Housing


Fire safety in high-rise buildings to be reformed in Wales 21/05/2019 The Welsh Government has announced it will reform the system regulating fire safety in high-rise buildings.
Firefighters blast Government for ‘complacency’ after the Grenfell fire 21/05/2019 The Government has done nothing to ‘adequately prepare’ fire and rescue services for another Grenfell-type fire, a firefighter union has warned.
Greater Exeter to build 20,000 new homes in garden scheme 16/05/2019 The Government has announced its support for a garden scheme which will see tens of thousands of new homes built in Devon.
Substandard wall insulation found in Northern Ireland's social housing 16/05/2019 Nearly two-thirds of cavity wall insulation in Northern Ireland’s social housing stock fails to comply with current standards, new research has revealed.
Councils sell more than 200 sites to community led housing groups 16/05/2019 A third of councils in England are supporting community led housing development in a bid to tackle the housing shortage, new research has revealed.
Most councils warn benefit freeze will make more people homeless 15/05/2019 Nine out of 10 councils believe the housing benefit freeze will push more people into homelessness, a new survey has revealed.
Housing policy putting young women at risk, study warns 14/05/2019 Young women are being forced into unsafe housing due to the government’s housing benefit policy, a new study has concluded.
How councils can improve support for independent living 14/05/2019 Paul Smith outlines his five top tips on how councils can improve the outcomes for disabled people living in their area.
Pledge to end 'postcode lottery' for domestic abuse victims 13/05/2019 Councils will be legally required to provide safe housing for survivors of domestic abuse under new measures announced today.
London council budgets slashed 17% over last decade 13/05/2019 London’s local authority budgets have dropped by nearly a fifth – or 17% – per head over the last eight years, a new study has revealed.
Malthouse launches £8.5m to support neighbourhood plans 13/05/2019 Minister of state for housing Kit Malthouse launched a multi-million pound fund at the weekend to help voluntary groups deliver thousands of discounted homes.
Deal signed to deliver 3,000 new homes in Nottinghamshire 09/05/2019 Rushcliffe Borough Council has welcomed a new deal that will see thousands of new homes delivered in Nottinghamshire.
UK needs £1bn a year to combat flood threat 09/05/2019 A long-term strategy to ensure infrastructure is resilient to flooding and coastal change by 2050 has been unveiled today by the Environment Agency.
Housing benefits should be ‘at least’ 30% of market rates, London Councils says 09/05/2019 London boroughs have called on Whitehall to lift the Local Housing Allowance to at least 30% of local market rates for private sector accommodation to help ease the pressure on councils.
Council accreditation scheme ‘discriminatory’, landlords say 09/05/2019 A landlord accreditation scheme in Oxford is ‘discriminatory and unlawful’, a landlord association has claimed.
Whitehall launches £200m fund to replace unsafe cladding 09/05/2019 The Government has launched a £200m fund to help remove and replace unsafe cladding on privately owned high-rise buildings after campaigners raise awareness of the issue.
Burnham urges Whitehall to declare ‘homelessness emergency’ 08/05/2019 The Mayor of Greater Manchester has called on the Government to declare a ‘homelessness emergency’.
New housing should meet 10 safety principles, planners say 03/05/2019 Planners have called for new legislation that would help tackle concerns over poor-quality housing.
Councils should ‘invest to save’ by supporting local regeneration schemes 02/05/2019 Local authorities should support community-based neighbourhood regeneration approaches to help bring empty homes back into use.
Research finds 'legal aid deserts' across the country 29/04/2019 More than half of councils in England and Wales have no housing legal aid providers in their area, research has revealed.
Council to push ahead with £2m scheme to renovate ‘dilapidated’ flats 25/04/2019 Great Yarmouth council is to go ahead with a scheme to buy up dilapidated flats and bed sits and renovate them for sale or rent.
Unjust enrichment? 23/04/2019 Housing authorities should take care when relying upon valuations that will feed into section 125 notices, says Amy Rogers, of the disputes team at Cripps.
London council signs a £44.6m partnership to build new homes 17/04/2019 Croydon Council has signed up to a multi-million pound partnership with Legal & General in order to deliver over 160 new homes.
Modular homes to be developed for homeless families in London 16/04/2019 Temporary modular homes are to be developed for homeless families in the capital following a £11m investment by mayor Sadiq Khan.
Unfair evictions to be banned under new proposals 15/04/2019 The Government has outlined plans to abolish short notice and unfair evictions for private renters in England.
