In this long read, Martin Farley lays out what he thinks needs to be done to make housing truly affordable AND sustainable. Martin is a
Author: Guest Author
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[Book promotion] Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems
In the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the subsequent Hackitt Report, it is clear that the whole construction industry is undergoing a wholesale review of its practices. As part of this review, competence has rightly become a clear factor that must be suitably considered.
Tim Benstead has written a practical guide to Grade D Fire Alarm Systems to help electrical contractors and others involved in fire safety to understand their roles and responsibilities clearly.
Data Quality is not optional, but it shouldn’t be hard work either
Matt Jollands has worked in and around social housing for the best part of a decade, and through discussion with peers, observations of the industry and current discussions sector wide he believes that there is an issue with data in UK social housing.
Housing Associations love to talk about being ‘data driven’, but if we’re honest, in most circumstances the data that drives decisions, allows performance management and benchmarking, and ultimately could help to improve the service that tenants receive is patchy at best, and unusable at worst.
In this article Matt explores the sector’s challenges with data, and urges it to really, really, acknowledge its importance and potential.
Why the 28-day move-on period for refugees needs to be extended
When a destitute asylum seeker arrives in the UK they are offered ‘Asylum accommodation’.
This accommodation could be anywhere within the UK and the asylum seeker does not get a choice of where they are located.
Katy Wood explores how this process works out in practice, and argues the standard 28-day move-on period should be extended.
Homelessness and Covid-19. Utilising empty homes.
Local authorities have a duty under the Housing Act (Wales) 2014 to prevent homelessness and provide support for people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.
In 2015, homelessness legislation introduced new duties and powers for local authorities to prevent homelessness for anyone at risk within 56 days.
Amy McMurray explores the possibility of utilising empty home to alleviate homelessness challenges.
Actionable Insights into Income and Health Inequalities
We know that difficult financial situations and poor health are interrelated. However, it is not clear how the circumstances of people’s lives affect the link between finances and health. During six months, we followed the everyday lives of 21 individuals living on low incomes and managing multiple long-term conditions.
Rapid responsive action to Covid and the need for a forward looking and long-term response.
The COVID-19 global pandemic has prompted rapid responsive action from both the UK government and the devolved nations across the United Kingdom. The national lockdown and the subsequent regional lockdowns that have occurred since March 2020 have placed restrictions and conditions on all citizens that has required people to stay home, however, this has only highlighted the urgent need for people to live in safe and suitable accommodation, write Emma Parcell
Tough decisions: juggling strategic choices
Ellen Damlica is an Associate at Penningtons Manches Cooper and specialises in social housing governmance.
This article is intended to facilitate discussion around key decisions that need to be made after 2020 and going into 2021 at Board and executive level, and to assist in identifying which matters are the ’glass balls’ and which are the ’plastic balls’.
Duo-living: A different approach to the housing crisis from the Netherlands
Stichting Statiegeld op Jeugd is a Dutch initiative that is seeking to combat the housing crisis in the Netherlands. They do so by proposing a housing ‘format’ where existing homes, mostly occupied by ’empty nesters’ are split up into two homes, allowing the older generation to stay in their own homes AND create more social housing out of existing properties!
The ClwydAlyn way – Trust, Covid and Service Reform
ClwydAlyn is a housing association in Wales whose mission is all about addressing poverty. This means that they focus time and resources on supporting tenants that might be struggling with income poverty, fuel poverty or food poverty.
With the impact of Covid19 now unfolding, this mission has become even more vital.
Social Housing White Paper – An environmental angle by Suss Housing
Suss Housing have created ‘SHIFT’; a sustainability standard for the housing sector.
It is an independent assessment and accreditation scheme that demonstrates organisations are delivering against challenging environmental targets. They have kindly shared their view on the Social Housing White Paper from an environmental angle.
Major social housing survey from Alertacall identifies gaps in digital engagement
Leading technology provider Alertacall has published the results of its new survey examining digital engagement trends in social housing, providing a snapshot of the importance of technology for residents throughout the COVID crisis.
This article shares the key findings.
Northern Ireland’s housing authority will be reclassified as a mutual – but will it also be privatised?
The Minister for Communities at Stormont recently delivered a major statement on housing policy which was then lauded from almost all sides.
In this article, University of Birmingham Lecturer and researcher Stewart Smyth takes a deeper look at what the Minister said and argues that there is an intention to privatise the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
Community-Led Approaches to Empty Homes in Wales
This article comes from final-year BSc Housing Students at Cardiff Metropolitan University, Amy McMurray, Anthony Morgans, and Emma Parcell.
On behalf of Tyfu Tai Cymru, a 5-year housing policy project, they researched the role of community-led solutions in addressing empty homes.
This article shares their most important findings.
Disgruntled at Being Dismissed as Disgruntled?! A reply to the comments on the ‘Letter to my Landlord’ article.
This article has been shared in response to comments to an earlier article we published on the 15th of November 2020, ‘Letter to My Landlord’.
These comments were criticising the original author’s view of private landlords as not being realistic or fair, dismissing them as a ‘disgruntled’ tenant.
This article addresses thes coments.
ESG – Opportunities and Challenges for Boards
Environmental, social and governance matters have steadily moved up the list of priorities for registered providers of housing providers following the introduction of the UK’s legally binding target to produce zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Ellen Damlica, Associate in the Housing Corporate and Governance Team at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP, provides readers with a concise and clear overview of what boards need to consider when talking about this ‘2050 Target’.
My Covid Reality
By: Shirley Widdop @Psychologicsal First published on Covid Realities on 10 July 2020 The United Kingdom (UK) is the 5th richest nation on Earth. Fortunately,
Invisible Creations® and their Journey to Design for Dignity™
By: Ashleigh Powney @inviscreations Our Journey to Design for Dignity™ Invisible Creations® is challenging stereotypes and negative stigmas around ageing and disability by producing attractive
Pride and edifice: a pioneering architect’s conflict
By: Jessica Brown @Jessica_E_Brown First published: Stories to Sit With – Independent, in-depth journalism When your social housing legacy is left to the forces of
730 Days Later – where are we two years on from the Social Housing Green Paper?
By: Rose Klemperer @RoseKlemperer The sector waited for the Social Housing Green Paper (the “SHGP”) with bated breath and we were promised it would be
Domestic abuse ‘move on’ service reports that 60% of movers come from a BAME background
Homefinder UK’s Revive project highlights the lack of understanding by many statutory and voluntary agencies about the specific ethnic, religious and cultural concerns facing women fleeing domestic
Housing’s diversity challenge – Time for a bold approach to embracing inclusive leadership
By: Sharon Thandi @SharonThandi07 Housing’s ‘diversity problem’ is nothing new and is a subject that has been talked about for a number of years with
Green Home Grant is a missed opportunity to improve the most important environment of all – the air we breathe indoors.
By: Raymond McGurk of BRS Technology @BrsTechnology On the surface of it, the recently announced Green Homes Grant seems like great news – eligible homeowners
A Letter in Lockdown: From My Home to Yours
By: Leigh Dunbar @Leigh_Dunbar Housing officers all over the country have gone from nipping in and out of tenant meetings and calling in at tenant’s
Back to normal? How to build a better Britain – what we can learn from the Germans
By Maureen Corcoran Recent press reports show Germany has been much better than the UK in dealing with the Covid –19 virus. From more testing