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 to launch new scheme in September to allow for sale of high-rise flats

The government has announced that it will launch a new insurance scheme in September that will “enable the sale of flats in thousands of high-rise buildings.” The insurance scheme, created by The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD), will mean there is … Read more

Housing Quality Magazine July 2022

Latest member question: What impact will a high RPI have on the shared ownership market?

On 22 June 2022 the office of national statistics announced that April’s 12-months epi was 9.1% and the RPI was 11.7%. the sectors rent formula for general needs and sheltered housing is based on September’s CPI plus 1%. So we … Read more

Finance Manager – Services & Leasehold

Onward Homes is one of the largest registered providers of social housing in the North West, with 35,000 properties across the region. We believe that everyone deserves a place to call their own, which is why we’re committed to building … Read more

Latest member question: housing allocation policies and managing non-priority applicants

As a local housing authority, we are reviewing our housing allocations policy. We would like to hear from other local authority members how the manage interest from those seeking housing who are not classed as a priority under Part 6 … 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

Opinion: On Panorama

By Colin Wiles, housing consultant. When I started out as a housing consultant over ten years ago, I was invited to lunch by a local chief executive. I thought he was going to offer me some work, but instead he … Read more

Government mulls 50-year mortgages to improve ownership numbers

The government’s latest plan to tackle the falling number of people who own their home is to potentially introduce 50-year mortgages. Reported in the national press over the weekend, the plans also include the ability to pass a mortgage down … Read more

Opinion: Strengthened tenants’ rights in the PRS have their downsides

By Roger Jarman, HQN Associate. For a government that professes to be deregulatory, this month has witnessed some schizophrenic behaviour by Michael Gove and his levelling up department. In early June, the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill was published, setting out … Read more

Gove writes to second housing provider over maladministration findings

Housing Secretary, Michael Gove, has written to Housing Plus Group after a maladministration finding due to bedbugs and infestation. The letter follows a similar one he wrote to Clarion Housing Group after its “repeated failures”. In the letter, Gove said: … Read more

Government to ban private landlords not letting to those on benefits as part of new PRS White Paper

The government has revealed its Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper, including making it “illegal for landlords or agents to have blanket bans on renting to families with children or those in receipt of benefits”. The White Paper comes out … Read more

Social Housing Regulation Bill formally introduced to parliament

The Government will introduce the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill into parliament today, following on from its inclusion in the Queen’s Speech. Failing social housing landlords could “face unlimited fines and Ofsted-style inspections” under the new plans, and the Regulator of Social Housing will … Read more

Government sets out ‘improvements’ to fire safety guidance and building regulations

New improvements to fire safety guidance and building regulations have been introduced as part of a “wider package of reforms.” All new residential buildings over 11m will now have to include a Secure Information Box that will give fire and rescue … Read more

Housing’s Next Generation 2022: Top 20 announced

Back for its third year, our Housing’s Next Generation competition attracted entries from all over the sector, from housing associations and local authorities to supply chain partners and housing co-operatives. The judges looked at several criteria when shortlisting, including showing … Read more

Queen’s Speech: Government confirms further leasehold reforms

The government used the Queen’s Speech to confirm that the Leasehold Reform Bill would be carried through, with government already committing to ban ground rents on most new residential leases from June 2022. Building on this, the Government says it remains committed to: transforming … Read more

Housing figure Steve Douglas CBE has passed away

St Mungo’s has announced the sudden death of its CEO, Steve Douglas CBE. The organisation made the announcement with “deep shock and sadness” after he passed away suddenly at his home on Sunday morning, 8 May. The 57 year old leaves … Read more

Government confirms ban on ground rent charges on most new residential leases from June 2022

The government’s ban on charging ground rent on new leases in England and Wales will come into force on 30 June 2022, it has been confirmed. Landlords will be banned from charging ground rent to future leaseholders, under a new … Read more

Government to ‘name and shame’ failing social landlords

The government has announced that will begin to “name and shame” failing social housing providers, as part of major reforms to give residents a stronger voice and drive up standards. The move means social landlords providing sub-standard housing and services … Read more

Housing associations to be excluded from cladding tax

The Treasury have made an amendment to the Residential Property Developer Tax to exclude housing associations and local authorities. Also known as cladding tax or developer levy, the Residential Property Developer Tax is due to be part of the Building … Read more

CMA: 1000s of leaseholders freed from rising ground rates

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been given formal commitments by 15 businesses that bought freeh­olds from housing developer Countryside to remove terms that cause ground rents to double in price. The move comes after the CMA secured undertakings from Countryside … Read more

Updates from the Grenfell Tower public inquiry (7 – 17 March 2022)

By Danielle Aumord Government officials rejected calls to impose minimum standards of competency on fire risk assessors and guidance for disabled people was written minus their input (7–17 March 2022). Government-endorsed guidance that said it was “usually unrealistic” to provide … Read more

Opinion: What do we mean by professionalism?

HQN Associate Emma Lindley teases out some questions for government about its recent announcement of a review, in this article first published in the March 2022 issue of Housing Quality Magazine. The recent announcement by the Department for Housing (I can’t … Read more

Khan calls for greater transparency ‘by sharing vital building safety information’

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has called on building owners and landlords to help leaseholders by sharing vital building safety information with their residents. Although the Building Safety Bill introduces a statutory responsibility for building owners and landlords to … Read more

Developer to remove ground rent increases from leasehold contracts

Following Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) action, leaseholders with Countryside Properties will no longer be subjected to ground rents that double every 10 or 15 years. Countryside Properties has voluntarily given formal commitments to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) … Read more

Housing’s Next Generation 2022: Nominate now

Giving young diverse housing professionals a voice HQN is delighted to announce the return of Housing’s Next Generation – the annual competition designed to showcase and celebrate the brightest young talent working in housing. Entries for the 2022 competition are open … Read more

Government add multiple new leasehold protection proposals into Building Safety Bill

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has continued his building safety push by announcing “tough new measures” to stop leaseholders from paying “exorbitant costs”. For those in industry not doing the right thing, the government will be able to block planning permission … Read more

Mayor of London launches consultation on Fire Safety London Plan

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched a consultation on draft guidance to ensure all new developments are designed with the highest standards of fire safety from the earliest stage. This draft Fire Safety London Plan guidance sets out how developers … Read more

New Housing Minister announced as Pincher reshuffled

Stuart Andrew has been appointed as Housing Minister by Boris Johnson in the latest reshuffle. It comes as Christopher Pincher looks to take a more senior role in the Prime Minister’s team. Pincher was in the role two years, the … Read more

Government announces ‘new statutory protections for leaseholders’ within the Building Safety Bill

The Government has announced changes to the Building Safety Bill, with leaseholders getting new protections so they will have “no bills for fixing unsafe cladding”. Michael Gove, Housing Secretary, made the announcement as part of a “reset” of approach by … Read more