The Week in Housing: arrests made in SFO probe, MPs call for mandatory TA inspections, and survey reveals anti-immigration misinformation

The call for a better inspection regime came as the impact of Awaab’s Law was being further seen across the sector, with landlords reporting an increase in emergency hazards according to the latest Housemark data.

In further worrying news for those unable to find secure housing, it was revealed that rising numbers of care leavers died in the last financial year, with these groups facing an increased risk of homelessness and a lack of support from social workers. In response, the government described the findings as “horrifying” and launched a review into support for care leavers.

Meanwhile, new research has revealed that the use of illegal – or unregistered – children’s homes has grown by nearly four times in the past four years, in a further sign that local authority resources are coming under pressure.

Exclusive research from Inside Housing revealed the true scale of misinformation related to immigration and social housing allocations, and the toll it is taking on staff and tenants. More than two-thirds of staff said they had encountered factually inaccurate information.

Almost a year after the consultation on supported housing regulation closed, the sector finally has some clarity on how the new licensing regime will be implemented. Inside Housing has five key takeaways from the government’s response.

On the development front, Homes England struck a deal with house builder Vistry to build 1,000 new homes in Cambridgeshire, while Abri laid out its plans to build 20,000 homes over the next decade. And in the Midlands, Platform Housing Group recorded its highest new home completion figures in five years.

Community Housing Cymru called on the next government to launch a National Development Corporation for Wales ahead of the Senedd election next month.

In its latest trading update, house builder Crest Nicholson revealed it is in discussions with lenders to relax its covenants as a result of economic uncertainty.

It was all change at the Regulator of Social Housing, with long-standing deputy chief executive Jonathan Walters promoted to the top job.

And it wasn’t long until the government came calling, with housing secretary Steve Reed urging the regulator to look at what it could do to help boost new housing supply.

Inside Housing revealed that shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly has been given notice to quit his private rented home because of the upcoming Renters’ Rights Act.

In Scotland, three landlords clubbed together to improve their repairs service by appointing the same contractor on a five-year contract.

Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, a £30m package was agreed to support residents who rely on heating oil, in the face of rising bills.

The Housing Ombudsman has set out an increase in membership fees per home, from just over £8 to £9.64, an increase of more than 20%.

With the Building Safety Regulator’s Remediation Improvement Plan aiming to get remediation projects moving through its system faster, and fix its long-standing problem with delays, we examine whether these changes will do the job.

And in sad news, the sector paid tribute to one of its legal leading lights in the form of Giles Peaker, a campaigning lawyer who was described as “instrumental” in the implementation of the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.

Gavriel Hollander, deputy news editor (maternity cover), Inside Housing

Say hello: gavriel.hollander@insidehousing.co.uk

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