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All the latest breaking stories from the affordable housing sector.
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London mayor sets up procurement panel
Social landlords will be able to use a procurement panel set up by the Mayor of London.
Southwark plans 1,000 council homes by 2020
Southwark Council announced today it has set itself a target to build 1,000 new council homes – averaging 100 a year - before 2020.
Fatal Derby house fire was started with petrol
The fire in a Derby council house in which six children died was started by petrol below the letterbox in the hallway.
Housing stalwart gets policy review brief
Housing stalwart and former Inside Housing columnist Jon Cruddas is to co-ordinate Labour’s policy review.
Bovis expects profit rise after strong start to 2012
House builder Bovis Homes is predicting increased completions and higher profits for 2012 after a strong start to the year.
Accord appoints Lovell for £50m repairs contract
Midlands-based housing association Accord has awarded a £50 million repairs contract to Lovell.
British housing is ‘cramped and poorly planned’
Much British housing is cramped and fails to meet the needs of its occupants, a study has found.
Plans submitted for 1,200 homes on former colliery
A planning application has been submitted for a 1,200 home development on the site of a former colliery near Doncaster.
Study links brain injuries with homelessness
Brain injury could be a significant risk factor for people becoming homeless, according to a charity study.
Councils get more time to spend right to buy cash
The government has relaxed rules on how councils must reinvest money from the reinvigorated right to buy following criticism.
Development
London mayor sets up procurement panel
Social landlords will be able to use a procurement panel set up by the Mayor of London.
Southwark plans 1,000 council homes by 2020
Southwark Council announced today it has set itself a target to build 1,000 new council homes – averaging 100 a year - before 2020.
Housing stalwart gets policy review brief
Housing stalwart and former Inside Housing columnist Jon Cruddas is to co-ordinate Labour’s policy review.
Bovis expects profit rise after strong start to 2012
House builder Bovis Homes is predicting increased completions and higher profits for 2012 after a strong start to the year.
British housing is ‘cramped and poorly planned’
Much British housing is cramped and fails to meet the needs of its occupants, a study has found.
Plans submitted for 1,200 homes on former colliery
A planning application has been submitted for a 1,200 home development on the site of a former colliery near Doncaster.
Councils get more time to spend right to buy cash
The government has relaxed rules on how councils must reinvest money from the reinvigorated right to buy following criticism.
Fifth lender joins government mortgage scheme
A fifth bank has joined the government’s mortgage indemnity programme for buyers of new-build homes.
Mayor to decide on dog track plans
The mayor of London has until 25 May to decide whether to allow London & Quadrant to build homes on the site of a former iconic dog track.
Self build groups in line for £30m of funding
Grant Shapps has announced a £30 million pot to promote self-build will go to groups building homes at the same time.
Repairs
London mayor sets up procurement panel
Social landlords will be able to use a procurement panel set up by the Mayor of London.
Fatal Derby house fire was started with petrol
The fire in a Derby council house in which six children died was started by petrol below the letterbox in the hallway.
Housing stalwart gets policy review brief
Housing stalwart and former Inside Housing columnist Jon Cruddas is to co-ordinate Labour’s policy review.
Accord appoints Lovell for £50m repairs contract
Midlands-based housing association Accord has awarded a £50 million repairs contract to Lovell.
Councils seek partner for green deal roll out
A group of local authorities in north east England is looking for a delivery partner to help it take advantage of the government’s green deal energy efficiency scheme.
Mears' social housing business going strong
Mears has today announced strong social housing revenues after starting eight new contracts since the start of the year.
Housing Heroes Award winners unveiled
The winners of the 2012 Housing Heroes Awards have been announced at a ceremony in London.
Social landlords handed one fire notice every week
Social landlords are being served with an average of one enforcement notice a week by fire brigades across England.
Landlords sceptical about green deal
Social landlords believe the government’s flagship retrofit scheme will be unpopular with their tenants.
Outsourcing model to fund new build
A new repairs outsourcing model has been developed that could increase the borrowing power of councils and finance new house building projects.
