved in Scotland's first stock transfers are set to complete both deals just days apart.Scottish Borders Housing

First through the door

08/09/2005

The first private firms in line for public money for new homes have just been shortlisted. So how did housing associations find lining up against the private sector for a share in the £3.9 billion pot? Neil Merrick reports

First up

31/05/2001

What's it like to be among the initial handful of housing associations to face an inspection? Andy Moore gives the inside story

Fit for the job

09/05/2002

External assessment is proving to be a useful way for transfer associations to prove their energy hasn't flagged. Siân Gibson reports

Flats emptied while 'error' is corrected

29/08/2002

A dozen families are to be moved from a tower block while Enfield Council remedies a building blunder costing more than £250,000.The 12 families will receive compensation and be rehoused at a cost of £100,000 after strengthening work on the 22-storey

Flexibility needed to combat affordability crisis

16/05/2002

The government's inability to fully fund house building could worsen the affordable housing crisis unless housing associations are given greater flexibility, a report has warned.The research by the National Housing Federation into last year's annual d

Flying without a net

09/05/2002

A new solidarity is needed across the social housing sector in Britain. That should include a common regulatory and financial framework for all landlords – and a way of sharing resources more fairly, suggests Mark Stephens

Flying without a net

09/01/2003

A new solidarity is needed across the social housing sector in Britain. That should include a common regulatory and financial framework for all landlords – and a way of sharing resources more fairly, suggests Mark Stephens

Follow the money

09/05/2002

Housing associations are bidding for cash to house black and minority ethnic communities. But are the new homes actually going to the people they are designed for? Not necessarily, says David Robinson

Food for thought

08/09/2005

Public private partnerships offer appetising choices for housing associations willing to peruse the menu, say Arthur Merchant and Ian Davitt

Former staff secretary arrested

05/06/2003

Thames Valley Police has confirmed it is investigating a former housing association employee representative in connection with the alleged disappearance of £155,000.Inside Housing revealed last week that police had been called in to investigate financia

Forum hears stakeholders' Olympic fears

01/12/2005

The development of the Olympic village in Stratford could lead developers and regeneration organisations to lose focus on the rest of the Thames Gateway, stakeholders have warned

Forum to promote off-site virtues via video

22/05/2003

Industry good practice body the Housing Forum is hoping to tackle negative perceptions of off-site manufacture with a promotional video extolling its virtues.Project director Judith Harrison said the forum hoped to have a video or CD-rom ready in time

Four placed on troubled Tung Sing's board

13/01/2005

Tung Sing Housing Association has been placed under Housing Corporation supervision following growing concerns over its governance.

Framework deal will boost schemes

31/03/2005

Councils could take the lead in drawing up bids for new supported housing schemes as part of a deal being brokered to break the development log jam.

Fraud warning over funding scheme

03/07/2003

A shake-up of the funding regime for improving private sector housing exposes Welsh councils to increased risk of fraud, a financial watchdog has warned.Auditor–General for Wales Sir John Bourn, in a report published last week, identifies continued or i

Freedom of movement

11/07/2002

Oliver Jones explains how a best value review prompted the transformation of a tortuous tenant transfer system

Frustration over progress on millennium programme

17/06/2004

English Partnerships chair Margaret Ford has ordered an evaluation of the millennium communities programme amid concerns about the slow rate of progress. The evaluation is already underway and the regeneration agency hopes to report its conclusions in a

Fulfilling duties to private homes

15/08/2002

The Housing Quality Network has welcomed a consultation proposing to give councils greater freedom to deal with private sector homes in poor condition.The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has launched the consultation to explain the purpose of a re

Fund shift aids demolition

14/10/2004

Demolition of obsolete homes by arm's length management organisations has become easier thanks to a change in funding rules.

Funding boost needed to meet homeless targets

25/08/2005

The Scottish Executive must increase funding for new social housing and abolish the right to buy if its radical policies to reduce homelessness are...

Funding fears fueled by error

13/03/2003

Fears over a lack of funding for planned supported housing schemes have been eased after the government admitted a mix-up over last month's £1.4 billion

Fury as Cornwall set to pull plug on homes funding

16/08/2007

Council tax funding from second homes set to be redirected

Future perfect?

23/05/2002

Do training programmes prepare students for work in a modern housing organisation? Trevor Humphreys looks at how the Chartered Institute of Housing has responded to criticism that it is out of date

Gap funding scheme projects should be led by associations

23/10/2003

Housing associations should be given the lead role in developments paid for through English Partnerships' proposed gap funding scheme, the agency has been told.In responses to EP's consultation on the scheme, the Chartered Institute of Housing and the

Gateway UDC ‘should benefit community'

17/07/2003

There is no reason why the urban development corporation model should not secure benefits for deprived communities without displacing economic activity, a study for the government has said.The study recommended that the whole of Thurrock in the heart of

Gender bias influencing homeless help

18/04/2002

Sexism is affecting the provision of services to homeless people, according to new research by Shelter.While services may claim to be gender neutral the report found that ‘historical, structural and social factors' that lead to a gender bias in servic

Getting into the spirit

18/07/2002

Housing is a great career – but not enough people know what the sector has to offer. A new book, jointly published by Inside Housing, could help change that. Debby Ounsted explains

GHA chair steps down citing time pressures

16/10/2003

The chair of Glasgow Housing Association has announced his intention to stand down, saying the work the post demanded was too time-consuming.Tenant Sam Harper, who has been chair for three years, will remain in the post until Christmas.In a letter to

GHA finds new chief close to home

02/08/2007

Acting head Taroub Zahran given permanent role after lengthy global search draws a blank...

Ghosh takes role at troubled association

24/04/2003

Shaks Ghosh, chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis, has been appointed to the board of Beaver Housing Society.The south London association has been put under supervision following concerns at the Housing Corporation over its overall strategy,

Glaredawn leases homes to Castle Point

22/05/2003

Private company Glaredawn Housing is to lease up to £100 million worth of homes to Castle Point Council. The council, which signed a partnership agreement with Glaredawn on Monday, is leasing homes the company has refurbished to house homeless familie

Glasgow HA's loan deals hit by valuations dispute

04/05/2006

Disagreement over the valuation of Glasgow Housing Association's homes could hamper the negotiation of second stage transfer loan deals, lenders have warned.

Glasgow to transfer 35,000 homes

11/11/2004

Glasgow Housing Association is aiming to transfer almost half its homes to local housing organisations by 2007, its new business plan reveals.

Global accounts show that smalls have the capacity

15/07/2004

Small housing associations have as much capacity for development as their larger counterparts, according to sector-wide accounts compiled by the National Housing Federation.

Go the right thing

11/01/2001

The housing sector's efforts to combat racial harassment leave a lot to be desired. Gerard Lemos offers a plea for innovation

Golden opportunities

09/05/2002

Economic migration is vital to the prosperity of the United Kingdom, argues Colin Wiles

Good parenting

09/01/2003

Councils' role as the ‘corporate parent' to care leavers has been extended to include their housing needs. Samantha Thorp takes a look at how local authorities are coping

Good service lacks ambition

20/06/2002

The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate has rated North West Leicestershire Council's benefits service as good but with uncertain prospects for improvement. The inspectors found high levels of performance and customer satisfaction but criticised the service's impr

Government asks for respect

17/08/2006

Landlords are being urged to sign up to the new respect standard as part of the government's agenda to tackle bad behaviour.

Government content with savings

23/06/2005

The government has declared itself satisfied with a prediction of more than £121 million in efficiency savings to be made by council housing departments this...

Government digs heels in despite backlash on UDCs

15/01/2004

The government has signalled its determination to continue creating urban development corporations to drive forward its housing step change in England's growth areas.The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister this week announced plans for a UDC in Northa

Government gives backing to HMO bill

21/02/2002

no teaser

Government has its ‘work cut out' to halve numbers

16/03/2006

The number of homeless families housed in temporary accommodation has dropped for the first time since Labour came into power in 1997

Government keeps tabs on Supporting People estimates

29/08/2002

Estimates of Supporting People spending submitted to the government by councils and transfer housing associations are being investigated by independent consultants.IRIS Consulting has been appointed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to ex

Government readies intervention plan

22/08/2002

Local authorities that perform badly could face ‘swift' intervention from the public, private or voluntary sector under plans put out for consultation by the government this week.Intervention could occur at either the individual service or the corpora

Government 'sleepwalking into crisis' on immigration

24/07/2003

An underestimate of immigration levels means England faces a shortfall of 1.1 million homes by 2021, an independent think-tank has found.Sir Andrew Green chairman of MigrationWatch, which compiled the report, warned the government was ‘sleepwalking into

Government support for no-star Hull

05/08/2004

The government is backing beleaguered Hull Council's efforts to improve despite an Audit Commission judgement that its repairs and maintenance service still has uncertain prospects.

Government told new build drive must focus on south

01/11/2007

Supply has a major impact on prices, says housing advice body

Grace under pressure

27/03/2003

Poacher turned gamekeeper Clive Grace will be driving Wales' distinctive approach to best value. And, as Gavin Curry discovered, he hopes to keep councils on side

Grant loss blamed for growth of BNP

10/05/2007

Lack of cash for social housing has helped far right's cause in Barking & Dagenham

Grant reinforces Aashyana identity

15/08/2002

A lottery grant to Aashyana Housing Association has underlined its independence after becoming part of a larger housing association group structure, its chief executive has said.The £177,000 community fund grant is aimed at reaching at-risk member

Grants not loans for area regeneration funding

01/12/2005

The government has changed the way it provides funding to local authorities for area regeneration and improving private sector stock.

