In the hot seat

Rising to the occasion

She beat stiff opposition to be crowned Inside Housing and the Chartered Institute of Housing’s first ever Rising Star. Here Carla Keegans turns the tables on the CIH by grilling its chiefs on everything from membership fees to how to make people care about housing.

Greek tragedy

Alive and kicking

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.

Swap cash calls put development at risk

Housing associations may put development plans on hold for years as they are forced to use their homes as security to ensure they don’t default on complicated loan agreements.

Get your Act together

With a host of legal acts coming into effect this year and next, Caroline Thorpe helps you to learn your lines so you can take to the housing stage with confidence

Wind of change

A host of new laws are set to change the landscape for Welsh social landlords. Michael Northcott reports

The transfer window

Be aware of employees’ rights when a change of service provision occurs, warns Marc Long, partner at Clarke Willmott

Avoid the levy

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

Scare tactics

Landlords must take statutory demands seriously but they are often inappropriately used, says Anna-Liisa Walden