New guidance for enforcement officers faced with rogue landlords 09/04/2019 The housing minister has announced that two new guidance documents are now available to help local authorities crack down on rogue landlords.
ALMOs unable to replace 31% of Right to Buy sales in 2018 05/04/2019 Local authority housing companies were unable to replace 31% of properties sold under Right to Buy, a new survey has revealed.
Homeownership schemes failing ‘less well off’ 04/04/2019 The Government’s homeownership schemes are failing those on low and middle incomes, according to a provider of affordable rent to buy homes.
Housing experts call for more regulation on Airbnb-style lets 04/04/2019 The Chartered Institute of Housing has called for regulation of Airbnb-style short-term lets to prevent the loss of private rented homes.
Taunton Deane to build 230 new homes 29/03/2019 Councillors in Taunton Deane yesterday approved plans to build up to 230 new homes.
‘Suspend’ costly Right to Buy scheme, housing body says 29/03/2019 Right to Buy is ‘reducing’ the number of affordable homes available at a time when homelessness is on the rise, warns Chartered Institute of Housing.
Half of British babies born in rented accommodation 29/03/2019 More babies are being born to parents living in insecure private sector rented accommodation, new research shows.
Councils failing to use powers for rent repayment orders, landords warns 28/03/2019 Councils are failing to use new powers to force bad landlords to pay back rent, the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) have warned.
Bankrolling empty properties 28/03/2019 Danny Curran says the Government is sitting on hundreds of empty dwellings while leaving local councils with the bill of maintenance.
Council gives plan to deliver nearly 20,000 homes the go-ahead 27/03/2019 A 20-year plan to deliver homes, jobs, transport infrastructure and community facilities for Warrington has been given the thumbs-up.
Funding for five new garden towns 26/03/2019 Five new garden towns will receive a share of £3.7m to provide up to 64,000 new homes.
Airspace development - the way up for affordable housing? 26/03/2019 Deborah Rowntree explores how airspace development can revolutionise affordable housing.
Councils 'struggling to cope' with Homelessness Reduction Act 25/03/2019 A year after the Government took radical steps to reduce homelessness councils are warning they lack the resources to cope with a rising tide of people needing somewhere to live.
A million homes could be built on brownfield land 25/03/2019 More than a million new homes could be built on brownfield land, according to new research by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).
Whitehall lends partnership over £7m for Birmingham development 21/03/2019 The Government has agreed to a £7.45m loan in order to kick start the development of a brownfield site in Birmingham city centre.
Basildon secures £30m housing funding boost 19/03/2019 More than 760 new homes are set to be built in Basildon following a £30m funding boost from the Government's housing agency.
Tenants vulnerable to 'revenge evictions', campaigners warn 18/03/2019 A campaign group has called for a reform of eviction laws to provide tenants with protection against unscrupulous landlords.
Nearly all councils to build new homes after scrapping of borrowing cap 14/03/2019 Local government leaders have called on Whitehall to help them resume their ‘historic role’ as major house builders after decades of depleting council stock.
Spring Statement 2019: Chancellor pledges three-year spending review 13/03/2019 Chancellor Philip Hammond has pledged a ‘full three-year spending review’ for local government before the summer recess.
Harrogate to launch housing company 07/03/2019 Harrogate BC’s housing company will be up and running next month.
Report warns of 'inextricable link' between homes and warehousing 05/03/2019 Local planners should take into account their role in the national logistics network when they are expanding their housing stock, a new report says.
Councils to share £19.5m to unlock private housing for most vulnerable 01/03/2019 Councils are to share nearly £20m to help people at risk of homelessness to move into the private rented sector.
Liverpool development set to be ‘game-changer’, mayor says 28/02/2019 A plan for up to 1,500 new homes to be built at a prime waterfront spot in Liverpool is set to go ahead.
Council spending on tackling ‘criminal landlords’ down a quarter 28/02/2019 The amount councils spend on tackling landlords who break the law has been cut by a quarter in recent years, according to the latest analysis.
Poor, urban areas see majority of homeless deaths 26/02/2019 Welfare cuts and a lack of social housing are driving the homelessness crisis which has resulted in hundreds of deaths, particularly in poor, urban areas.
Britain faces ‘accessible housing crisis’, charity warns 25/02/2019 An elderly persons charity has warned that Britain is on the verge of an ‘accessible housing crisis’ due to planning policy failures.