Gray promotes planning route

06/12/2001

Greater role for planning system, urges report

21/08/2003

The planning system should be seen as a solution to the lack of affordable homes rather than the problem, the Chartered Institute of Housing has said.In its submission to the Barker Review on housing supply, the institute warns ‘strongly' against dimini

Green extras ‘must not be penalised'

01/02/2007

Homes that rise in value because of environmental improvements should be exempt from council tax rises, a committee of MPs has recommended.

Green light to extend key worker programme

10/06/2004

The key worker programme could be rolled out nationwide after regional housing boards were given the green light to support schemes in housing hot spots outside the south east of England. New guidance on preparing next year's regional housing strategi

Green paper frustrates lobbyists

13/12/2007

Government defends decision not to include specific social build target

Greenfield freeze thawed by McNulty

10/04/2003

Junior housing minister Tony McNulty has axed radical plans to freeze new greenfield housing development in the north-west of England.Recently issued north-west regional planning guidance does not take forward the proposed moratorium included in a dra

Ground force

21/12/2000

A hybrid tenant management organisation offers a new route for reviving communities. Gemma Charles finds out how

Group plans to double its stock as sector consolidates

27/01/2005

William Sutton Group is planning to almost double its stock by the end of this decade as the sector increasingly moves towards super-size social landlords....

Groups in a quandry over own rules

24/10/2002

Confusion over governance is holding back community groups and small voluntary groups such as housing associations, fresh research has found.A study for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has found that small groups are being held back from playing their

Growing pains

01/03/2001

The pace of change in the housing sector is not going to slow, says Nick Raynsford. But some social landlords still have a bit of catching up to do, he tells Kate Murray

Growth area costs mount up

11/11/2004

A study has painted the clearest picture yet of the massive infrastructure costs associated with increasing the supply of homes in the government's growth areas.

Guide focuses on updating older homes

01/02/2007

Housing providers in Scotland have been urged to concentrate on making their existing stock greener to gain the most environmental benefits.

Guinness launches homes for sale project

02/10/2003

The Guinness Trust has set up a company to develop homes for sale and has outlined plans to offer its tenants the opportunity to buy their homes.Guinness Homes has already bought the land for its first development – 24 homes in Islington, London – and i

Hackney service praised despite lack of full marks

11/09/2003

Major improvements have been made to Hackney Council's administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit, inspectors reported this week.Despite failing to meet the Department for Work and Pensions' seven performance standards, the London authori

Half of all disabled children live in unsuitable homes

04/11/2004

Half of all families with children with a disability or a serious medical condition live in an unsuitable home, according to the latest government figures.

Hammer it home

09/05/2002

Tenant participation is no longer an add on in Scotland. mIt is the law. Greg Brown reports

Happy to go north

01/05/2003

Does moving tenants from the overcrowded south to the north merely export poverty and unemployment? Or is it a logical way of offering people more choice? Samantha Thorp looks at the challenges of making relocation schemes work

Harman criticises Aylesbury ballot

25/04/2002

Tenants balloted on a flagship regeneration programme were not given a free choice, a government minister has said.Solicitor general Harriet Harman said tenants on the Aylesbury estate in London resented being presented with the choice of ‘vote yes fo

Hart to monitor homelessness data

11/07/2002

Welsh local government minister Edwina Hart has announced a review of the way councils apply homelessness legislation.Ms Hart told National Assembly members that she was ‘greatly concerned' by anecdotal evidence which suggested significant variations

Hayes calls for right to buy marketing

04/03/2004

Councils should be forced to market the right to buy to tenants more vigorously, according to shadow housing minister John Hayes.In an interview with Inside Housing on the Housing Bill, Mr Hayes said proposals to curb abuses of the right to buy in the b

Healing power

09/05/2002

Stock refurbishment needs to start now. Roger Taylor says public private partnership can be an alternative to the standard models for housing improvement

Hefty bills set for landlords caught by tax clampdown

06/04/2006

Housing associations have been warned they could be hit by hefty tax bills under new rules proposed in the Budget

High achievers

28/02/2002

Highland Council, Scottish Homes and the Highland Small Community Trust have won a Scottish Award for Quality in Planning for their Highland Rural Partnership for Change. The pilot project won in the development planning category for its partnership w

High Flyers 2002

17/10/2002

Inside Housing's salary survey reveals associations are paying their chief executives more. Is it the just reward for the top managers in a challenging sector? Or should organisations show more restraint? Daniel Martin and David Singleton report

High Peak tenants say yes to ALMO/Groups neglecting due diligence/‘Shocking failure' on basic amenities/Investigation into poison find/Scots call for transfer windfall cash

18/09/2003

High Peak tenants say yes to ALMOHigh Peak Council tenants have voted overwhelmingly in favour of setting up an arm's-length management organisation.Of 2,553 tenants who voted, 97.5 per cent were in favour of the arm's-length option. Sixty per cent

High target 'means fewer homes'

25/11/2004

The mayor of London's affordable housing target has been blocked in a Conservative-run borough amid concerns it could act as a brake on supply.

Highlighting the hidden homeless

22/08/2002

Homelessness charity Crisis has repositioned itself to fight ‘modern-day' homelessness.Eight months after the government announced it had met its commitment to cut the number of rough sleepers by a third, Crisis has launched a campaign to highlight th

Hill announces break-up of combined regional funding

11/12/2003

The combined regional housing pot for the east of England, London and the south-east will be broken up, housing minister Keith Hill has announced.Speaking at the launch of advice notes for regional housing boards drawn up by the Chartered Institute of

Historic debts

01/05/2003

It's funded everything from Trafalgar Square to Glasgow's housing stock. Siân Gibson takes a look at the chequered past of the Public Works Loan Board

HMO resistance shows poor conditions

06/12/2001

Holding on

10/10/2002

Only a handful of Scottish councils have opted to transfer their stock, despite having fewer alternatives than local authorities in England. Hugh Carr and Caroline Whyteside look at the pros and cons of retention schemes based on long-term financial plann

Home Group pushes toolkit idea

11/09/2003

Developers concerned with how housing design affects ethnic minority communities are urging the government to develop a toolkit to encourage resident involvement.In a letter to Bethnal Green and Bow MP Oona King, Home Group chief executive Malcolm Levi

Homebuy scheme proves a turn-off

18/01/2007

A homeownership scheme endorsed by chancellor Gordon Brown has been shunned by the people it was set up to help.

Homeless children suffer

19/09/2002

More than half of children forced to move school because of homelessness suffer bullying as a result, according to a report released by Shelter this week. It found that 43 per cent of families losing their homes had to change schools. More than 80 per cen

Homeless database failings tackled

16/08/2007

Troubleshooter to chase up nine London councils failing to provide regular information

Homeless overlooked in bid for sustainable communities

24/02/2005

The public spending watchdog has waded into a row over whether housing associations' efforts to build sustainable communities mean they are refusing to...

Homelessness ‘seen as bargaining tool' for funds

28/04/2005

Welsh housing professionals have been warned not to neglect homelessness for fear that solving the problem would mean housing was no longer a key political...

Homelessness bill launched today

21/06/2001

A Homelessness Bill will be introduced into parliament today (22 June 2001), putting an end to fears over the government's commitment to housing after it

Homelessness figures in Wales hit new high

16/03/2006

The numbers of homeless households in temporary accommodation in Wales has hit its highest ever level, new statistics have revealed.

Homelessness set to hit 100,000

16/09/2004

The number of homeless households in England threatens to hit 100,000 by Christmas, Shelter warned this week

Homes above shops project gathers momentum

03/06/2004

The future of an organisation championing the conversion of unused space above high street stores has been secured thanks to government funding to drive through its plans. Ann Petherick, project director of the Living Over the Shop campaign, told Insi

Homes need to meet higher aspirations

20/06/2002

Professionals are building homes that women won't want to live in, researchers have concluded.The project, part-funded by the Housing Corporation and involving women from a range of backgrounds, found that although developers may create attractively l

Homes scheme has double benefit

24/08/2006

A local authority in the east of England has launched a scheme that aims to help first time buyers on to the property ladder and bring empty homes back into use at the same time

Honours for housing work

19/06/2003

Inside Housing editorial panel member Hattie Llewelyn-Davies was among the housing professionals recognised in the Queen's birthday honours. Ms Llewelyn-Davies rece-ived an OBE for services to housing and the homeless in London.Also among the honours we

Hopes dashed for transfer alternative

13/06/2002

Horses for courses

07/06/2001

A lot of councils are still mulling over what to do with their homes. Mike Owen and Sue Piper asked them what they thought of the options on offer

House builders attack Hill's planning system reforms

11/09/2003

The House Builders' Federation has criticised changes to the planning system announced by the government last week.In a statement, housing and planning minister Keith Hill announced he was slashing the time limit for planning appeals by half from six to

Housebuilding statistics take a dip

17/04/2003

The number of housebuilding projects started by registered social landlords in Great Britain dipped slightly in February compared with the same month last year. But while the number of new housebuilding projects by RSLs decreased by 200 to 1,500, the

Housing associations to be hit by tax loophole closure

25/05/2006

The government is preparing to crackdown on tax avoidance by joint venture companies in a move that could hit housing associations.

