Consultation is ‘too late’

At crisis point

As waiting lists get longer, councils are increasingly dependent on emergency accommodation to house people. But as one tenant tells Carl Brown, life can be hell for the residents.

Homeless could live in boats and caravans

English councils will be allowed to house homeless people in caravans and houseboats from next year, the Communities and Local Government department has said.

The green building dream

Back in 2007 David Cameron had just started his march to power, Lady Gaga was finishing off her breakthrough album and, in the housing world, eco-towns were the next big thing.

Right out of left Field

Frank Field is a Labour MP with right-wing views. He’s also the coalition’s poverty czar. Here Lydia Stockdale finds out what he thinks of its housing benefit reforms

Late kick-off

Digital age

In the last of this week’s Focus pieces on digital inclusion we take a look at work helping older people get online

Power to the people

A series of training programmes held across the country have been teaching tenants how to scrutinise their landlords. Helen Clifton finds out if it is working

Get some expert advice

Every week Inside Housing’s Need to Know section brings you best practice advice and information on the subjects most concerning you. Free with today’s magazine is the first ever Need to Know supplement. Here our Ask the Experts panel answer some of the key questions it raises

Colour charts

As voters across England, Scotland and Wales prepare to go to the polls, we assess the key battlegrounds for housing

Unlocking the green code

Green leases are becoming more common for social landlords with commercial property, says Ben Halsey, senior associate at Lewis Silkin