Associations’ debt capacity drops £900m

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The road ahead

It’s been a long journey down the yellow brick road, but from 1 April a new housing regulator will focus largely on English housing associations’ economic activity. Keith Cooper investigates what this change in policy direction means for the sector.

Associations’ spare cash soars towards £1bn mark

Housing associations have seen their average surpluses increase by 33 per cent in 2010/11 as the total across the sector heads toward the £1 billion mark.

Landlords join up to avoid ‘bedroom tax’

Landlords across Merseyside are launching a region-wide home swap scheme in a bid to protect their tenants and rental income from the impact of the government’s ‘bedroom tax’.

Organised chaos

Going spare

The government’s contentious ‘bedroom tax’ on under-occupying tenants is set to become law this month. Alex Turner looks at the disproportionate effect it’s likely to have in the north

The home MOT test

A Dutch landlord is reducing maintenance costs by giving its homes regular check-ups. Chloë Stothart finds out how it works

Scrapheap challenge

The price of metal has risen sky high making pipes, railings and even boilers an irresistible target to thieves. Chloë Stothart finds out how one housing association is tackling the growing problem of metal theft

We mean business

Landlords can boost revenues and put something back into the community by setting up a social enterprise, as Anita Pati finds out

From riches to rags and back

A Welsh landlord took on an ambitious project to refurbish a derelict Grade II listed mansion. Katie Puckett finds out how they managed to bring it back into use