Tenancies
Fatal Derby house fire was started with petrol
The fire in a Derby council house in which six children died was started by petrol below the letterbox in the hallway.
Housing stalwart gets policy review brief
Housing stalwart and former Inside Housing columnist Jon Cruddas is to co-ordinate Labour’s policy review.
Accord appoints Lovell for £50m repairs contract
Midlands-based housing association Accord has awarded a £50 million repairs contract to Lovell.
Councils get more time to spend right to buy cash
The government has relaxed rules on how councils must reinvest money from the reinvigorated right to buy following criticism.
Report questions legality of household benefit cap
The government may have broken equality laws when introducing the total household benefits cap, according to watchdog the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Judgement to force changes to benefit rules
Housing benefit rules for private rented tenants discriminate against disabled people and will have to be changed, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Council inundated with right to buy queries
A London council has received more than 1,000 enquiries from its tenants on right to buy since the government increased the available discounts.
Welfare changes could harm work programme
The Department for Work and Pensions has failed to consider the impact welfare reform will have on its flagship employment programme, according to a group of MPs.
Police confirm Derby house fire was deliberate
Police have confirmed that a fire at a council-owned property in Derby that killed six children appears to have been started on purpose.
Leading Tory council unveils allocation plans
A flagship Conservative council has published its plans for overhauling how its housing is allocated.
Eco
London mayor sets up procurement panel
Social landlords will be able to use a procurement panel set up by the Mayor of London.
Housing stalwart gets policy review brief
Housing stalwart and former Inside Housing columnist Jon Cruddas is to co-ordinate Labour’s policy review.
Councils seek partner for green deal roll out
A group of local authorities in north east England is looking for a delivery partner to help it take advantage of the government’s green deal energy efficiency scheme.
Housing association to lead £196m estate overhaul
Ealing Council has chosen a housing association for the £196 million regeneration of the Havelock Estate in Southall.
Peabody submits £120m plans
Housing provider Peabody has submitted a planning application for a £120 million regeneration scheme on an estate in South London.
Landlords sceptical about green deal
Social landlords believe the government’s flagship retrofit scheme will be unpopular with their tenants.
PM under pressure to boost green deal incentives
Officials preparing a briefing for the prime minister on the government’s green deal energy efficiency scheme have been urged to consider further incentives to encourage take up.
Housing 'left out of Queen's speech'
The Queen’s speech has provoked mixed reaction from the sector as housing was largely left out of the government’s priorities for the next parliamentary session.
Scottish councils to get £582m to build green homes
The Scottish Government has today pledged £582 million to councils to build affordable homes, with those producing greener homes receiving larger subsidies.
Labour victory in Wales
Labour has made big gains right across Wales, emerging as the only major winner of the night.
Finance
Housing stalwart gets policy review brief
Housing stalwart and former Inside Housing columnist Jon Cruddas is to co-ordinate Labour’s policy review.
Bovis expects profit rise after strong start to 2012
House builder Bovis Homes is predicting increased completions and higher profits for 2012 after a strong start to the year.
Councils get more time to spend right to buy cash
The government has relaxed rules on how councils must reinvest money from the reinvigorated right to buy following criticism.
Fifth lender joins government mortgage scheme
A fifth bank has joined the government’s mortgage indemnity programme for buyers of new-build homes.
Self build groups in line for £30m of funding
Grant Shapps has announced a £30 million pot to promote self-build will go to groups building homes at the same time.
Welsh government sets 12,500 home building goal
The Welsh government has set a target of building 12,500 new homes in the country by 2016.
Mears' social housing business going strong
Mears has today announced strong social housing revenues after starting eight new contracts since the start of the year.
£1.8m to tackle 'beds in sheds'
The government has announced £1.8 million of funding to help councils tackle the problem of ‘beds in sheds’.
Landlords warned of increased borrowing risks
Housing association boards need to understand the risks they are taking as raising finance becomes more challenging for the sector, a senior regulatory figure has warned.
Wakefield builds own homes
Wakefield and District Housing has become the latest landlord to embark on a self-build project using its own workforce.
