Social landlords win direct payments battle

OK computer?

The government has a bad reputation when it comes to implementing new IT systems. So can its plans to deliver the universal credit online work or are critics right to be concerned? Carl Brown investigates

Review of the year

What a year. From the economic doom and gloom to the summer’s riots, social landlords have had their work cut out over the past 12 months. Here, Inside Housing looks back at the highs and lows

Government names universal credit pathfinder

Welfare reforms that will see a range of benefits lumped together into a single payment are to be introduced in Greater Manchester and Cheshire six months ahead of national roll out.

Here's hoping

Dunce’s cap

What’s in a name?

The housing strategy for England has finally arrived, but what does it mean for the sector?

Not a sticking plaster

Efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour can seem like fire fighting. It’s expensive to take a more comprehensive and long-term approach by working with a single family to get to the root of their problems. But, as Tony Powell, executive director of neighbourhoods at New Charter Housing Trust, explains, the effect can be transformative.

Missing contractual targets

Housing benefit caps could put landlords providing rent collection services at financial risk says, David Isaacson, director at Cobbetts

Tenants on the move

A group of London housing associations has launched a scheme to help unemployed tenants relocate to get back into work. Alex Turner reports

Calling in the movers

The ‘bedroom tax’ is meant to encourage tenants to downsize if they are under-occupying their homes. But, especially in the north of England, social landlords say there are simply not enough smaller houses and flats to move tenants into.