Minister chosen to lead localism drive

Older people told to run own services

Groups of vulnerable older people should take over the running of their sheltered housing schemes if they don’t want their resident wardens axed, according to the decentralisation minister.

Late kick-off

Planning first target for new housing minister

The new shadow housing minister has slammed the government’s handling of planning reform in his first week in the job.

Lords call for reduction of Localism Bill

Peers have called on ministers to reduce the Localism Bill to make it easier for communities to take on more planning powers.

Coalition ministers split over green initiative

A rift has opened up between ministers at the helm of the Communities and Local Government department over plans to require households to carry out energy-efficiency work if they extend their home.

Fielding opposition

Proposed legislation on registration of village greens would reduce risk to developers. Eollyn Ives, solicitor in the property team at Devonshires Solicitors, explains

Stuck in the mud

Despite the Localism Act being passed, the role LEPs can play in housing remains uncertain, says Liz Jenkins, partner, and Laura Coates, trainee, at Clyde & Co

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

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

Beating the solar deadline

Landlords have a limited time to cash in as subsidy switches from big to small-scale solar panel schemes. Laurence Lacey, associate at Clarke Willmott, explains