Housing Quality Magazine January 2024

Welcome to the January 2024 edition of HQM. We start the year with a look at the planned 2024/25 rent increase and its implications for both landlords and residents. We also ask some of the … Read more

HQN appoints Chloe Fletcher as new director

HQN is delighted to announce the appointment of Chloe Fletcher as a new director. A well-known and highly regarded figure in the social housing sector, Chloe joins from the National Federation of ALMOs, where she … Read more

HQN’s housing regulation quiz 2023

Who doesn’t look forward to a housing regulation quiz at this time of year? And we have one for you that gradually gets harder to really test hardcore regulation fans! If you don’t get 100%, … Read more

Housing Quality Magazine October 2023

The autumn edition of HQM features a big interview with Richard Blakeway, the Housing Ombudsman, in which he shares his insights into the service’s progress and his views on everything from leasehold to mergers. Lara … Read more

Housing Quality Magazine July 2023

In the July edition of HQM, we take a deep dive into the new regulatory regime and how social housing providers should be preparing. We talk to organisations that have been involved in the RSH … Read more

Housing Quality Magazine April 2023

Welcome to the April edition of Housing Quality Magazine. In our cover feature, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham talks about his vision for housing and how he would like to see the next government put … Read more

Housing’s Next Generation 2023 – Deadline extended

Entries and nominations for our Housing’s Next Generation 2023 have now been extended until close of play on Monday April 17. We have taken the decision to extend the deadline to give our members the … Read more

The end game: consumer regulation to be in place by April 2024

By Roger Jarman, HQN associate It might seem like an eternity but the changes in consumer regulation promised since the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017 look as though they will be delivered within the next … Read more

Regulator publishes plan for roll out of new consumer regulation regime and inspection programme

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has today published its plan for the roll out of the new consumer regulation regime and inspection programme. The plan sets out the steps RSH is taking to get … Read more

RSH publishes 2022 Global accounts

The Regulator of Social Housing has published its 2022 Global Accounts which reveal that the sector had strong liquidity and continued to secure new finance in the year. However, the accounts, which provide a financial … Read more

ONS launches cost-of-living insights tool

The Office for National Statistics has today launched a cost-of-living insights tool to help people navigate the wealth of official information published on this important topic. The tool includes data on everything from housing to … Read more

HQN Riskmas calendar

HQN is getting seasonal with our special interactive advent calendar. As always, we have focused on a practical theme – social housing sector risks. Open a new door every day to gain valuable insights, a … Read more

Over 60% of social housing providers experiencing delays to repairs programmes – regulator

Over 60% of housing associations and other registered providers experienced delays to repairs and maintenance programmes between July and September, according to the Regulator of Social Housing. In its latest quarterly survey, RSH reports that … Read more

Gove to block failing social housing providers from new funding

The housing association that failed to treat hazardous mould leading to the tragic death of Awaab Ishak will be stripped of government funding as part of a range of new enforcement measures announced today by … Read more

Housing Quality Magazine November 2022

Welcome to the November edition of Housing Quality Magazine. In a special edition this month, we bring housing professionals and residents together to discuss the ‘perfect storm’ facing the social housing sector, from the rent … Read more

Social housing regulator demands evidence that housing associations have ‘strong grip’ of damp and mould issues

The chief executive of the Regulator of Social Housing has written to housing associations seeking assurance that they have a ‘clear understanding’ and ‘strong grip’ of damp and mould issues in their homes. Fiona MacGregor’s … Read more

Asleep at the wheel? Everything comes as a great surprise to boards

By Alistair McIntosh, Chief Executive, Housing Quality Network “I find as a matter of fact that the development of Awaab’s severe respiratory condition which led to him going into respiratory arrest was entirely due to … Read more

Social landlords comply with regulatory standards following regrades

The Regulator of Social Housing’s (RSH) first substantial set of results of annual stability checks for social landlords owning more than 1,000 homes shows all 27 providers comply with the financial viability standard and 20 … Read more

Check out our new complaint’s hub officially launching 15 November

The Housing Ombudsman’s powers and profile have increased over the past couple of years, as has the unprecedented demand for its service. The HOS’s corporate plan for 2022-25 sets out ambitious goals and reinforces the … Read more

HQN’s rent cap poll results

We recently ran a poll of our members to see what social housing professionals thought the government would cap rents at. Giving the option of 3%, 5%, 7% or other as per the consultation, the … Read more

Opinion: Housing associations must urgently protect themselves from vulnerability to builder insolvency – a ‘why and how’

By Louise Stewart, CEO, ProjectPay. 360 housebuilders went bust in the past financial year – an increase of 75% from the previous year. This doesn’t include larger construction firms who are also experiencing high rates … Read more

HQN’s new Complaints Hub is coming — free to all members of the Housing Quality Network

The Housing Ombudsman’s powers and profile have increased over the past couple of years, as has the unprecedented demand for its service. The HOS’s corporate plan for 2022 – 25 sets out ambitious goals and … Read more

Opinion: Using ESG reports to make progress on key organisational targets

By Glenn Harris, Midland Heart CEO. Midland Heart has been working hard to build better homes and communities in the Midlands for almost 100 years. We’ve done this by recognising the need to continuously adapt … Read more

Innovation and Technology Hub: dealing with housing’s digital skills gap briefing

“Data, data, data.” That is what the Regulator of Social Housing says should be the focus for landlords as we prepare for the new regulatory regime. The Housing Ombudsman has said poor recordkeeping is the … Read more

Sadiq Khan calls for ‘government-funded rebate’ on social rent

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is calling for London’s 292,000 social housing tenants and shared owners to receive a “government-funded rebate to compensate for looming social rent increases next April”. The Mayor is calling … Read more

First Things First episode 73 – Halloween Special

Credit agency downgrades the outlooks of 40 housing associations

Moody’s has changed the outlooks to negative from stable and affirmed the ratings for 40 housing associations (HAs) and 38 special purpose vehicles (SPVs). The change in outlook to negative from stable reflects the sector’s … Read more

First Things First episode 72

Social rent cap could cost councils more than £3bn in five years

Capping social rent increases at 5% a year would cost councils more than £3bn in five years, new analysis has warned. Councils support moves to keep rents low but the Local Government Association (LGA) is … Read more

Opinion: Making mergers a success – how data and systems are at the heart of successful change

Tim Cowland, Client Services Director (Housing), Socitm Advisory Mergers are back on the agenda in housing. We’ve seen a number of high-profile announcements in recent times – and sector analysts report that they’re only likely … Read more