Housing associations warned of litigation risk

23/03/2006

Housing associations must take action to protect their board members against the increased threat of being sued, a business expert has warned

Housing benefit central to homes purchase initiative

09/03/2006

Social landlords could soon be harnessing housing benefit to purchase homes for use as temporary accommodation under a new model unveiled this week

Housing charity voted gay-friendliest employer

10/01/2008

Nacro's focus on equality allows employees to thrive

Housing grant proposals 'ill-advised'

19/06/2003

The government has not thought through its proposal to make social housing grant available to developers, the Chartered Institute of Housing has warned.Speaking as the deadline for submissions on the subject to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minis

Housing 'not a priority' in Northern Way

26/02/2004

Housing will not be a major focus in the development of the Deputy Prime Minister's Northern Way, the north-east regional development agency has admitted.One NorthEast's chief executive Alan Clarke, who will be heading a task group to take forward a r

Housing officials' own great escape

26/04/2007

Concern for safety after commission inspectors locked in a building for 45 minutes

Housing reforms at heart of Chancellor's euro push

12/06/2003

Sweeping housing reforms will be unveiled over the next year to engineer the conditions to allow the UK to enter the euro, the Chancellor has announc

Housing spend not priority, attitudes survey reveals

11/12/2003

Housing is one of only two areas of public spending in which British people would be prepared to see lower investment.The figures contained in the 2003 British social attitudes survey show public support for increased investment in education, health a

housing vital to capital's prosperity

10/07/2003

London's future prosperity is dependent on a ‘real strategic focus' on housing and transport, the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit has concluded. The study predicts the greatest demand for homes will continue to be inner London and some lower income group

Hucker to head out of orbit

25/04/2002

David Hucker, chief executive of Orbit Group, has announced he is to leave after nearly 25 years at the housing association.Mr Hucker plans to set up a housing consultancy to take advantage of the opportunities provided by an expanded stock transfer p

Hull pathfinder expects funds by April

09/09/2004

The Hull & East Riding market renewal pathfinder is expecting to receive its first major tranche of government funding in April next year.

Hull plans to cut stock

12/09/2002

A 15-year strategy of demolition will be a key part of Hull Council's action plan to stave off government intervention.Hull was due to submit

Human rights laws can aid fight to end homelessness

20/10/2005

A European human rights group is urging UK homelessness organisations to take legal action against the government in a bid to strengthen the housing rights of homeless people.

Hutton admits benefit reforms need work

24/11/2005

The government has not worked out if it can afford its planned reforms to housing benefit, the new work and pensions secretary admitted this week.

Impact of West Hampstead reports assessed

20/06/2002

The National Audit Office is considering its next move after studying two reports on the financial crisis at West Hampstead Housing Association.One report was commissioned by the Housing Corporation on the actions of its officers in their dealings wit

In for the long run

15/02/2001

Government troubleshooters are set to revolutionise housing benefit under the latest reform package, writes junior social security minister Angela Eagle

In the fast lane

13/02/2003

Council director turned profit-making businessman Ken Hackney believes there's been a dramatic shift in perceptions of private sector housing management. Kate Murray spoke to him

Incentives needed to take on child asylum seekers

30/05/2002

The government would have to give councils incentives to take on unaccompanied child asylum seekers if its proposals to disperse them come to fruition, the Local Government Association has said.LGA policy officer John Street told Inside Housing such a

Inclusive innovators

09/05/2002

It seems every week brings a new tower block demolition - but some landlords still believe high-rise can be made to work. Sian Gibson takes in the view

Independence pays

11/08/2005

Support providers don't have the resources to mollycoddle homeless people, but they do need to look afresh at the services they offer, says Tim Page

Informal contracts may be scrapped after EU ruling

07/10/2004

Informal partnership agreements worth millions of pounds may have to be scrapped after the government bowed to the European Commission's procurement ruling.

INJUNCTION UPDATE

04/05/2006

The gagging order to prevent Inside Housing revealing the affairs of two housing associations remains in place

INJUNCTION UPDATE

27/04/2006

Inside Housing and the Housing Corporation are to return to the High Court in early May for a full hearing on the recent gagging order.

Inner space most important for tenants

09/10/2003

Lack of space is more of a problem for tenants than housing density, according to new research.The study, carried out by consultants Mullholland Associates for the Design for Homes initiative, investigated attitudes towards high density housing across t

Innovative thinking to tackle mixed tenure

20/06/2002

Househunters should have the freedom to choose their ideal home and worry about the financial arrangements later, according to developer Tom Bloxham.Mr Bloxham, chair of Manchester-based Urban Splash, told delegates at the annual Chartered Institute o

Inovation Imperative

31/10/2002

Thinking the unthinkable on housing capital finance has opened up the possibility of scrapping the subsidy system altogether, says Steve Partridge

Insecurity force

27/06/2002

The housing crisis is forcing ever more people into a precarious financial situation. Christine Parrish outlines new research

Inspection could spoil Oldham's hopes

27/06/2002

Another arm's-length hopeful has received a disappointing inspection result. Oldham Council's rents, repairs and allocation service has been given one star with ‘promising prospects for improvement'.Only if it reaches three stars will the council's ne

Inspection pilots struggle to meet legal obligations

12/08/2004

Housing associations and local authorities in Scotland are failing to meet their legal obligations and diversity objectives, according to Housing Quality Network's preliminary report on the Scottish pathfinder inspections.

Inspections reveal RSL improvements

06/12/2001

East Dorset Housing Association needs to become more accessible to applications from tenants outside its immediate district, the Housing Corporation has found.In its inspection report, the corporation also recommended that EDHA should ensure there

Inspector rejects council plan

16/05/2002

The Planning Inspectorate has rejected Wandsworth Council's approach to affordable housing as set out in its draft unitary development plan. The plan was widely criticised last year for failing to incorporate enough affordable housing. Following a pub

Inspectorate report branded 'useless'

07/12/2000

The housing inspectorate has been compared to bungling Inspector Clouseau in a damning attack by the vice-chair of the Local Government Association's housing executive. Liverpool's executive member for housing Richard Kemp branded as ‘useless'

Inspectorate tells landlords to look wider

21/10/2004

Housing organisations must look beyond their own stock if they are to successfully tackle community cohesion, the Audit Commission has warned.

Inspectors find potential in Surrey

09/05/2002

Surrey Heath Council's home support service is good with promising prospects for improvement, according to an Audit Commission inspection report. A high level of customer satisfaction and customer care led to the service being awarded two stars. But t

Inspectors pass ‘harsh' judgement

04/09/2003

The housing inspectorate has warned Magna Housing Association there is scope for considerable improvement in its service.The score – roughly equivalent to a one-star ‘fair' rating for councils – comes after the Audit Commission expressed concerns over t

Inspectors to address red tape issues

02/10/2003

The Audit Commission is ‘absolutely determined' to keep bureaucracy to a minimum as it develops the new inspection regime for housing associations.Commission chair James Strachan told delegates at the conference that the diverse nature of the housing as

Institute aims to boost income after deficit grows

29/05/2003

A lower than expected level of income from its conferences and events has contributed to an increase in the Chartered Institute of Housing's operating deficit.The institute's annual report has revealed that it ran up an operating deficit of £941,388 d

Insurance industry acts to stem rising tide of claims

17/06/2004

The Association of British Insurers is in talks with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to combat the prospect of a tripling in claims for storm and flood damage. A report for the ABI by consultant Dr Andrew Dlugolecki warns climate change is alrea

Integrate housing types for mixed-tenure success

10/07/2003

Mixed tenure communities are most likely to work well if the housing types are integrated, says the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Researchers who studied the Bournville Village Trust in Birmingham concluded that ‘the integrated approach in particular [wa

Intentionally homeless forced out

04/01/2007

The Audit Commission is to change its approach to homelessness following concerns that some local authorities are discouraging vulnerable people from registering as homeless

Intervention threat issued to Erewash

10/04/2003

Erewash Council has been told to improve or face government intervention by the Audit Commission. A corporate governance report by the Audit Commission found weaknesses in the council's financial systems, including ‘unacceptably long delays' in pr

Investors failing to back equity loans

08/03/2007

Private sector sees market renewal areas as too high risk, pathfinder audit reveals

Irwin hands out awards for excellence to lucky six

19/06/2003

Six councils were presented with Audit Commission housing inspectorate awards for excellence at the Charered Institute of Housing conference last week.Chief inspector of housing Roy Irwin gave awards to Hammersmith and Fulham Council's management servic

Irwin predicts extra option to meet decency target

18/12/2003

The Audit Commission's chief housing inspector has conceded the decent homes target is unlikely to be met but held out the hope of a new investment option.Speaking at the Commons housing, planning local government and the regions select committee, Roy

Is it any more than bluster?

31/10/2002

Last week the government backed down from intervening at failing Hull Council. Daniel Martin asks whether threats to take control of poorly-run councils are real or simply Whitehall hot air

Islington turns around repairs service

24/10/2002

Islington Council's repairs service is ‘fair' with promising prospects for improvement, the housing inspectorate has found. London's acting lead housing inspector Adrian Brown said the council had turned the service around from a ‘position of failure' fou

Issues in the north must be tackled

15/08/2002

A regeneration corporation to tackle the specific problems encountered in the north east should be part of the government's plans to distribute spending review cash, housing associations have said.Housing Federation North members have called for the d

It's time for a showdown

31/10/2002

Persistence has paid off for a ground-breaking New Deal for Communities project. Paul Hebden reports

Jail for pair who used ODPM cash to fund ‘lavish lifestyle'

16/03/2006

An unqualified accountant employed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has been jailed for fraudulently transferring more than £850,000 to a housing association he set up as a front

Jenks returns as LGA housing chair

15/08/2002

Paul Jenks is back again as chair of the Local Government Association's housing executive. The Southampton councillor has been vice chair of the committee for the past two years under Bracknell Forest Council leader Paul Bettison. Before that he did a sti

Joining the queue

08/09/2005

The line for housing association mergers seems to grow longer every week. But is it the right way to go for every landlord?David Mullins looks at the issues

Joint projects sought from providers

17/11/2005

Partnerships between housing and health providers will be the government's main policy development for the private finance initiative, it emerged this week.

