Older people with high support needs in housing with care
21 May 13 - Joseph Rowntree Foundation | England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Wales
Covers key messages and practice examples.
Sharp rise in B&B spending as homelessness crisis intensifies
21 May 13 - Bureau of Investigative Journalism (The) | England
News article: shows that local authorities in 12 of the UK's largest cities spent over £91 million in 2012 placing their homeless, many of whom are families, in bed and breakfast accommodation. This represented a 58% rise in four years.
Affordable homes scheme goes from strength to strength
21 May 13 - Scottish Government | Scotland
News article: in response to the demand for more from councils and developers, a further procurement round of a ground-breaking scheme – which is already delivering over 1000 new affordable homes across Scotland – has been launched.
Minutes of the ministerial working group on preventing and tackling homelessness
21 May 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | England
Resident satisfaction remains high despite financial pressures
21 May 13 - Local Government Association | England
News article: residents continue to trust their local council and remain satisfied with their performance and delivery of services despite local authorities managing tough financial pressures.
How to... support tenants in drugs recovery
21 May 13 - Chartered Institute of Housing | England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Wales
Looks at how non specialist organisations can provide support in partnership with other agencies, and the benefits for their business and local communities as well as tenants.
Renting Homes White Paper
20 May 13 - Welsh Government | Wales
Sets out, for public consultation, the Welsh Government's proposals to improve the arrangements for renting a home in Wales.
Average earners priced out
20 May 13 - G15 | England
News article: just 2.5% of homes for sale in London are affordable for average earners.
Growing up renting: a childhood spent in private rented homes
20 May 13 - Shelter | England
A wide range of facts and figures...
EU structural funds 2014-2020
20 May 13 - National Housing Federation | England
Opportunities for Local Enterprise Partnerships to invest in green economy through retro-fitting social housing.
Eliminating the worst element of private renting: rogue landlords
17 May 13 - Chartered Institute of Housing | England
Blog article: Martha Mackenzie, Stakeholder Relations Assistant at Shelter, introduces the 'Evict rogue landlords' campaign.
Fresh help for house buyers
17 May 13 - Scottish Government | Scotland
News article: people across Scotland are to be helped on to the housing ladder with a £120 million funding boost announced by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Statistical Release: Fuel Poverty, England and the UK 2011
16 May 13 - Department of Energy and Climate Change | All
A range of findings including, 'The number of fuel poor households in England, under the 10 per cent measure, fell to 3.2m in 2011, from 3.5m in 2010. In the UK, fuel poverty fell from 4.75m households in 2010 to 4.5m in 2011.'
Direct Payment projects extended for 6 months
16 May 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | England, Wales
News article: the Universal Credit direct payment demonstration projects will be extended for a further 6 months.
Direct Payment Demonstration Project: Learning and Payment figures
16 May 13 - Department for Work and Pensions | England, Wales
Covers background and feedback from the Direct Payment Demonstration Projects running in six areas across Great Britain, covering the first nine payments of housing benefit directly to tenants.
Centre for Social Impact Bonds: new tools launched
16 May 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | England
Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) allow public bodies to apply for funds to drive forward projects. Up-front money is made available to successful bidders, but further funding depends on measuring / reporting on social outcomes, thereby attracting more investment.
House building in England: January to March 2013
16 May 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | England
A range of findings: for example, 'seasonally adjusted house building starts in England are estimated at 27,370 in the March quarter 2013, 4% higher than the previous quarter'.
Guidelines published for £90m regeneration funding pot
16 May 13 - Welsh Local Government Association | Wales
Regeneration Minister, Carl Sargeant has published guidance for applicants seeking a share of up to £90 million that will be available over the next three years from the Welsh Government’s new regeneration framework, Vibrant and Viable Places.
Gypsy and traveller caravan count: January 2013
16 May 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | England
Data from the twice-yearly count of gypsy and traveller caravans in England which took place in January 2013.
Right to Buy sales in England: 2012 to 2013, quarter 4
16 May 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | England
Official statistics on the number of sales of dwellings under the Right to Buy scheme.
Working and workless households, 4th Quarter 2004 to 2012
15 May 13 - Office for National Statistics | England, Scotland, Wales
This Statistical Bulletin provides information about households and the adults and children living in them, by household economic activity status.
