Birmingham slams ‘unfair’ rent rises

Council planning to freeze rent and service charges

The largest council landlord in England is planning a freeze on rent and service charges until 2013.

Southampton Council to break rent guidelines

A local authority hopes to take advantage of more relaxed finance regulations to break government guidelines for rent rises.

Newcastle vows to fight rent increases

Newcastle Council is expected to launch a campaign to persuade the government to limit huge rent rises for tenants across the country.

Councillors doubt HRA reform will boost building

Local authority leaders have questioned whether the dismantling of the housing revenue account subsidy system will allow councils to start building large numbers of homes.

Fair rent?

Some food for thought

Landlords should assess their level of risk as the Bribery Act comes into force, says Kirsty Thompson, solicitor at Devonshires

Beware broken promises

The Defective Premises Act may not apply to negligent building work in existing homes. Emma Wiltshire, senior associate at Clarke Willmott, explains

Acting with conviction

Squatting could soon be criminalised but awareness of current laws is crucial, says Sarah Lines, social housing lawyer at Cobbetts

Support on a shoestring

Budgets are being slashed and demand is up but, as Inside Housing and Capita’s exclusive Supporting People survey reveals, many care and support providers are maintaining services for vulnerable people. Lydia Stockdale finds out how they are doing it and if it can last.

How to...

Social landlords can play a big role in improving the energy efficiency of the nation’s homes. But they must lobby hard to ensure ministers understand that they will need support to do so, says Martin Wheatley