Joy as corporation relaxes Egan rules

07/12/2000

Housing associations have welcomed a relaxation in the rules on Egan compliance announced by the Housing Corporation this week.The corporatio

Judge slates sale of terror row home

03/07/2003

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive was wrong to sell a home to a woman whose husband terrorised their neighbours, the High Court in Belfast has ruled. Mr Justice Weatherup said the decision to sell 4 Edenmore Park, Limavady, County Londonderry, to E

Just another brick in the wall

21/12/2000

Housing is set to have a greater role in the final strategy for neighbourhood renewal. But just how important is it, and can neighbourhood management really work? asks Katrina Fox

Keeble warns sector on racial diversity

16/05/2002

Bodies that fail to reflect the ethnic diversity of the people they serve will not be capabof fulfilling their role the junior housing minister has warned.At a Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions conference on increasing the rep

Keeping it real

14/11/2002

‘Stop swearing' was the advice given to Oona King on entering Parliament. She may not be able to claim total success in that department, but her opinions have won strong support at the highest level. Mario Ambrosi reports

Kelly refutes pressure for ALMOs to meet target

07/12/2006

Communities minister Ruth Kelly has denied that pressure is being put on arm's-length management organisations to push back their decent homes deadline

Kerrier considers group structure

10/01/2002

Kerrier Homes is considering forming a group structure with another association as the Housing Corporation makes statutory appointments to the board of the troubled trust.The regulator has announced three appointments, voicing ‘serious concerns'

Key to the door

22/03/2001

Housing key workers has never been higher up the political agenda. But much more needs to be done if good intentions are to be translated into results, as Nick Waloff explains

Key worker programme raises doubts

25/03/2004

The government's scheme to help public sector workers live in housing hot spots has been expanded to include properties at sub-market rent and loans of up to 10 times the original amount. The £690 million Key Worker Living programme will replace the Sta

Kidbrook regeneration plans approved

25/04/2002

Plans to regenerate the Kidbrooke area of Greenwich, London have been approved by the council for consultation with residents and other stakeholders. The proposed £550 million scheme includes the demolition of 1,900 council homes on the Ferrier estate

L&Q lends £10 million to cash strapped Threshold

13/07/2006

Troubled Threshold Housing has been given a £10 million line of credit by its potential merger partner London & Quadrant Housing Group.

Labour fears growth area vote backlash

24/04/2003

Labour councillors are bracing themselves for an election day backlash in areas earmarked for hundreds of thousands of new homes under the Commun

Labour pledges action on countryside homes

28/04/2005

A commission for rural housing dedicated to tackling affordability will be established if Labour secures a third term in office.

Lake district's affordable housing under threat

18/04/2002

Affordable housing in the Lake District National Park is at risk of being killed off by a combination of rent restructuring, total cost indicators and the grant rate, according to the Cumbria Rural Housing Trust.The independent agency says that rent r

Lambeth racism inquiry extended

15/05/2003

An inquiry into allegations of racism at Lambeth Council has been extended by six months. In an interim statement Focus Consultancy, which was appointed to investigate problems involving Lambeth Community Alarms Service, a now-disbanded housing unit, said

Landlord drafts bold plans to fulfil tenants' ambitions

03/05/2007

Genesis policy paper sets out relationship based on responsibilities

Landlords ‘must give power to the people'

01/12/2005

The government has challenged housing providers to give more power to their tenants as part of a reform agenda being worked up in advance of the 2007 spending review.

Landlords await ruling on VAT millions

12/08/2004

Social landlords are awaiting the outcome of what could be a landmark ruling on VAT liability for repairs and maintenance on former council properties transferred to housing associations.

Landlords face having to value homes every year

03/08/2006

Housing associations could be forced to get fresh valuations of their homes every year under international moves to streamline book keeping practice.

Landlords fume at benefit appeal change

26/10/2000

The National Housing Federation is 'fuming' over changes to housing benefit regulations which it says will lose landlords their right to appeal against being chased for overpayments.At present, landlords can challenge councils if they think that f

Landlords get tough with ASBOs

03/03/2005

Use of anti-social behaviour orders has rocketed in recent months, according to Home Office figures published this week.

Landlords hold key to jobs market

22/06/2006

A public private partnership set up to enable tenants to sell their free time has called on social landlords to help kick-start new local employment markets

Landlords' loan chances set to suffer under new regime

12/01/2006

Private landlords could find it harder to get mortgages as a result of the government's new licensing regime, lenders have warned.

Landlords 'must be more open'

18/07/2002

Social landlords need to do more to inform tenants about how their rents are calculated, housing minister Lord Rooker has said.At the tenant sounding board meeting at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Rooker said that tenants needed more a

Landlords put on warning over race discrimination

24/02/2005

The government has placed housing policy at the heart of its proposals to increase race equality and create community cohesion.

Landlords sought for pilot inspections

24/05/2007

Audit Commission says current inspections regime takes focus off long-term...

Landlords told to gamble in order to solve supply crisis

23/03/2006

Housing associations must take more risks if they are to deliver the number of homes needed to alleviate the supply crisis, the Housing Corporation has warned

Landlords told to spend more to ease ethnic tension

18/10/2007

Corporation launches new plan after commission's report

Landlords warned: turn to digital TV now or pay later

19/10/2006

Social landlords could face huge hikes in the cost of installing digital television equipment for their tenants unless they take urgent action.

Landmark ruling as criminal evidence is used to evict tenant

22/08/2002

A West Midlands council has set a legal precedent by using criminal evidence to secure the eviction of a tenant in a civil court.Sandwell Council obtained a possession order against the tenant after taking advantage of a new legal procedure which allo

Last orders

21/12/2000

Few will shed a tear for the end of the single regeneration budget, says Aaron Cahill

Late demands cut scheme's affordable element

05/06/2003

An East Anglian rural authority has given permission for a 1,400-home development even though it provides just one-fifth of the affordable housing level stipulated in the council's plan.South Norfolk Council granted consent for May Gurney Estates and RM

Latest figures show rise in number of empty properties

25/01/2001

The government has been urged to come down hard on social landlords over voids, after new figures showed a rise in the number of empties owned by both councils and housing associations.Housing association empties have risen by just under 5,000 and loc

Law Commission aims for tenancy reform

28/03/2002

The Law Commission is set to recommend ‘sweeping changes' to housing law that would wipe out differences between tenancies throughout the housing sector.Lawyer Helen Carr, a member of the commission's housing and administrative justice team, said: ‘Th

Learn to adapt

09/05/2002

A tougher environment for transfer will make fresh demands on lenders. Tom Oscroft previews new research

Leaseholders set to pick up bigger service charge bills

17/11/2005

Leaseholders are being warned to brace themselves for a flood of large service charge bills following a landmark decision by the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal

Leeds Federated chief shocked by bomb link

21/07/2005

The chief executive of Leeds Federated Housing Association has spoken to Inside Housing about his shock at discovering that one of its properties is...

Legal aid reform may put vulnerable tenants at risk

08/02/2007

Proposals to shake up legal aid funding rules could leave thousands.......

legal recognition for same sex couples

03/07/2003

The government has unveiled proposals to give gay couples the same property rights as married couples. In a consultation document launched by deputy minister for women and equality Jacqui Smith the government proposed a scheme in which same sex couples ca

Legislation will impede action on anti-social behaviour, landlords fear

09/10/2003

The Home Office has moved to allay social landlords' fears that legislation going through Parliament could cripple their ability to tackle anti-social behaviour.The Anti-Social Behaviour Bill passed through the House of Lords' committee stage this week.

Lenders call for interest hike

27/06/2002

The Council of Mortgage Lenders have called for a ‘modest rise in interest rates' to avoid a repeat of the early nineties housing market crash.The council's monthly survey of mortgage lenders recorded a record increase with lending in May totalling £1

Lenders keep close watch as Clapham project kicks off

06/07/2006

Lenders have pledged to keep a close eye on a fledgling housing association set up to deliver a half billion pound project to regenerate the Clapham Park estate in south London.

Lenders tell sector to look further afield for advice

17/11/2005

Housing associations' reliance on a small number of consultants is hindering the development of new financial models in the sector, lenders have claimed.

Lenders warn of inevitable rate increases

25/04/2002

Borrowing rates can not remain favourable to social landlords indefinitely, lenders have warned the housing sector. The comments follow the announcement that investment bank BNP Paribas ‘is reviewing its position' in the social housing sector. The rec

Lennon: fair division of stock is critical

16/03/2006

Glasgow Housing Association's chief executive has revealed that dividing up its homes into those that are valuable and those that are not is one of the major stumbling blocks to second stage transfer

Let there be light

18/12/2003

A street in Nelson has been lit up in a communal Christmas celebration after the joint efforts of tenants and landlord brought a turnaround in the neighbourhood's fortunes. Space New Living recommended the setting up of a tenants' panel for Oxford Roa

Lettings overhaul planned for unemployment ghettos

23/09/2004

Social landlords will be told by the government to overhaul their lettings policies in an attempt to end ghettos of unemployment.

LGA condemns benefit blocking plans/‘worrying' number of mistakes at council/more freedom over public land disposal/eco-homes win environmental plaudits

07/08/2003

LGA condemns benefit blocking plansThe Local Government Association has slammed government plans to punish anti-social tenants by withdrawing housing benefit. All four parties on the LGA housing executive were unanimous in their condemnation of the

LGA wants savings request U-turn

24/04/2003

The Local Government Association is urging the government to reverse its decision to ask councils to make savings in the first year of Supporting People. Following a meeting of the LGA's housing executive this week, programme manager Gwyneth Taylo

Lib Dems challenge Welsh stock transfer strategy

07/08/2003

Stock transfer's effectiveness in meeting the £2.9 billion bill to bring Welsh council homes up to standard has been called into question by the Liberal Democrats.Housing spokesperson Peter Black said the Welsh Assembly should instead return to pressuri

Lib Dems target land values

23/09/2004

Bringing down land values will be at the heart of Liberal Democrat proposals to tackle the affordability crisis, the party revealed at its conference this week.