Internet Access Quarterly Update, 2013 Q1
15 May 13 - Office for National Statistics | England, Scotland, Wales
Figures looking at the demographics of internet access.
Commission intervenes in judicial review of new housing benefit regulations
15 May 13 - Equality and Human Rights Commission | England
The Equality and Human Rights Commission will intervene in a judicial review at the High Court involving 'MA and others' who fear losing their homes as a result of new housing benefit regulations.
How to Complain - Easy Read Leaflet
15 May 13 - Scottish Public Services Ombudsman | Scotland
Advice on how to complain in an easy to read format.
Advice Services Review: final research report
15 May 13 - Welsh Government | Wales
A research report covering a review into Not for Profit (NFP) Advice Services, triggered by the pressures they are facing given reduction in their funding, alongside the rising demand for advice in the current economic climate.
Rural Housing Week 2013
15 May 13 - Community Housing Cymru Group | Wales
Rural Housing Week will take place across Wales from the week commencing 20 May 2013.
Briefing on HCA discussion paper: 'Protecting social housing assets in a more diverse sector'
15 May 13 - Homes and Communities Agency | England
Provides a summary of the HCA’s paper on regulation, along with the Federation’s initial view.
Planning for Housing
15 May 13 - United Kingdom Parliament | England
Sets out how local authorities plan for housing and Government planning policies to try to encourage more homes to be built.
Housing Benefit caseload figures: May 2013
15 May 13 - Department for Work and Pensions | England, Scotland, Wales
A range of findings, including that there were 5.6 million working age benefit claimants at November 2012: a decrease of 141 thousand in the year to November 2012.
Taking care of housing
15 May 13 - Homes and Communities Agency | England
In the run-up to Dementia Awareness Week, HCA Executive Director Colin Molton explains the ways in which the Agency is engaging on the pressing issue of dementia and housing for older people.
Revised guidance issued on disposal of social housing assets
14 May 13 - Homes and Communities Agency | England
A revised version of Disposing of Land - the Regulator's main guidance on consent to disposals of social housing dwellings and other land.
76% of Scottish benefit claimants struggle with internet use
14 May 13 - Citizens Advice Scotland | Scotland
News article: over three quarters of Scottish benefit claimants say they will struggle with new rules forcing them to apply for their benefits online, and so may lose their only source of income as a result.
Offline and left behind
14 May 13 - Citizens Advice Scotland | Scotland
This report shows that the majority of Scottish CAB clients who are on benefits would struggle to apply for benefits or jobs online, and that they face a number of barriers to accessing and using the internet.
Renters' health at risk
14 May 13 - Shelter | England
News article: according to reasearch from Shelter, one in nine renters says their health has been affected by their landlord's failure to carry out repairs or deal with poor conditions in their home.
Local Government Performance Improvement Framework 2012-13
14 May 13 - Data Unit Wales | Wales
This guidance for local authorities includes housing performance indicators relating to:
- Homelessness and Housing Advice
- Private Sector Renewal
- Energy Efficiency
- Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
Impact of changes to housing benefit in Wales
14 May 13 - United Kingdom Parliament | Wales
The Welsh Affairs Committee has examined the issue of under-occupancy and the findings of the pilot project run by Bron Afon Community Housing on the direct payment of the housing element of Universal Credit to social housing tenants, due to come into effect nationally in October 2013.
Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO): monthly statistics (May 2013)
14 May 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | England, Scotland, Wales
Summary figures on the number of Green Deal assessments, etc.
Tales from the front line: getting tough on rogue landlords
14 May 13 - Shelter | England
A blog article by Shelter's Martha Mackenzie.
Housing and care in Northern Ireland
14 May 13 - Chartered Institute of Housing in Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland
Reflections on the role of housing in supporting independent living.
Working families receiving benefits
14 May 13 - New Policy Institute | All
Looks at the numbers of working families receiving different types of benefits, and the characteristics of these families.
Nowhere to move
14 May 13 - Homeless Link | England
Reveals that just 5.5 per cent of properties in the capital are affordable to claimants.
A Rising Star's top tips for communicating effectively with young people
13 May 13 - Chartered Institute of Housing | England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Wales
Catherine Attenborough, one of this year’s Rising Stars finalists, shares what she’s learned about communicating effectively with this age group during the competition.