Legal
Fatal Derby house fire was started with petrol
The fire in a Derby council house in which six children died was started by petrol below the letterbox in the hallway.
Housing stalwart gets policy review brief
Housing stalwart and former Inside Housing columnist Jon Cruddas is to co-ordinate Labour’s policy review.
Report questions legality of household benefit cap
The government may have broken equality laws when introducing the total household benefits cap, according to watchdog the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Judgement to force changes to benefit rules
Housing benefit rules for private rented tenants discriminate against disabled people and will have to be changed, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Mayor to decide on dog track plans
The mayor of London has until 25 May to decide whether to allow London & Quadrant to build homes on the site of a former iconic dog track.
Welsh government sets 12,500 home building goal
The Welsh government has set a target of building 12,500 new homes in the country by 2016.
G15 hits back at IDS attack on dog track plans
The chair of the G15 umbrella group has hit back at Iain Duncan Smith’s attack on a housing association for failing to include social rented homes in a proposed new development.
Supported housing reforms have 'shortcomings'
The minister in charge of welfare reform has said the proposed system for administering housing benefit for people in supported housing has ‘shortcomings’.
Housing 'left out of Queen's speech'
The Queen’s speech has provoked mixed reaction from the sector as housing was largely left out of the government’s priorities for the next parliamentary session.
Government to publish care and support bill
The Queen has announced the government’s intention to publish a draft care and support bill in the coming parliamentary session.
Care
Fatal Derby house fire was started with petrol
The fire in a Derby council house in which six children died was started by petrol below the letterbox in the hallway.
Housing stalwart gets policy review brief
Housing stalwart and former Inside Housing columnist Jon Cruddas is to co-ordinate Labour’s policy review.
Study links brain injuries with homelessness
Brain injury could be a significant risk factor for people becoming homeless, according to a charity study.
Report questions legality of household benefit cap
The government may have broken equality laws when introducing the total household benefits cap, according to watchdog the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Judgement to force changes to benefit rules
Housing benefit rules for private rented tenants discriminate against disabled people and will have to be changed, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Welfare changes could harm work programme
The Department for Work and Pensions has failed to consider the impact welfare reform will have on its flagship employment programme, according to a group of MPs.
Charity seeks help to find rough sleepers
A homelessness charity has launched a campaign to call on members of the public to help them find rough sleepers in Kent and Medway.
Mears' social housing business going strong
Mears has today announced strong social housing revenues after starting eight new contracts since the start of the year.
£1.8m to tackle 'beds in sheds'
The government has announced £1.8 million of funding to help councils tackle the problem of ‘beds in sheds’.
Win an iPad in our care and support survey
Inside Housing and Capita are offering readers the chance to win an iPad in exchange for a few minutes of your time completing our latest care and support survey.
Regulation
Accord appoints Lovell for £50m repairs contract
Midlands-based housing association Accord has awarded a £50 million repairs contract to Lovell.
Housing Heroes Award winners unveiled
The winners of the 2012 Housing Heroes Awards have been announced at a ceremony in London.
Rising Stars 2012 finalists announced
The finalists of Inside Housing and the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Rising Stars competition to find the most talented young housing professionals have been announced.
Midland Heart staff get a say
Front line staff at a midlands-based housing association could have a say in how the organisation spends its £16 million a year surplus under plans to increase employee involvement in the business.
HCA promises transparency
The new social housing regulator has pledged to be transparent, despite not holding meetings in public.
Boris hands deputy mayor role to housing advisor
Boris Johnson’s housing advisor, Rick Blakeway, has been appointed deputy mayor for housing in London.
Last chance to enter homelessness awards
Entries for this year’s Andy Ludlow Homelessness Awards must be in by noon tomorrow (10 May).
Ex-Westminster housing boss takes Camden post
Westminster Council’s former director of housing has moved over to Camden to become its new director of housing and adult social care.
Labour wins control of key councils
The Labour Party has gained control of key councils across England in local elections held yesterday.
One Support to cut wages as it loses council care contracts
More than 200 staff at one of London’s biggest housing associations face pay cuts after councils slashed care contracts worth millions of pounds.