Life on the edge

08/09/2005

Asylum-seeking familiesare at the centre of agathering storm over the government's tough new approach to failed applicants. Martin Hilditch reports

Light touch for housing test

17/04/2003

The Audit Commission has opened up a consultation for district councils on the comprehensive performance assessment.The CPA will consist of a corporate assessment, which will include a full inspection; a Benefit Fraud Inspectorate report; and two ligh

Link loans to inflation and cut costs, associations told

10/05/2007

Lender advises landlords to diversify their borrowing options

Live/work schemes ‘need champion'

09/10/2003

A new report calls on the government to put greater emphasis on developing policy around live/work accommodation.The report, by policy consultant Tim Dwelly, says that the government should identify a unit and a department with responsibility for leadin

Liverpool praised from across the pond

24/05/2001

Merseyside is ahead of the Big Apple in tackling the early stages of housing decline, a conference was told.New York City commissioner for ho

Livingstone and boroughs to collide

12/02/2004

The Mayor of London has set himself on a collision course with the capital's councils by pledging to crack down on boroughs that persistently fail to meet his 50 per cent affordable housing target.The target, which is contained in the London Plan, bec

Livingstone sets out empty home objectives

23/05/2002

London mayor Ken Livingstone has set councils a target of bringing 2,600 empty homes back into use in the capital within a year. Speaking at the Empty Homes Matchmaking Event organised by the Greater London Authority last week, Mr Livingstone said: ‘T

Loan leverage dependent on Whitehall rent
decision

10/08/2006

Housing associations' borrowing power would be boosted if the government announced when restrictions on rent increases will be lifted, a leading housing academic has claimed

Loans at risk after corporation's legal shock

19/01/2006

Lawyers are calling on the Housing Corporation to issue urgent reassurances to housing associations after it emerged that loans secured on some corporation-approved stock transfers could be void

Lobby for second round of renewal

17/07/2003

Councils and housing associations in four low demand areas have teamed up with the National Housing Federation to lobby for a second round of housing market renewal pathfinders.The federation and social landlords in west Cumbria, Teeside, West Yorkshire

Local anaesthetic

01/03/2001

Can this government succeed where others have failed by turning the country's most deprived estates around? Hilary Armstrong thinks it can

Local connection plea for chunk of south west homes

19/04/2007

Regional chair says area must be protected from wealthy relocators

Local links take time to be forged

30/05/2002

Local partnerships take years to come to fruition and trust builds only slowly, a new guide to neighbourhood management for RSLs has claimed.The report, written by Chris Wadhams for Harding Housing Association and funded by a Housing Corporation innov

London housing manager put in jail

27/05/2004

A housing manager who awarded council tenancies to her family and friends has been jailed for 13 months. Jeanette Mapp, 42, of Windmore Close, Wembley, north London, worked as a housing manager at Haringey Council's south Tottenham office between Dece

London must look to the regions

05/06/2003

The chair of the London Assembly's planning and spatial development committee has warned that the capital needs to work more closely with the south-east and east of England regions on housing policy.Committee chair Bob Neill said London Mayor Ken Living

London plan comes under spotlight at Earth Summit

29/08/2002

Deputy London mayor Nicky Gavron will this week hold up as a global example a plan that gives a strategic focus to the delivery of affordable housing.Speaking at the Earth Summit in Johannesburg Ms Gavron was set to call on builders to employ sustaina

Look Hughes talking

26/04/2001

Television will never be the same again, as the ‘strongest link' in Welsh housing bows out to take up a new TV role. Sarah Brownlee reports

Look, listen, learn

04/01/2001

Parmjit Uppal has spent her career working with tenants and is now one of their leading advocates. She talks to Huw Morris

Loophole poses threat to elderly

15/05/2003

An anomaly in housing benefit regulations could force housing benefit claimants in Scotland to start paying towards their rent, the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland has warned.A Department for Work and Pensions statutory instrument exempts

Low cost homeownership schemes told to improve

20/07/2006

Better targeting of low cost homeownership schemes could save the public purse more than £100 million a year, the National Audit Office has claimed

Low demand areas are no place for women

11/07/2002

Research showing that women are far more likely than men to flee areas of low demand has prompted government support for further study.The Economic and Social Research Council and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are to fund a doctorate in housing

Low demand top priority for north-west

17/07/2003

by Rebecca EvansThe north-west regional housing strategy has highlighted a lack of funding to meet all of the area's strategic needs, a housing association chief executive has warned.Ian Perry, chief executive of Harvest Housing Association, praised t

LSVTs join forces in bid to unlock cash

26/04/2007

Northern transfer associations aim to set up development club to compete..

Lured in

09/05/2002

Housing associations traditionally struggle to recruit quality finance staff from the privae sector. Selcuk Birler explains why he chose to take the plunge

M&M boost to stock retention

14/08/2003

The proposed redistribution of management and maintenance allowances in favour of northern councils could boost the case for stock retention, consultants have said.The new management and maintenance formula has broadly benefited local authorities in t

Macclesfield set to transfer in bid to avoid pooling capital receipts

23/10/2003

A local authority on course to meet the decent homes standard by April looks set to transfer its stock because of fears about the financial impact of moves to make authorities pool their capital receipts.Macclesfield Council's cabinet was recommending t

Main man

09/05/2002

There is a testing time ahead for the housing inspectorate as the comprehensive performance assessment is introduced. Daniel Martin talks to chief inspector Roy Irwin

Making a splash in the market

30/05/2002

Award-winning urban regeneration developer Urban Splash has recorded an 84 per cent increase in profits.The company, which has been chosen as lead developer for the third millennium village at the Cardroom Estate in Manchester, saw its turnover increa

Making flexibility more attractive

12/09/2002

A consultation has been launched on how the Local Government Pension Scheme can meet changing work patterns after a government review found the scheme was less attractive to part-time council workers. Chartered Institute of Housing head of policy Davi

Making voices heard

09/05/2002

Tackling homelessness is now high on the government agenda. Lis Pritchard aims to ensure the voice of specialist agencies across the country is heard, as Mario Ambrosi discovers

Manager's controversial pay-off judged to be ‘reasonable'

07/08/2003

The Audit Commission has said that a confidential pay-off awarded to a housing manager as part of a deal to settle a case involving allegations of race discrimination was a ‘reasonable' settlement.The commission was called in to examine the pay-off made

Manion strikes gold in awards

23/05/2002

Irwell Valley Housing Association chief executive Tom Manion has won a top award at the Public Servant of the Year Awards. Dr Manion, who pioneered the gold service tenants' incentive scheme now being taken up by social landlords across the country, won t

Maximum board pay only for the biggest/music lovers raise cash for tenants/trust's initiative satisfied residents

04/09/2003

maximum board pay only for the biggestOnly the very biggest associations should consider paying their chairs the Housing Corporation maximum of £20,000 a year, according to new guidelines on board member pay published by the National Housing Federation.

Mayor claims homes victory

20/06/2002

London mayor Ken Livingstone has claimed the credit for winning almost 1,000 extra affordable homes for the capital through planning gain. Launching his annual report, he said: ‘My intervention in strategic planning applications has reaped considerabl

Mayor supported in affordable aim

22/07/2004

The planning inspectorate has backed London mayor Ken Livingstone's efforts to force the capital's boroughs to ensure half of new housing is affordable

Mayor's family-friendly build spend

20/09/2007

Livingstone's draft housing strategy sets out plans for bigger homes and higher standards

McConnell commits to homeless change

06/12/2001

McDowell warns of major shortfall

12/09/2002

Investment in housing in Northern Ireland faces a shortfall of £93 million over the next three years, Housing Executive chair Sid McDowell has predicted. His comments follow claims that housing is over-funded (Inside Housing, 30 August). Mr McDowell s

McNulty urged to boost market renewal pathfinders

17/04/2003

A significant boost to the funding of the market renewal pathfinders would be the ‘acid test' of the government's commitment to eradicate low demand, a Commons debate heard last week.In a debate on the housing market renewal pathfinders, members urged

McNulty's supporting people warning

25/07/2002

Junior housing minister Tony McNulty has warned councillors they will have a lot of explaining to do to their voters if they fail to prepare properly for the Supporting People funding regime. ‘Bigger queues at your ward surgeries, a mailbag full of proble

Mears makes push for care deals

05/04/2007

Contractor goes on the offensive in its effort to land Supporting People contracts

Merged landlord plans to bid for record breaking loan

22/06/2006

The sector looks set to see its largest ever loan deal as a newly merged housing association prepares to bid for up to £800 million worth of borrowing.

Merger deal sealed on the Severn

11/04/2002

Two chief executives have sealed a merger deal with a handshake on the banks of the River Severn, traditionally the boundary between their two organisations.Droitwich-based Spa Housing Group and Partnership Housing Group, which has its head office in

Merging associations avoid picking up the pensions tab

08/12/2005

New guidance from the Pensions Regulator could close a loophole that had left housing associations embarking on mergers facing a multi-million pound pension bi

Methodology changes welcomed

09/10/2003

The Northern Housing Consortium has welcomed improvements in the way the Audit Commission carries out inspections after previous concerns about a perceived bias against northern authorities.In a survey of 29 northern authorities carried out by the conso

Migrants ‘better behaved' than tenants on allowance

19/04/2007

LHA intended for rent likely to be frittered away, say private landlords

Milburn's return could signal housing policy shift

16/09/2004

The return of Alan Milburn to the Cabinet could herald a fundamental shift in housing policy towards home ownership and an extension of the right to buy to housing associations.

Milton Keynes will stay still

11/07/2002

Milton Keynes Council has decided not to increase its target for affordable homes, despite a huge shortage in the area.The Labour group, which lost control of the council in the local government elections in May, wants the local plan to stipulate

Minimum disruption for DTLR split

20/06/2002

The government has pledged to ensure the minimum possible disruption to the work of the transport, local government and the regions select committee when it is split in two.Robin Cook, Leader of the House of Commons, told MPs last week that the commit

Minister gets tough on B&B use

15/05/2003

Social exclusion minister Barbara Roche issued a tough message to councils to ‘start delivering' on reducing bed and breakfast use as she detailed mo

Minister stays calm over increase

15/09/2005

Around 1,000 more households are living in temporary accommodation in England than a year ago, the latest government figures have shown.