Counties hit by housing ‘affordability crisis’ 21/02/2019 County council leaders have warned that the ‘affordability crisis’ has hit shires as figures reveal that rural house prices are now 10 times higher than average annual earnings.
Malthouse announces £6m boost for community-led housing 18/02/2019 The Government has announced a multi-million pound funding boost for community groups looking to build affordable housing in their areas.
Think tank calls for devolution of transport funding 18/02/2019 The devolution of transport funding will enable councils to invest on a strategic basis and help match up transport with new developments, a new report says.
Loss of social homes has added billions to housing benefits bill, councils warn 15/02/2019 The housing benefit bill could have been reduced by billions if 100,000 social homes had been built over the past two decades, council leaders have said today.
Brokenshire announces £250m of housing deals 14/02/2019 Communities secretary James Brokenshire has evoked the 'spirit of Britain's post-war push' to publicise the Government's housebuilding programme.
Whitehall announces £9m boost for garden communities 13/02/2019 The Government has today announced a £9m cash injection to help speed up the building of garden towns and villages across the country.
Housing crisis forces millennials to move back in with parents 08/02/2019 Young adults are increasingly moving back in with their parents due, in part, to the the national housing shortage, research suggests.
Councils urged to give lifeline to those affected by the benefit cap 08/02/2019 The majority of councils have failed to spend all their funding to help people affected by the benefit cap, new research has revealed.
More than 165,000 social homes lost in six years 06/02/2019 More than 165,000 of the most affordable rented homes have been lost across England in the last six years, new research has revealed.
125 years and the issues remain the same 01/02/2019 Spending time poring over issues of The MJ from the past 125 years it is remarkable how much things change and yet they remain the same, says Heather Jameson.
Majority supports new housing but only on brownfield sites, survey finds 01/02/2019 New research shows that the majority of people support the building of new homes but oppose developments being located on green field sites.
Thousands of community-led homes ‘at risk’ due to cuts 31/01/2019 An estimated 3,500 community-led homes are at risk due to the Government’s decision to close a multi-million pound housing fund.
Funding deal agreed to build homes on London's rooftops 31/01/2019 The Government has backed a project to build rooftop properties in London on the top of existing buildings.
Council underestimates value of housing stock by £86m 31/01/2019 Northampton Borough Council underestimated the value of its housing stock by more than £86m, according to a delayed audit report.
Developer announces plans to build 800 homes in Yorkshire 25/01/2019 Plans for 800 new homes in the East Riding of Yorkshire on a site as big as 50 football pitches have taken a step forward.
Rural housing crisis ‘forgotten’ by Whitehall 25/01/2019 It would take 130 years to build enough new homes for people on waiting lists in rural areas at the current rate of housebuilding, campaigners have warned.
Report sets out how to make selective licensing more effective 24/01/2019 Selective licensing schemes are helping to tackle dangerous properties but they could be more effective if the Government introduced some simple measures.
A quarter of councils yet to submit a Local Plan 24/01/2019 A quarter of local authorities have yet to submit a Local Plan six years after being required to act, new research has revealed.
Whitehall must stop ‘rogue landlords’ receiving public money, council says 22/01/2019 Brent Council has urged the Government to stop rogue landlords who fail ‘fit and proper’ tests from receiving housing benefit.
Benefit assessors convicted of £1m housing benefit fraud 18/01/2019 Seven benefit assessors in London have been convicted of a housing benefit fraud worth over £1m.
Homes England agrees £70m loan for new homes in Northamptonshire 15/01/2019 A £70m cash injection from Homes England will bring around 8,500 new homes and up to 3,000 jobs to Northamptonshire.
Funding allocated to help councils tackle dodgy landlords 15/01/2019 More than 50 councils have been chosen to share £2.4m to help crack down on rogue landlords.
Whitehall announces £1.5m for Midlands digital map 14/01/2019 Local authorities across the Midlands will benefit from a new digital map which will identify the best investment and regeneration opportunities across the area.
Brokenshire announces proposals to help veterans access social housing 09/01/2019 The Government has announced it is consulting on proposals that would mean members of the Armed Forces and veterans suffering from mental health issues will be prioritised for social housing.
Stoke-on-Trent announces £40m housing partnership 08/01/2019 Stoke-on-Trent City Council has announced it is to undertake a major £40m regeneration programme in order to deliver hundreds of affordable houses.
