Gas Safety Week 2022

This year’s gas safety week will take place 12-18th September. Sign up to pledge support and receive a free toolkit from Gas Safe Register – full of materials to help you support the week, including social media updates, images, articles, … Read more

Managing disrepair – top tips (5)

Due to the unprecedented amount of disrepair claims being filed against social landlords, we ran a hugely popular event last month – focusing firstly on how to get your house in order to ensure you remain on the front foot … Read more

Managing disrepair – top tips (4)

Due to the unprecedented amount of disrepair claims being filed against social landlords, we ran a hugely popular event last month – focusing firstly on how to get your house in order to ensure you remain on the front foot … Read more

Managing disrepair – top tips (3)

Due to the unprecedented amount of disrepair claims being filed against social landlords, we ran a hugely popular event last month – focusing firstly on how to get your house in order to ensure you remain on the front foot … Read more

Managing disrepair – top tips (2)

Due to the unprecedented amount of disrepair claims being filed against social landlords, we ran a hugely popular event last month – focusing firstly on how to get your house in order to ensure you remain on the front foot … Read more

Severe maladministration for housing association’s response to silverfish infestation

Metropolitan Thames Valley’s failings in responding to a silverfish infestation at a resident’s flat has led to a finding of severe maladministration by the Housing Ombudsman. The compensation offered by the landlord did not reflect the ‘significant impact’ on the family by … Read more

Managing disrepair – top tips (1)

Due to the unprecedented amount of disrepair claims being filed against social landlords, we ran a hugely popular event last week – focusing firstly on how to get your house in order to ensure you remain on the front foot … Read more

Government reopens Building Safety Fund for applications

More leaseholders in high-rise homes will be “spared unfair bills for building safety costs” as the government’s £4.5bn Building Safety Fund reopens for new applications. Buildings over 18 metres with cladding issues are eligible to apply for the fund, which … Read more

Government sets out £54m to develop further heat networks

Government has set out £54m in funding from the £320m of Heat Networks Investment Project to develop further heat networks. Almost £28m will fund 2 innovative heat network projects in Haringey in London, with nearly £17m going to a project … Read more

Next-gen heat pump could ‘cut energy bills and carbon emissions’

Researchers from the University of Glasgow have developed a new type of heat pump, a flexible heat pump technology, which could help households save on their energy bills and contribute towards net-zero emissions goals. Around the world, about 40% of … Read more

SHDF W2 Cheat Sheet!

As you may already know, the Social Housing Decarbonization Wave 2 is upon us with official documentation going out on 20th July. Please see below a link to a hard and fast rules cheat sheet for the £800m fund inclusive … Read more

Write up from smarter, safer homes event

At our recent I&T Hub event we explored the challenges of using data and implementing technology to create smarter, safer homes.    A key theme for the day was the need for accurate record keeping and data management to make sure … Read more

Updates from the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry (11-21 July 2022)

By Danielle Aumord. The final moments of the Grenfell victims presented at the inquiry (11 – 21 July 2022) National guidance in place at the time of the Grenfell fire stated that it was “usually unrealistic” to expect landlords to … Read more

Housing Ombudsman finds severe maladministration for Clarion’s failings on resolving leak

The Housing Ombudsman found severe maladministration for Clarion’s cumulative failings in handling repairs to resolve a leak and the problems that followed with the resident’s shower and electrics. The resident had consistently reported leaks into his shower room from the … Read more

Managing disrepair

Really looking forward to chairing this event on disrepair tomorrow (still places left!) — watch this space for my key takeaways after the event.

Lack of social housing ‘no excuse’ for disrepair and poor conditions

The lack of social housing in the country needs addressing but is “no excuse” for housing people in squalor, says social housing campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa. Speaking at HQN’s annual conference in London, Kwajo said the conditions he’s seen are “inhumane … Read more

Housing Ombudsman finds severe maladministration for council’s delayed repairs

The Housing Ombudsman found severe maladministration for Birmingham City Council’s delays in repairing an extensive water leak that caused damage to the resident’s property. The landlord failed to offer any compensation for the distress and inconvenience caused to the resident, … Read more

Estate Services Annual Conference

Just a reminder that the virtual Estate Services Annual Conference 2022 is planned for 18 August. We’ve listened to feedback from members and will be focusing on the following areas: The rising cost of service delivery and what this means … Read more

Preventing falls with everyday wearables – research project

Smplicare is asking housing associations and assisted living facilities to support their Observational Falls Study. Funded through the recently announced UKRI Designed for Ageing Awards, the Edinburgh-based software company will commence one of the largest studies ever conducted involving older … Read more

Regulator of Social Housing sets out consumer regulation lessons from past year

The Regulator of Social Housing has published a review of its consumer regulation work between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022. This year the regulator received more than 650 referrals from tenants, registered providers of social housing and other sources. … Read more

Updates from the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry (27 June – 7 July)

By Danielle Aumord. Islamophobia is tackled head on at the inquiry (27th June – 7th July 2022) “Racism and discrimination, we say, played a very real part in the response to this tragedy. The playing field was not level. It … Read more

@housing2022 – Sam Collier, Sustainability & Ethics Lead, Aico

@housing2022 – Jasmine Tansur, Resident liaison officer, PA Housing

Housing Quality Magazine July 2022

@housing2022 – Colette Mckune, Group Chief Executive, ForViva

Latest member question: lettable standards

A member is looking to review and refresh their lettable standard and would like to hear from others about their standard and any best practice. Can you help?

Opinion: Could we have prevented Grenfell by learning the lessons from Clanricarde?

By Alistair McIntosh, HQN CEO. We’re thinking of Grenfell today, as you will be too. Everyone says they’ll learn the lessons. I hope that we do because that hasn’t always been the case. Clanricarde Gardens is about a ten-minute walk … Read more

Two severe maladministration findings for housing association’s ‘significant failings’ on roof leak case

The Housing Ombudsman made two severe maladministration findings in a case about Shepherds Bush Housing’s failings in dealing with a resident’s reports of a roof leak. The resident, a shared owner, had reported a roof leak many times over several … Read more

Johnson: Building safety fears could ‘unnecessarily undermine the confidence of the market’

Boris Johnson has batted away concerns about building safety, after being quizzed on it at yesterday’s Prime Minister’s Questions. Questioned by Paul Blomfield around whether he would meet his constituent regarding the cladding scandal, the Prime Minister said: “I have … Read more

DLUHC announces £1m to train people in retrofit and modern construction skills

As part of the £200m Community Renewal Fund, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has announced a new £1m fund to train people in retrofit and modern construction skills in Devon. Saying it will help “people secure jobs and … Read more