Troubled Families: progress information on the number of families worked with in year 1
13 May 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | England
These figures are provided by local authorities and capture the progress they have made on the troubled families programme.
More free legal help in court for people facing repossession or eviction
13 May 13 - Scottish Federation of Housing Associations | Scotland
News article: people in Scotland facing a court battle to save their home have two new housing law champions to help them in their fight against repossession or eviction.
£1 million funding will boost rent options for single homeless people
13 May 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | England
Communities Minister Don Foster has announced a cash boost of up to £1 million to support single homeless people and help them find a safe and secure homes in privately rented accommodation.
Monitoring the impact of changes to the Local Housing Allowance system of Housing Benefit: Interim report
13 May 13 - Department for Work and Pensions | All
This Interim Report forms part of the Department’s comprehensive independent review in evaluating the impact of changes to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) system of Housing Benefit (HB), which were introduced from April 2011.
£10 million funding for hospital aftercare for the homeless
13 May 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | England
Homeless people are to receive better help once they leave hospital thanks to £10 million funding, announced Public Health Minister Anna Soubry.
146 new projects to help Wales’ most vulnerable families to be created
13 May 13 - Welsh Government | Wales
The Welsh Government is to create a further 146 projects that support families in some of Wales’ most deprived areas.
TEG Ten years of innovation and diversity
13 May 13 - Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru | Wales
The second innovation and diversity report on the Tenant Empowerment Grant - TEG - programme which since 2003 has made available over 1.3 million pounds to 172 groups from all parts of Wales.
Welsh pensioners cut back on heating and eating
10 May 13 - Age Cymru | Wales
News article: rising living costs have seen more pensioners in Wales cutting back on heating and eating than anywhere else in Britain.
CIH urges imagination and integration when building a united community
10 May 13 - Chartered Institute of Housing in Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland
News article: the Chartered Institute of Housing has given a cautious welcome to an announcement from the First Minister and deputy First Minister on 'Building a United Community'.
Growing Places Fund survey: an analysis of results
10 May 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | England
Analysis of the results provided by all 39 local enterprise partnerships in England in December 2012 on their use of the Growing Places Fund.
eflash no. 504 - Lambeth LBC v Loveridge
10 May 13 - Arden Chambers | England
The Court of Appeal has held that, when calculating statutory damages under s.28, Housing Act 1988 in a case of unlawful eviction by a local authority, the valuation exercise must proceed on the basis that any sale of the landlord’s interest would result in the tenant becoming an assured tenant, rather than remaining a secure tenant.
LGA Spending Round submission
09 May 13 - Local Government Association | England
In advance of the Government's announcement on 26 June, the LGA has submitted to the Treasury and other central government departments a final submission to the 2015/16 Spending Round. Housing forms part of this.
Fraud and Error in the Benefit System: Preliminary 2012/13 Estimates (Great Britain)
09 May 13 - Department for Work and Pensions | England, Scotland, Wales
Presents the preliminary 2012/13 estimates of total overpayments and underpayments across the benefit system in Great Britain. This release also covers individual preliminary estimates for Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit and Housing Benefit for 2012/13.
Anti-social behaviour, policing and crime measures unveiled
09 May 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | All
The government has introduced new legislation to tackle anti-social behaviour, criminalise forced marriage and reform the police.
New measures to breathe life into empty buildings and boost growth
09 May 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | England
The DCLG writes, 'The changes will bring buildings back to life by reducing costs, cutting bureaucracy and making it easier to change them to other uses.'
Allocating social housing (England) - Commons Library Note
09 May 13 - United Kingdom Parliament | England
The Government issued new statutory guidance, Allocation of accommodation: Guidance for local housing authorities in England in June 2012. Authorities are obliged to have regard to this guidance when devising and implementing their schemes.
WLGA urges caution in UK public spending review
09 May 13 - Welsh Local Government Association | Wales
The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) has supported calls for caution over local government funding within the UK Government’s 2015-16 public spending review.
VOPAG further strengthened by appointment of Jon Rouse
08 May 13 - Homes and Communities Agency | England
News article: Jon Rouse, Director General, Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnerships at the Department of Health, is the final member to be appointed to the HCA’s Vulnerable and Older People Advisory Group (VOPAG).
Minister welcomes £30m boost for housing
08 May 13 - Welsh Government | Wales
Housing Minister, Carl Sargeant has welcomed a £30m boost to funding for affordable housing in Wales.
