The changing of the guard

Licence to regulate

She aspired to be James Bond but there’s nothing top secret about the way Kay Blair plans to regulate social landlords in Scotland. Martin Hilditch kicks off our special issue by arranging a rendez-vous with the chair of the new housing watchdog

Tales of the inspected

In his speech in June last year to the Chartered Institute of Housing’s annual conference, the housing minister pledged to ‘cut out unnecessary inspection’ and instead promote ‘tenant empowerment’ through tenant scrutiny panels.

What's missing?

Working it out

Landlords must sweat their assets if they are to get best value from their housing stock but, as Gavriel Hollander learns from a round table of industry experts, there’s more than one way for providers to get financially fit for the future

Regulations promote controversial repairs scheme

Landlords have accused the government of using new regulations to implement a controversial housing policy through the back door.

Some food for thought

Landlords should assess their level of risk as the Bribery Act comes into force, says Kirsty Thompson, solicitor at Devonshires

Weather any storms

New guidelines will help landlords comply with the Human Rights Act, says Nnenna Morah, senior associate in the social housing team at Lewis Silkin

Getting up to speed

With little progress on calls for an exemption, developing social landlords need to be aware of new procurement rules, says Bill Hull

Avoid a brush with the law

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

Time to focus

Associations should prepare for freedom of information requests and greater transparency