Minister warned over threat to council control

28/10/2004

A review of housing investment in Scotland could scupper local authorities' hopes of getting control of development funds.

Minister warns HAs over standards

18/01/2001

Housing minister Nick Raynsford has warned housing associations not to be complacent over their performance.Mr Raynsford said associations - whose performance has been slipping against the Housing Corporation's performance standards - were facing 'gro

Ministers backtrack on funding review

14/10/2004

The government has poured cold water on campaigners' hopes for an inquiry into the funding regime for local authorities.

Ministers get tough over lack of provision for gypsies

08/02/2007

CLG forces four councils to identify needs of gypsies and travellers

Minor interest

30/11/2000

A controversial report on multi-ethnic Britain dismisses social housing's influence. Gemma Charles reports

missing census figures risk services/council rapped over abuse inaction/fire hotspots to get alarm upgrades/Peabody grants benefit community

11/09/2003

Up to 25,000 properties, many of them on social housing estates, may have been missed off the census count in Westminster, according to the preliminary results of an investigation.Westminster-funded research by Manchester Geomantics revealed the London

Moat and Paddington Churches to merge

23/11/2000

A merger proposal launched this week could lead to the creation of the country's second largest registered social landlord.The boards of Genesis group, which includes Paddington Churches and Sutherland housing associations, and Moat Housing Group

Model village

13/02/2003

Millennium communities are one of the government's big ideas. But their development has not been trouble-free. Michael Cooke looks at progress so far

Modern building methods leave contractors stumped

01/03/2007

Unskilled workforce risks ‘disaster' following catalogue of problems

Monitors to safeguard smaller shares of regeneration spend

13/06/2002

Regional development agencies will be monitored to ensure that small voluntary organisations get their share of future regeneration spending.Research to assess the impact the winding down of the Single Regeneration Budget and replacing it with a singl

More affordable homes planned for Snowdonia

09/10/2003

At least a fifth of homes in developments of five or more properties in Snowdonia National Park will have to be affordable, under the conservation area's unitary development plan.The UDP, which is out for consultation until December, says there are nume

More cash needed to bridge LASHG gap

08/05/2003

The Local Government Association is demanding additional cash to ease the ending of social housing grant as further details emerge about the difficul

more homes should go in Yorkshire

12/06/2003

The number of homes demolished in Yorkshire and the Humber should be increased to at least 4,500 a year, according to proposals outlined in the region's draft housing strategy. In 2001/02, 3,467 homes were cleared in the social sector but only 89 privat

More than a substitution

11/07/2002

The new housing minister needs to have a secure tenancy not a short-term lease on the job, says Ian Wright

More than just bricks in the wall

22/05/2003

Homelessness charity Crisis announced this week that a £3.6 million donation by Pink Floyd guitarist Dave Gilmour will be used to create an urban vil

Mortgage debt fear of social tenants

16/08/2007

Terror of going into the red puts social tenants off becoming homeowners, study finds

Mortgage subsidies aim to attract teachers to London

15/05/2003

The best teachers in London will be able to benefit from subsidised mortgages under a radical package of measures unveiled by Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday.The mortgage guarantee scheme – described as a ‘new deal on housing' – is expected to go

Move on up

24/05/2001

The winning bids for the government's £13 million lettings initiative will have to start delivering choice, even in areas of high demand. Roz Spencer outlines how one of the biggest projects – involving nearly a quarter of London's stock – will work

Move-on shortage boosts B&B numbers

06/12/2001

A council has recorded a huge increase in the number of households forced to live in temporary accommodation.The total number of households placed in bed and breakfast accommodation by Colchester Council has jumped by 66 per cent over the last financi

MP calls for 'losers' to be housed

18/07/2002

North Kensington and Regent's Park MP Karen Buck is asking Notting Hill Housing Group to ensure that any people who ‘lost out' are housed, following the revelation that some homes administered by the association's Kensington office were not allocated to t

MP calls for tax relief on social homes only

01/12/2005

The government is under pressure to radically overhaul its plans for property based self invested personal pensions and only allow tax breaks on those homes used for social housing.

MP condemns pathfinder's ‘secrecy'

01/03/2007

Minutes of Bridging Newcastle Gateshead's board meetings only available by FOI request

MPs brand buyer schemes as wasteful and inefficient

29/03/2007

Committee slates 'poor targeting' of low-cost ownership products

MPs join campaign group

18/09/2003

Anti-transfer MPs are to set up a new parliamentary group to campaign for greater investment in council housing.Ten MPs have agreed to set up the group and a further 20 have expressed an interest in joining. Defend Council Housing, which has helped to

MPs to consider homes targets

18/04/2002

Multiple occupancy licences could force landlords to sell

14/04/2005

The government's new licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation risks slashing the supply of temporary accommodation, private landlords and Shelter...

name change confirms charity role

19/06/2003

The Council for the Protection of Rural England has renamed itself the Campaign to Protect Rural England.The group said the change was to prove a ‘sharper, clearer identity'.Outgoing chair Sir David Ford said: ‘A change to our name was overdue. We are

National treasures

20/09/2001

English Heritage claims many social housing estates deserve to be recognised. But does listing an estate merely bring extra hassle, as well as expectations which can never be fulfilled? Sarah Brownlee investigates

Neighbourly advice

15/11/2001

The introduction of neighbourhood management is one of the most significant changes to hit social housing for the last three decades. But are managers delivering yet? Pete Duncan and Sally Thomas take a look

Network urges association inclusion

15/05/2003

The draft Housing Bill should include housing associations under measures to license homes in multiple occupation, an expert has recommended.Peter Brown, chair of the National HMO Network and an environmental health officer at Croydon Council speciali

New 30,000 home group on the cards

01/12/2005

Paradigm and Bromford housing groups are in discussions to form a new group structure managing more than 30,000 homes, Inside Housing has learned

New ALMO bids top £2 billion

02/10/2003

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received bids for its fourth round of arm's length management companies totalling more than £2 billion – more than has been awarded in any previous round.Nineteen local authorities put in expressions of inte

New build ahead of target, claims Livingstone

23/05/2002

London mayor Ken Livingstone has claimed that the number of homes built in the capital has increased since he came to power.Greater London Assembly figures show 20,730 new homes were completed in 2000, more than the mayor's target of 19,000 per year.

New build gains upper hand

25/10/2007

Number of social homes built outstrips right to buy sales

New build targets missed

27/07/2006

The Housing Corporation missed its new build targets in London, the north east and the north west in 2005/06, according to its annual report.

New company wins backing of GLA in key homes drive

29/01/2004

The Greater London Authority has caused concern among housing associations by backing a new company that plans to compete in the key worker housing market.Newco is a not-for-profit company, due to be launched in March, that will operate across London

New construction pay deal is welcomed

24/04/2003

A deal to increase construction workers' pay has been praised by the industry's good practice body. Negotiations between the Construction Confederation and construction union representatives have resulted in a rise in the minimum basic rate for constr

New corporation chief prioritises land supply

28/06/2007

Steve Douglas sets out his stall

New disabled rights bill ‘ineffective'

07/04/2005

New legislation to improve the housing rights of disabled people could be ineffective, the minister for disabled people has admitted to Inside Housing....

New funding record for ethnic minority association

19/02/2004

Presentation Housing Association has set a new funding record for ethnic minority housing associations after agreeing a £100 million loan facility.The new facility – arranged with Barclays, Lloyds TSB and Bradford & Bingley – means the association's c

New Horizons

09/05/2002

The new Homelessness Act demands real change from councils and housing associations. It's all part of the most exciting time in decades for housing, Shelter's Chris Holmes tells Mario Ambrosi

New job for Tory 'bruiser' Davis

25/07/2002

Eric Pickles, the Conservatives' shadow secretary of state for local government and the regions, has declared himself ‘absolutely delighted' with the appointment of David Davis as shadow secretary of state for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and s

New minister pledges to be local hero

27/06/2002

The techniques of neighbourhood management should be used to help less deprived communities ‘recapture some of their destiny and control', the new junior housing and regeneration minister has said.Speaking at a neighbourhood management conference this

New partner sought after failed merger

09/10/2003

A housing association in the north-west of England is seeking a partner after talks on a merger with a neighbouring association fell through.Wyre Housing Association had been holding discussions on a possible merger with New Fylde Housing Association, b

New Prospect housing exec steps down

17/07/2003

The chief executive of Salford's arm's-length management organisation New Prospect Housing has been asked to step down from his post because targets are not being met quickly enough.John Townsend, who formerly worked in Salford Council's housing departm

New rules to end eviction of benefit delay tenants

03/03/2005

A legal loophole which allows landlords to evict tenants who owe rent because of council delays in processing housing benefit applications could be closed...

New store promotes fruit and veg in diet

12/09/2002

Diet in a deprived part of Leeds dramatically improved following the opening of a superstore, according to a new academic study. The report, prepared by Southampton University's department of geography, showed that residents of Seacroft and Whinmoor on th

Newcastle's new council promises renewal rethink

17/06/2004

Newcastle Council's new Liberal Democrat administration has promised to go back to the drawing board on the authority's controversial Going for Growth strategy. Labour's loss of control of the city in last week's local election was one of a number of re

Newham's court win over anti-social youths

15/02/2001

Newham council has secured anti-social behaviour orders against two youths that terrorised elderly tenants.At Stratford magistrates court, deputy stipendiary magistrate Angus Hamilton granted ASBOs against a 16-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy.