Welfare cuts to hit some of Wales' poorest communities
08 May 13 - Welsh Government | Wales
Assembly Members have been told that changes to welfare could take £1 billion out of the Welsh economy with the South Wales Valleys feeling the biggest impact.
CIH welcomes care and anti-social behaviour Bills
08 May 13 - Chartered Institute of Housing | England
The Chartered Institute of Housing welcomes the introduction of the Care Bill and Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill outlined in the Queen’s Speech.
Minister challenges councils to find land for self-builders
07 May 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | England
A government minister challenged councils to step-up to help boost housebuilding by finding land for local people to build their ‘Grand Design’.
"£76.5m infrastructure boost to create jobs and growth" – Jane Hutt
07 May 13 - Welsh Government | Wales
News article: a £76.5m funding package for housing, schools, flood protection and transport will support around 1,400 jobs and boost economic growth, said Finance Minister Jane Hutt.
Council Tax: empty homes premium
07 May 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | England
Guidance issued to help authorities in the decision making process for administering the empty homes premium.
IFS expect major surge in child poverty this decade
07 May 13 - Child Poverty Action Group | All
A report from the Institue for Fiscal Studies has predicted that in the current decade to 2020 relative child poverty will increase by 34 per cent and absolute child poverty will increase by 55 per cent.
Changes needed to 21st Century house design
07 May 13 - NHBC Foundation | All
A guide advising that a fundamental review of housing design is needed if the UK is to produce successful low carbon homes of the future.
The New Homes Bonus Scheme - Commons Library Note
07 May 13 - United Kingdom Parliament | England
Provides background and comment on the scheme.
The housing revenue account self-financing determinations
03 May 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | England
The final 5 determinations for implementing self-financing for council housing.
Cost of home ownership and renting soars
03 May 13 - Chartered Institute of Housing | England
News article: the cost of buying a home in England has soared by more than 70 per cent in the last decade. Meanwhile the cost of renting has jumped by almost a third, according to research from the Chartered Institute of Housing.
£400m funding boost for affordable homes in Wales by 2016
03 May 13 - Welsh Government | Wales
A £400m funding boost to increase the supply of housing in Wales will help realise the Welsh Government’s ambitious plans to deliver 7,500 new affordable homes by 2016, Finance Minister Jane Hutt announced.
Communities say ‘yes’ to locally led housebuilding
03 May 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | England
Plans by local people to boost housebuilding in their areas were approved when communities in 2 towns voted ‘yes’ for their neighbourhood plan.
CIH's AGM letter from chair and chief executive
03 May 13 - Chartered Institute of Housing | England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Wales
An update from CIH to its members.
CIH consultancy and HouseMark appointed managing agent for ALMOs trade body
03 May 13 - Chartered Institute of Housing | England
News article: CIH consultancy and HouseMark are now the managing agents for the National Federation of ALMOs (NFA).
Grant applications invited to set up new housing options advice and information services
03 May 13 - Foundations | England
The Department for Communities and Local Government has confirmed continued funding for EAC FirstStop, the national housing and care advice and information service for older people, plus additional money to fund around 15 new local partnership housing options services.
Charity Commission (NI), Public Benefit Guidance: response to consultation
03 May 13 - Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations | Northern Ireland
A detailed reply to a public consultation.
£6 million renewable heat scheme for social landlords
02 May 13 - Department of Energy and Climate Change | England
A new £6 million competition aimed at getting renewable heating kit into the homes of social tenants across Great Britain has been launched by the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
Dementia: finding housing solutions
02 May 13 - National Housing Federation | England
This report shows for the first time how good adapted housing can play a crucial role in supporting people living with dementia.
Biomass Framework for Scottish RSLs and housing associations
02 May 13 - Scottish Government | Scotland
News article: the Scottish Government has established a Framework agreement to help Registered Social Landlords and Housing Associations install and / or run biomass heating.
Delivering housing, health and care outcomes
02 May 13 - Chartered Institute of Housing | England
The report by CIH and Tunstall Healthcare addresses how redesigned housing solutions can improve health and wellbeing, with particular emphasis on the role of assistive technology.
Welfare reform mapping report
02 May 13 - Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations | Scotland
Covering Scotland this incorporates evidence from around 400 people across the third sector on how welfare changes are affecting their organisations.
