Inflation

Today, 50p will buy you a chocolate bar or a packet of crisps.

Back in 1914, 10 shillings — as it was then — paid for a month’s rent in Romsey, if the story of Muriel Noyce is anything to go by. These details came to light when the former cinema usher turned 100 last month.

Today’s average UK rent is £1,165 a month and rising, according to the Residential Rental Price Index. Closed Circuit will be launching its future Mars bar fund forthwith.

Peter Marsh is to sail round Great Britain for charity.

And there’s something decidedly fishy about it. First up, the Tenant Services Authority chief is due to set sail on 2 April - just a day after his organisation implements the biggest regulation overhaul housing has ever seen. Either he’s supremely confident everything will go swimmingly, or else he wants a watertight guarantee his Blackberry will be out of reception when it doesn’t.

Second, according to the website charting his proposed voyage, Mr Marsh will spend 66 days at sea. Maybe the TSA’s holiday allowance is generous beyond compare. Or does Mr Marsh reckon on having some spare time on his hands later this year? Sponsor the crew at www.justgiving.com/peter-marsh

Chartered Institute of Housing president Howard Farrand has made clear his support for House Proud, the campaign his organisation is running with Inside Housing.

But Closed Circuit has uncovered evidence that Mr Farrand’s heart may actually be in raising the profile of, well, baking. During an address to housing minister John Healey at last week’s opening of the CIH’s London office, Mr Farrand referred not to House Proud, but ‘Homepride’. Far from a slip of the tongue, Mr Farrand could have touched on the one thing we need to elevate the profile of housing: a pinch of self-raising flour.

More drama at another recent launch.

Unveiling the TSA’s new standards last week, TSA deputy chair Julian Ashby remarked that the breakfast on offer — a disappointing selection of pastries — was perhaps a reaction to the chancellor’s efficiency call in the previous day’s Budget. At which point the lights went out. ‘That’s another 10p saved now,’ quipped Mr Ashby.

Send your juicy housing gossip to closedcircuit@insidehousing.co.uk