NHF moves to make shared ownership finances clearer

27/07/2006

Proposals to ensure housing associations' shared ownership products are clearly reflected in their accounts were launched this week by the National Housing Federation.

NI moves to fight deprivation

26/06/2003

The Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland has launched a neighbourhood renewal strategy to tackle deprivation in the region. Social development minister John Spellar said the strategy would focus on the worst 10 per cent of urban wards and

Night hawks

21/12/2000

A team of wardens watches over Runcorn estates while residents sleep. Paula Rohan reports

No big problem says McNulty

11/07/2002

Newly-appointed junior housing minister Tony McNulty has denied there is a housing crisis.Responding to a question at an urban regeneration conference this week, Mr McNulty said: ‘I don't think there is a massive crisis.' He added that it did not help

No messing

14/11/2002

How did a medium-sized housing association become the country's biggest winner of development cash? Kate Murray takes a look

No quick fixes for race issues

13/06/2002

A panel of experts is to address the role of housing in overcoming racial tensions, the author of an influential race report has announced.The practitioner panel is to be the first of about a dozen – which will also look at education, the media and he

No simple solutions for Britain's blight

18/07/2002

Why have decades of spending failed to cure many of the problems blighting Britain? It's time to look at what really works, says Peter Ambrose

No stars blow for Salford

19/09/2002

Salford Council has received a major blow to its arm's-length hopes after receiving no stars for its housing service from the Audit Commission.The authority, which successfully bid in the second round, will not be able to access government funds n

No to Selby transfer as Lincolnshire ballot hots up

16/03/2006

Selby Council's tenants have voted against a stock transfer to Town & Village Housing. In the ballot, which closed last week, 65.4 per cent of the tenants who voted opted to remain with the council. The turnout was 75.6 per ce

No vote rocks transfer

10/04/2003

The government's stock transfer programme was looking increasingly shaky this week following a decisive ‘no' vote by tenants of Nuneaton and Bedworth Council.Sixty per cent of tenants, on a turnout of 70 per cent, voted against proposals to transfer 6

North East to lose 25,000 tenants

16/11/2000

Tyne and Wear's five councils will lose 25,000 tenants over the next six years unless they act to tackle demand issues, Inside Housing can reveal.A new analysis of Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland lettings sugges

North Hertfordshire and Carlisle say yes to transfer

25/07/2002

Two councils have today announced yes votes in their stock transfer ballots.North Hertfordshire Council and Carlisle Council will now both tr

North lobbies for bigger allocations

04/08/2005

Northern authorities are to lobby for a greater slice of the housing budget after long-term projections from Whitehall showed they are likely to receive...

North of England regeneration cash ‘not enough'

27/01/2005

A £65 million cash injection for market renewal outside the government's pathfinder areas is not enough, senior housing figures in the north of England...

North to take middle way on home clearance rate

23/06/2005

The Northern Way is to draw up a new package aimed at speeding up demolition – but has distanced itself from the highest estimate of the number of...

Northern providers face ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul'

18/08/2005

Northern housing organisations have warned they may be unable to meet the major regeneration objectives for the region because of a lack of funding....

Northern Way ‘demands stock option change'

25/11/2004

The government's housing investment strategy will fail to deliver the radical changes envisaged in the Northern Way, according to a key architect of the redevelopment plans.

No-star authority locked in row with commission

31/03/2005

The council has challenged the commission over the draft report and the way the inspection, which took place in October 2004, was conducted.

Notting Hill launches probe into irregular allocations

11/07/2002

Nottingham reveals winning ALMO formula

29/07/2004

Nottingham Council has won overwhelming backing for its arm's-length management plans after ‘wrong-footing' anti-ALMO campaigners.

Number of homeless could be four times official figure

11/01/2007

The number of people sleeping rough on the streets of England could be as much as four times higher than the official figure because of the way the statistics are collected

Observant Muslims given route to Homebuy benefits

20/01/2005

Muslims who observe shariah law could be freed to buy affordable homes under a new scheme developed by Metropolitan Home Ownership.

ODPM invites gren space bids

31/07/2003

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has invited bids for a new scheme to transform public spaces in run-down areas.An £89 million fund, announced in the Communities Plan, will be split between 27 programmes across England to help promote the governm

ODPM ranked low in ethnic profiles

10/07/2003

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is in the bottom half of a list of central government departments that have been ranked on the basis of their ethnic minority staff profiles.The Commission for Racial Equality made the list using the latest figure

ODPM urged to look again at rents for larger homes

12/09/2002

Black-led housing associations are calling on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to develop separate target rents for homes with five, six and seven bedrooms. Manningham Housing Association chief executive Anil Singh said the current formula, whi

OfficIal house price index on the way

12/09/2002

The government is planning to release an ‘official' monthly house price index from next year based on information supplied by most lenders on monthly mortgage completions.Head of the housing statistics division at the Office of the Deputy Prime Mi

Off-site targets ‘not realistic'

10/04/2003

The government has underlined its commitment to delivering new homes at speed by increasing its target for the number manufactured off-site.Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott this week announced that from 2004/05 one-quarter of the homes funded by th

Oldham ALMO first to gain two-star rating

05/06/2003

Oldham Council's arm's-length management organisation has become the first in the second round to achieve the standard required to draw down government investment.First Choice Homes Oldham was given a ‘good' two-star rating, meaning it will receive an e

Ombudsman castigates Waltham Forest

17/11/2005

Waltham Forest Council's 'woefully inadequate' handling of a torture victim's homeless application has led to the local government ombudsman recommending it pays almost £12,000 in compensation

Ombudsman refers council to Benefit Fraud Inspectorate

04/09/2003

A council has been referred to the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate after it took action to repossess a tenant's home even though his housing benefit claim had not been determined for more than three years.The local government ombudsman Jerry White found Sout

On a knife-edge

23/05/2002

In the week that the rise of the far right again hit the headlines, David Blackman assesses the prospects for local elections and the role of housing in the debate

On manoeuvres

09/05/2002

Local authorities need to give more weight than ever before to their strategic role. And this week housing minister Lord Falconer unveiled some extra help, as Merron Simpson reports

On the ministers doorstep

07/06/2001

Winston Robinson is always in the thick of things. And he has a fewwords of advice for Nick Raynsford, as Paula Rohan finds out

One foot in the past

08/11/2001

Mario Ambrosi digs up the connections between archaeology, history and social housing

on-line focus on good practice

05/06/2003

An on-line database of good practice identified by the Audit Commission's housing inspectorate has been launched by benchmarking service HouseMark.Inspection focus contains 55 examples of positive practice identified in 360 housing inspectorate reports

Open access in return for extra cash

01/07/2004

People from housing waiting lists across London will be eligible for housing within a key growth area development in a move being viewed as a model for future developments.

Open up for business

09/05/2002

The Housing Corporation and the associations it regulates must wake up to their responsibilities to local authorities and the public

Opportunity knocked?

31/05/2001

With changes to the definition of the single room rent on the cards, will young people be left out in the cold? Matthew Waters finds out

Orbit reports £13 million loss in annual accounts

25/09/2003

One of the leading housing associations in the country has recorded a £13 million loss in its annual accounts.Orbit Housing Group confirmed that the losses were incurred as breakage costs as a result of a huge £348 million refinancing deal secured earli

Orbit to make big savings in £320m refinancing deal

15/02/2007

Borrowing from only two banks will save group £300k a year

Out of the ivory tower

31/05/2001

Melanie Rees says those at the sharp end can be the most useful resource

Out on a limb

24/05/2001

They may be closer to Norway than to Edinburgh, but the Shetland Islands face many of the same housing problems as the rest of the country. Anita Jamieson and Caroline Whyteside explain what the UK's remotest local authority has been doing about the futur

Outrage after ‘anti-social' tenant gets right to buy

15/05/2003

An anti-social neighbour described as a ‘dangerous man who was frequently out on the street terrorising neighbours' has been allowed to buy his home.

Over the odds payments risk fuelling board inflation

25/11/2004

Housing associations paying over the odds to their board members risk creating an ‘inflationary spiral' in the sector, the Housing Corporation has warned.

Overpaid benefit not to be recovered

16/05/2002

A council has agreed not to reclaim overpaid housing benefit after the local government ombudsman found maladministration causing injustice.Mature student ‘Ms Walton' made a range of complaints against Southwark Council and its contractor CSL over the

Ownership rolled out across Scotland

15/03/2007

Brankin expands Homestake as part of investment package

Pan-London fund needed to help runaways

07/12/2006

A pan-London funding pot needs to be set up to prevent homeless young people suffering because councils refuse to give them help, according to a new report commissioned by Centrepoint

Part of the process

14/11/2002

Resident consultation is vital when it comes to running a development programme smoothly. David Singleton looks at how resident liaison officers, fun days and focus groups can all be part of the mix

Partial stock transfer set to provide funds post 2010

19/10/2006

Financial pressures on councils and arm's-length management organisations could push them into selling their stock after the 2010 decent homes deadline, a new study has found

Partners in time

09/08/2001

A strategic role for local authorities should give them more power to decide where cash is spent and to monitor other landlords' performance. Sarah Rowe explains

Partnership to fund inclusion post

28/09/2006

The Royal Bank of Scotland is to fund a new post at the National Housing Federation to come up with a raft of products to help the financially excluded

Partnerships can be a waste of time

09/05/2002

Encouraging partnership working is not always appropriate if it wastes resources and delivers few benefits, a report has found.The two-year study by Professor Murray Stewart of the University of the West of England recommended that the government ensu

Past perfect

09/05/2002

Safeguarding Britain's architectural heritage is tricky for social landlords battling to bring all their homes up to a decent standard. But new research suggests protecting the past can pay off, as Mario Ambrosi reports

Pathfinder ‘paradox' reveals tension

03/03/2005

Tensions within government over housing policy came to a head this week when regeneration minister Lord Rooker admitted there was a contradiction between...