Housing associations building our future
02 May 13 - Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations | Northern Ireland
News article: in Northern Ireland a total of 2,336 new starts were delivered in 2012-13, keeping the Programme for Government target firmly on track and realising an overall investment of £197 million.
New president confirmed for Chartered Institute of Housing
01 May 13 - Chartered Institute of Housing | England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Wales
News article: Paul Tennant has been confirmed as President of the Chartered Institute of Housing following the organisation’s Annual General Meeting.
Three new directors to join the Chartered Institute of Housing
01 May 13 - Chartered Institute of Housing | England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Wales
Three new directors have been appointed at the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Regulators must take action on payday loan firms, Minister warns
01 May 13 - Welsh Government | Wales
News article: Wales' Minister for Tackling Poverty, Huw Lewis, has called on UK regulators to take action against payday loan firms whose sharp business practices can trap people in a spiral of debt.
WLGA Consultation Response: Legislation to end violence against women and domestic abuse
01 May 13 - Welsh Local Government Association | Wales
The WLGA's written response to the Welsh Government's White Paper consultation.
Volatile rental market is damaging childhoods
01 May 13 - Shelter | England
Shelter’s new report has uncovered the damaging impact of a childhood spent in England’s volatile private rental market.
Universal Credit: change of circumstances affecting Housing Benefit
30 Apr 13 - Department for Work and Pensions | England, Scotland, Wales
This circular is produced to guide local authority Housing Benefit staff through the actions to take if a Universal Credit claimant and a HB claimant have a change of circumstance that requires the closure of an HB claim.
Millions to boost disadvantaged communities
30 Apr 13 - Scottish Government | Scotland
News article: A £25 million fund will help to transform disadvantaged areas across Scotland, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and COSLA President Councillor David O’Neill announced.
Help SFHA Respond to Bedroom Tax Review by DWP Ministers
29 Apr 13 - Scottish Federation of Housing Associations | Scotland
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations wants to gather initial evidence on how housing associations and their tenants are coping as under occupation deductions come into effect.
Evaluation of Getting on Together: The Community Cohesion Strategy for Wales
29 Apr 13 - Welsh Government | Wales
Details findings to emerge from a two year evaluation of the delivery and impact of the strategy.
"More efficient" homelessness Sector grows by 16%
29 Apr 13 - London Housing Foundation | England
A report published by the London Housing Foundation shows that the turnover of agencies working in the homelessness sector in London has grown by 16% over the last four years.
New Homes Bonus: grant determination 2013 to 2014
29 Apr 13 - Department for Communities and Local Government | England
Shows how much New Homes Bonus grant DCLG will pay to each local authority in England in 2013 to 2014.
Universal credits will lead to an average increase in rent arrears of £180, says law firm Winckworth Sherwood
29 Apr 13 - Winckworth Sherwood | England, Scotland, Wales
News article: Law firm Winckworth Sherwood - whose clients include over 200 social housing providers, housebuilders and funders – has expressed concern that a move to one monthly payment will see a significant increase in rent arrears as tenants in social housing struggle to adjust.
Should I stay or should I go?
29 Apr 13 - Chartered Institute of Housing | England
News article: Julie Nicholas, policy and public affairs manager at CIH Cymru, takes a sideways look at the challenges of housing older people by way of Australian bush-fires.
'Britain needs to build its way to recovery'
29 Apr 13 - ConservativeHome | England, Scotland, Wales
A blog article on ConservativeHome states, '0.3 per cent GDP growth in the first quarter of this year was better than many people expected. But it would have been better still if the construction sector hadn’t done so badly, contracting by 2.5 per cent...'
Cap in hand? The impact of Welfare Reform on disabled people in Wales
29 Apr 13 - Disability Wales | Wales
A report detailing the impact of Welfare Reform on disabled people in Wales.
LGO welcomes independent confirmation that it is a fair and effective Ombudsman
29 Apr 13 - Local Government Ombudsman | England
News article: an independent external evaluation of the Local Government Ombudsman confirms that the LGO is independent and accountable.
Scottish Housing Regulator: Equalities Statement 2013 - 2015
29 Apr 13 - Scottish Housing Regulator | Scotland
Sets out how the Regulator goes about promoting equality.