Commission outlines need for more than three million new social homes 08/01/2019 More than three million new social homes are needed to tackle the housing crisis over the next 20 years, according to a new report from Shelter’s independent social housing commission.
Burnham launches plan to make Greater Manchester an ‘ambitious hub’ 07/01/2019 Greater Manchester’s leaders are today announcing ‘radical plans’ to deliver more affordable housing and better transport across the region.
A new foundation for Liverpool 03/01/2019 William Eichler interviews the chair of Liverpool’s new housing company to find out how it plans to deliver 10,000 homes over the next decade.
London Councils forms company to tackle homelessness 02/01/2019 A not-for-profit company will be created to provide housing for homeless families in 11 London boroughs.
Birmingham approves 1,400 homes for Commonwealth Games 21/12/2018 Birmingham City Council has approved the planning application for the accommodation for Commonwealth athletes.
Brokenshire announces ‘stronger’ regulatory framework to improve building safety 19/12/2018 Council leaders have welcomed moves to tighten up building safety standards – but say it should be backed by regulation rather than relying on good will.
Councils ‘lose confidence’ in system for housing asylum seekers 17/12/2018 Inspection of housing for asylum seekers should be carried out by councils rather than civil servants, MPs have recommended.
Increasing use of temporary accommodation ‘disruptive’, council chiefs say 14/12/2018 Local government leaders have angrily rejected the increasing use of temporary accommodation to house homeless families.
Scottish councils ‘concerned’ at lack of social housing 13/12/2018 Three-quarters of Scottish adults think there is a shortage of homes for social rent, according to research from a public sector procurement specialist.
The rebirth of local authority planning? 13/12/2018 Does the publication of Letwin’s report into tackling the housing crisis mean councils will take a more proactive role in development? Neil Merrick explores.
Review calls for overhaul of home adaptation scheme 11/12/2018 The delivery of home adaptations designed to help disabled and older people varies from area to area and often lacks any integrated decision making, according to an independent Government review.
Council chiefs call for ‘proper resourcing’ to end homelessness 10/12/2018 Investment announced by the Government to end homelessness will help, according to council leaders, but cuts in resources are making it more challenging.
Homes England to deliver ‘hundreds of homes’ in Coventry 07/12/2018 The national housing agency has acquired land in Coventry with the aim of delivering ‘hundreds of homes’.
Why the Government is right to embrace modular 07/12/2018 David de Sousa explains why the Government is right to embrace a modular future.
Supported housing system ‘isn’t working’, charity warns 05/12/2018 People living in supported housing are being discouraged from finding work because of fears they will not be able to afford their rent, report reveals.
Liverpool launches council-owned housing company 05/12/2018 Liverpool City Council has today launched a new housing company which aims to help residents onto the housing ladder through a Rent to Buy scheme.
Birmingham to build crime prevention into social housing developments 30/11/2018 Birmingham City Council has become the first council to join a national police-run scheme which will see crime prevention techniques built into all its new social housing developments.
Brexit will not halt economic growth, says Walkley 29/11/2018 Economic growth will not grind to a halt when we leave the European Union, chief executive of Homes England Nick Walkley has predicted.
Permitted development rules are exacerbating affordable housing crisis, councils warn 27/11/2018 Government rules to allow developers to convert offices into housing without planning permission has led to communities missing out on 10,000 affordable homes in the past three years, council leaders have warned
Charity warns at least 320,000 people are homeless 22/11/2018 Numbers of homeless people have reached record levels because of the worsening housing crisis, according to campaigners.
Home-owners get more government subsidies than social housing tenants, says report 21/11/2018 Social housing and private tenants receive less government subsidy than home-owners, a new report has revealed today.
Councils urged to reduce smoking in social housing 20/11/2018 Councils have been urged to help drive down smoking rates after research revealed smoking is twice as common in social housing than in other tenures.
Mears agrees £35m deal to purchase housing arm of Mitie 20/11/2018 Mears Group has agreed to buy the social housing maintenance arm of Mitie Property Services in a deal worth up to £35m.
Council to focus on housing for middle-income families 13/11/2018 Six in every 10 new affordable homes built in Westminster must be for middle-income families, the council has announced.

