No strings attached

Sector responds to Budget

Organisations from across the housing sector have responded to announcements made by the chancellor during his Budget speech.

A model of discretion

It’s his job to police all organisations that handle public data. Christopher Graham, the information commissioner, tells Simon Brandon why he’s got his eye on the housing sector. Photography by Simon Brandon

Thousands of tenants' details found on memory stick in pub

Two housing bodies breached the Data Protection Act after the details of more than 26,000 tenants – including 800 bank accounts - were discovered on an unencrypted memory stick left in a pub.

Greek tragedy

Seven steps to the green deal

As the launch of the UK’s national retrofit programme edges closer, social landlords should be ticking things off their green deal to-do list. Jess McCabe reports

Time bomb

Social landlords should beware the 18-month limit to recover service charges, says Emma Duke

Avoid a brush with the law

Should social landlords be responsible for keeping disabled tenants’ homes in good decorative order?

Keeping tenants in mind

A recent ruling means landlords of supported living schemes could be denied benefit cash, says John Wearing, partner at Anthony Collins Solicitors

Off the debt hook

Arrears are irrelevant to possession proceedings if they form part of a bankruptcy order, explains Helen Tucker, partner at Anthony Collins Solictiors

The transfer window

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