Shared ownership schemes ‘preferable’ to open market

Future vision

Strong political leadership and innovative policies are needed to solve our housing challenges, argues James Gregory

HCA drops £200m single agent plan

The Homes and Communities Agency has ditched plans to raise £200 million for affordable homes by creating a single agent to manage shared ownership products next year.

Building a better future

The government is making housing the cornerstone of economic recovery, says Grant Shapps

Made in China

Round two

Housing minister Grant Shapps has proposed a second round of the affordable homes programme. So are landlords financially fit enough to get back into the ring or are they on the ropes already? Carl Brown investigates

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.

Bright ideas

Elderly and disabled people don’t have to live with ugly adaptations to their homes. Katie Puckett finds out about a contest shining a light on good design

Casting the net for a home

A website aimed solely at local housing allowance claimants is helping people find homes. Lydia Stockdale logs on

Doing it themselves

Help is at hand for low-income tenants keen to follow the Highland tradition of self-building. Clare Harris reports

Efficient business

Social landlords could benefit from the renewable heat incentive if they adopt the right model, argue lawyers Kate Silverman and Stuart Urquhart