Pathfinder cash for early intervention

25/07/2002

The South Yorkshire housing market renewal pathfinder is considering spending two-fifths of its recently awarded £2.66 million allocation for ‘early interventions' in low demand areas.Nine pathfinders have been allocated cash to develop strategies to

Pathfinder given action plan deadline

29/07/2004

The Hull & East Riding market renewal pathfinder has been given until the end of the summer to hand over a completed action plan to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Pathfinder policies review

11/09/2003

The Housing Corporation is to review its policies and procedures in England's market renewal pathfinder areas.The corporation's new head of operations for market renewal pathfinders Derek Long said the £500 million market renewal programme provided a ch

Pathfinder requests area addition

18/09/2003

The North Staffordshire housing market renewal pathfinder has applied to the government to include an additional area within its sub-region.The pathfinder has produced a housing market assessment for the market town of Biddulph in the Staffordshire Moor

Pathfinders ‘uncertain' of their impact

24/11/2005

Market renewal pathfinders rely as much on ‘hope' as on intellectual understanding of the long-term effect their work will have, the Council of Mortgage Lenders warned this week.

Pathfinders face penalties as respect agenda heats up

17/05/2007

Only a fifth of landlords in the nine regions sign up to standard

Pathfinders map out progress

09/10/2003

Proposals for a world-class urban village lie at the heart of the pathfinder aiming to revitalise housing markets in Newcastle and Gateshead.The draft prospectus submitted to government covers more than 77,000 homes – 52,995 in Newcastle and 24,479 in G

Pathfinders set to refocus on supply

26/07/2007

New round of growth points could pave the way for development role

Pathfinders will need cash – despite £1 billion boost

18/10/2007

Government's spending pledge welcomed but cash cut fears...

Paul Francis

12/08/2004

Paul Francis, the former treasurer of the Anchor Group Staff Association, had full access to the staff association's bank account, not that of Anchor Trust as stated last week.

Peabody at risk of stalling on new traffic light rating

15/01/2004

The Housing Corporation is reviewing Peabody Trust's ‘traffic light' assessment after it revealed it was facing severe difficulties meeting the decent homes target and had run over-budget on one of its flagship developments.Peabody's most recent Housi

Peabody to probe raines delay

15/05/2003

Peabody Trust is investigating why its groundbreaking Raines Dairy housing scheme in London is behind schedule.The trust, along with partner developer Yorkon, says the £7.5 million scheme is behind schedule but not as a result of high winds as Inside

Peak performance

09/05/2002

The single regulator in Scotland is looking for better performance across the board. Angiolina Foster explains

Peer pressure

31/05/2001

Officers and tenants are inspecting their peers' services in an experiment which could make inspection a happier business. Alistair McIntosh explains

Pension scheme set to avoid watchdog's sharpest teeth

11/05/2006

The largest provider of pensions to housing associations looks set to escape the full force of tough new regulations being introduced by the government's pension watchdog.

Pensions overhaul leaves landlords facing costs hike

01/06/2006

Housing associations look set to have to pay more money into pensions schemes as a result of the government's proposed overhaul of the system.

Performance ‘standing still'

09/10/2003

Housing associations' performance is standing still in England despite pressure from inspectors and the regulator.The latest performance indicators released by the Housing Corporation show no material change from the previous year – with only two out of

Perry hits back at new chief executive's corporation blast

07/08/2003

The new chief executive of one of the country's leading housing association developers has caused offence at the Housing Corporation by speaking out in a national newspaper about a ‘stifling level' of regulation. Ujima Housing Association chief executiv

Perry: Corporation has a future

16/05/2002

PFI deal sealed in record time

30/09/2004

Arena Housing Association has finalised details on a £20 million private finance initiative deal in the record time of two years.

PFI payments to be guided by tenants' satisfaction

30/03/2006

Low levels of tenant satisfaction could trigger lower payments for contractors delivering housing private finance initiatives.

PFI trailblazer dropped by council

09/06/2005

A consortium behind several high-profile housing PFI deals has been dropped as the preferred partner for a £200 million project after the council lost...

Phillips pounces on ‘disastrous' dispersal system

03/07/2003

The government's system of dispersing asylum seekers throughout the country has been ‘a disaster', according to the chair of the Commission for Racial Equality.Trevor Phillips told Tuesday's conference that the Home Office policy had turned ‘from a poli

PI eyed

26/04/2001

Box ticking, league tables, naming and shaming – performance indicators have a bit of an image problem. But Nick Jones, introducing the latest innovations in the field, says we should all learn to love our PIs

Piecing it together

10/10/2002

Partial stock transfer may be a more viable option for some authorities than a full-scale sell-off. Daniel Martin looks at four very different examples

Pinnacle goes public with name change

25/04/2002

Housing management company JSS Pinnacle is to change its name to reflect its public sector future. It will be known as Pinnacle Public Services Group. John Swinney, chief operating officer, said: ‘It's about refreshening ourselves up. We've sold all our p

Places for People signs homes deal

22/05/2003

Places for People has signed a deal to help build 500 new homes on the Granton Waterfront in north Edinburgh.The housing association and the Burrell Company, a ‘design-led' development company, have formed the consortium Upper Strand Developments, whi

Plan may increase funding imbalances

26/06/2003

An expert on the effects of regional policy on the low demand problem has warned that the Communities Plan might increase funding imbalances.Speaking at an Institute for Public Policy Research seminar on tackling inequality in housing Alan Murie, profes

Plan to boost south east affordability

06/12/2001

The South East of England Development Agency is looking to work with local authorities across the region in a bid to increase the supply of affordable homes.As part of the scheme to regenerate Leigh Park in Havant, Portsmouth, SEEDA along with the Pri

Plan to tie budgets to performance in Glasgow

15/11/2007

Failure to tackle homelessness could mean.....

Planning gain prognosis is less cash, reduced supply

21/09/2006

The Treasury's proposed new land tax could reduce the supply of land for housing and leave less money for infrastructure than the current planning system, a major new study has revealed.

Planning officer shortage threatens building projects

05/05/2005

The government¡¯s plans to build tens of thousands of new social homes face delays because qualified local government planning officers are being lured...

Planning power set to be handed to Livingstone

01/12/2005

London Mayor Ken Livingstone could be allowed to overrule local authorities' planning decisions, under proposals put forward by the government

Planning set backs cause Bovis completions to halve

13/07/2006

Planning delays have led to house builder Bovis completing around only half the number of social homes between January and June that it built in the same period last year.

Plans to simplify investment scheme

17/01/2002

Playing catch-up

09/05/2002

Compared with other sectors, housing PFI is still in its infancy. Schemes vary in their focus and are developing at different speeds. Rebecca Evans gets an update from the 11 councils involved in the second round

Plea for help after London shootings

22/02/2007

Housing organisations urged to form a co-ordinated response to spate of gun crime

Plea to axe corporation tax on sales to shared owners

05/10/2006

The National Housing Federation is urging the Treasury to exempt housing associations' shared ownership sales from corporation tax, a levy it claims costs the sector tens of millions of pounds.

Plea to reform foundering Homebuy

31/05/2007

Growth of complex schemes set to increase confusion for both tenants and....

Pledge to help edinburgh key workers

17/04/2003

Key workers in Edinburgh could get help with their mortgages if the ruling Labour group retains control of the council in the forthcoming elections.Council leader Donald Anderson told Inside Housing the council would develop a scheme that gave people

Pole position

09/05/2002

Steve Norris still wants to be in the driving seat in London. And that would mean more involvement from the private sector in tackling the capital's housing crisis, as he tells Siân Gibson

Police probe fraud claims

07/12/2000

A Worcestershire housing association has called in the police and auditors amid fraud allegations. Evesham and Pershore Housing Association chief executive Ian Hughes said that following an internal audit, the West Mercia Constabulary was investig

Poor legislation holds back strategic vision

18/01/2001

Councils need new powers if they are to be truly effective in a strategic role, it was claimed this week.In a joint briefing paper, the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Local Government Association argue that, despite the prominence given to the

'Poor' Shepway begins to clear benefit backlog

22/08/2002

Weaknesses in Shepway Council's review of its housing and council tax benefits contributed to a poor, no-star rating of the service by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate.Inspectors found the best value review had a number of weaknesses: ‘the most notable

Porter's assets won't cover court's £26.5 million surcharge

19/09/2002

Former Westminster Council leader Dame Shirley Porter's wealth has been estimated at a fraction of the amount she owes the local authority for her role in the ‘homes for votes' scandal.The deadline for payment of the £26.5 million surcharge passed las

Possession backed by law lords

07/08/2003

The law lords have overturned a December 2001 appeal court decision that a human rights challenge to possession proceedings should go back to the county court.Luton County Court had backed Harrow Council's decision to seek possession of Tarik Qazi's hom

Post-election stock transfer rush predicted for Wales

29/01/2004

Wales could see a surge of stock transfer applications after the May local elections as councils struggle to meet the housing quality standard.Bridgend is so far the only authority to have completed a large-scale voluntary transfer, in November last y

Power to the people

10/10/2002

As the Peabody Trust prepares to open its tenth digital learning centre, Maura Santos says IT can help even the most deprived on to the employment ladder

Predicting the futures of the fair

22/08/2002

Two councils rated fair for their repairs and maintenance services face very different futures, according to the Audit Commission's housing inspectorate.Wirral Council was given one star with excellent prospects for improvement.But Sandwell Counci

Preferred partnering scheme for long-term development

26/06/2003

The Housing Corporation will pilot three partnering schemes with housing associations next year as it revolutionises its investment regime.Neil Hadden, the corporation's assistant chief executive, announced at last week's Chartered Institute of Housing

Prentis sets out arm's-length approach