How can we guarantee that green belt development prioritises housing quality and doesn’t compromise on nature?
Pooja Agrawal, Chief Executive Officer, Public Practice Sadiq Khan recently announced that City Hall intends to help end London’s growing housing crisis by actively exploring releasing green belt land for development. Khan shared that much of this land isn’t scenic, and only 13% is accessible to the public. As London’s green belt […]
What now for a National Tenant Voice?
Aileen Edmunds, Chief Executive, Longleigh Foundation The case for a National Tenant Voice is no longer up for debate. Thanks to the publication of the ‘Tenants at the Table’ report, we now have clear evidence, gathered directly from tenants themselves. The demand is there, the need is urgent, and the path forward […]
Putting cost first lets tenants down
Tony Simms, Director, QLP We’re constantly being asked to do more with less as demands on our services grow. Each new request or initiative stretches our limited resources further. Too often, decisions in social housing are made based solely on cost. But using cost as the only measure of ‘value for money’ […]
Case Study: Hume Community Housing’s consistent approach
Hume Community Housing provides over 4,000 properties to approximately 9,000 customers in New South Wales, offering a mix of long-term, affordable and transitional housing. In 2019, Hume undertook NSW’s largest social housing transfer, integrating 2,200 homes from Maitland and Port Stephens into Hume’s management portfolio. Hume recognises the importance of the land’s traditional custodians, the […]
The Digital Skills Passport
Sean Kearns, Chief Executive, CSCS Group Dame Judith Hackitt’s review into the Grenfell tragedy and the resulting Building Safety Act are clear. For workers to be deemed ‘competent’ on a job, they must be able to demonstrate a full, verifiable picture of their skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours – and responsibility for […]
A new research prize from the HSA
In celebration of the legacy of Ben Pattison (who sadly passed away in 2020, leaving us heavy-hearted and the housing research community with a great loss), we’re delighted to announce that the Ben Pattison Prize is open for submissions! In collaboration with the Housing Studies Charitable Trust, this annual award recognises outstanding undergraduate and postgraduate […]
Research on refugees’ experiences wins Valerie Karn prize
The Housing Studies Association announces this year’s results. Valerie was a housing researcher of compassion and conviction. She believed in the power of research to challenge and change policy by exposing the injustices of life in urban society. She was also a passionate advocate of community engagement and action. Valerie’s interests were wide-ranging and her […]
The HQN guide to inspection
Over the past two years, HQN has been helping social housing providers navigate the new regulatory landscape, including the return of inspection for the first time since the days of the Audit Commission. We take a deep dive into HQN’s approach, providing a step-by-step guide to inspection, top tips on what we think the regulator […]
All change on allocations
Councils are at the sharp end of the housing crisis as waiting lists grow by the day (along with temporary accommodation costs). But with social housing at a premium, allocation policies are key to ensuring people in most need are at the front of the queue. Neil Merrick investigates the changes different councils are making […]
Stepping out of the shadow of stigma
Stigma has been attached to social housing and its tenants for decades. The Grenfell tragedy brought things to a head but only now, eight years on, are we seeing a genuine attempt to address it. But, as Neil Merrick finds out, stigma is a complex issue with no easy answers. Stigma – it’s virtually […]