Cloud migration: Key considerations for local authorities

Cloud migration is a key priority for many organisations. Paul Mercina outlines what councils have to think about when they make the move to the cloud.

What I've learnt from reading my social services file

Louise Hughes explains what impact reading her care file had on her, and calls on social workers to write their case notes with young people in mind.

Most Popular News

Councils urged to take control of bus services

Investigators warn councils of ‘chameleon fraudsters’

Hackney publishes guide to banning traffic outside schools

Council criticised for ‘sitting on’ £2.65m of developer contributions

Commissioner appointed to improve Stoke’s ‘inadequate’ children’s services

Products

NEW PRODUCTS: Electronic Temperature Instruments Ltd

CASE STUDIES: Crittall Windows

COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENTS: GeoPlace announces 2019 Award winners

Director, Governance and Improvement

£87,623 to £97,149

We are looking for an exceptional individual to be appointed to the position of Director of Governance and Improvement. York, North Yorkshire

Recuriter: City of York Council

Assistant Director, Development Management and Building Control

c£80,000 per annum

There is a real buzz about our corner of London. Waltham Forest, London (Greater)

Recuriter: London Borough of Waltham Forest

Chief Fire Officer

Competitive Salary plus Financial Support for Recruitment and Retention

We are looking for an exceptional individual who can lead our Fire & Rescue Service Chichester, West Sussex

Recuriter: West Sussex County Council

Commercial Director, Regeneration, Planning and Delivery

Up to c£114,000 per annum

There is a real buzz about our corner of London. Waltham Forest, London (Greater)

Recuriter: London Borough of Waltham Forest

Inclusion Support Worker

£24,890 - £27,455 per annum + benefits

Would you like to be part of an enthusiastic successful team to ensure high quality Early Years and childcare for the Borough? Bexley (City/Town), London (Greater)

Recuriter: London Borough of Bexley

Local Government News

The March issue of Local Government News explores alternative funding channels that are available to councils beyond the Public Works Loan Board, what hurdles merging councils face in coming together, and how local government is handling GDPR.

This issue also has a special highways and street lighting section exploring how councils can use lighting to embark on their smart city journey and using IoT technology to weather the storm.