Sheltered residents: ‘bring wardens back’

Float or sink?

Solicitor wins legal aid review in battle to save resident wardens

A solicitor campaigning to keep resident wardens in sheltered housing schemes has won the right to appeal a decision to deny her firm legal aid funding.

Fears welfare reforms will increase fast-track evictions

Landlords will fast-track possession claims using ‘draconian’ legal measures to defend their businesses against the impact of welfare reform, the government was warned this week.

Stondonfield social housing development

Stondonfield is a contractor led social housing scheme whereby Collins and Beckett found the site and put together a complete package for the end client. It took a couple of years to get the project through planning due to objections by the local parish council that the land was outside allowed development areas. Permission was finally granted due to the existence of a local housing shortage.

Peer pressure

The government’s welfare reforms faced a fierce opponent in Lord Richard Best as he battled to protect society’s poorest people. Carl Brown meets the staunch housing advocate to find out what drives him and what’s next on his agenda

Unlocking funds to build

Associations must work carefully to secure their development grant, says Gillian Bastow, partner at Lewis Silkin

Support on a shoestring

Budgets are being slashed and demand is up but, as Inside Housing and Capita’s exclusive Supporting People survey reveals, many care and support providers are maintaining services for vulnerable people. Lydia Stockdale finds out how they are doing it and if it can last.

Make plans crystal clear

Landlords face needless court action if they fail to consult tenants properly, says Robert Wassall, head of social housing at Blake Lapthorn

Health check

Can living in an energy-efficient home improve residents’ well-being? Gentoo’s latest retrofit pilot aims to find out. Martin Hilditch reports

New criteria

A Court of Appeal ruling has defined what constitutes sheltered accommodation, says Robert Wassall