Calculate the benefits

KHT: ‘We have cut through red tape’

‘It was about removing red tape and the regulatory burden. We were finding that everything we wanted to do which was different or new we were having to wrap up in regulation. The number of hoops we needed to jump through was holding us back,’ says Bob Taylor, chief executive of Knowsley Housing Trust in Merseyside.

Happy returns

Warning over development community levy threat

Councils’ levies on new developments are being set too high to make the building of affordable housing viable, developers have warned.

Spending cuts blamed for rising benefit bill

Housing bodies have blamed swingeing government spending cuts for adding nearly £2 billion to the cost of housing benefit over the next five years.

HCA to trial self-build with five pilots and £30m fund

The Homes and Communities Agency is set to release a series of pilot land parcels for self-build projects as part of a government push on the low-cost development model.

A charitable case for relief

Exemptions from CIL are available but it’s advisable to check the details, says Mark Burrows, associate at Penningtons Solicitors

Efficient business

Social landlords could benefit from the renewable heat incentive if they adopt the right model, argue lawyers Kate Silverman and Stuart Urquhart

Avoid the levy

Social landlords should be exempt from paying the community infrastructure levy, but they must be vigilant, says Karen Howe

Tax break

Landlords can have their say on a new levy which could increase affordable housing provision, says Katherine Evans

Zero in on tax rules

Landlords can still use subsidiaries to receive VAT benefits but they must seek proper legal advice, say Richard Brooks and Victoria Jardine