Questions and answers

Network members have a wealth of housing expertise so help spread the word by adding your questions and answering those already posted by our members on our questions and answers page. Click on the title above to view all our current member questions

Universal Credit – service charges

Network briefing by Ian Parker

Renters' health at risk

One in nine renters says their health has been affected by their landlord’s failure to carry out repairs or deal with poor conditions in their home, new Shelter research has revealed

£1 million funding will boost rent options for single homeless people

Communities Minister Don Foster today (13 May 2013) announced a cash boost of up to £1 million to support single homeless people

Troubled Families: progress information on the number of families worked with in year 1

This publication provides information on the number of families worked with in year 1

Growing Places Fund survey: an analysis of results

Analysis of the results provided by all 39 local enterprise partnerships in England in December 2012 on their use of the Growing Places Fund

Right to Buy: Back in fashion?

Network briefing by Neil Merrick

Tough new housing rules to control immigration

New measures announced in today’s (8 May 2013) Queen’s Speech will help tackle illegal immigration and ensure those living in the private rented sector have leave to remain in this country

Queen's Speech 2013: Local Audit and Accountability Bill

Funding opportunity - Grant applications invited to set up new housing options advice and information services

Minister challenges councils to find land for self-builders

Councils were challenged to step-up to help boost housebuilding by finding land for local people to build their ‘Grand Design’ by Nick Boles

Council Tax: empty homes premium

This guidance has been issued to help authorities in the decision making process for administering the empty homes premium

Communities say ‘yes’ to locally led housebuilding

Two more communities vote in favour of their neighbourhood plan

Housing and mental health needs

Network briefing by Tim Horsley

Evaluation of Getting on Together: The Community Cohesion Strategy for Wales

This report details findings to emerge from a two year evaluation of the delivery and impact of the strategy

Scottish Housing regulator publishes equality statement 2013

“More efficient” homelessness Sector grows by 16%

A report published by the London Housing Foundation shows that the turnover of agencies working in the homelessness sector in London has grown by 16% over the last four years

Millions to boost disadvantaged communities

A £25 million fund will help to transform disadvantaged areas across Scotland, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and COSLA President Councillor David O’Neill announced

Proposed planning revamp

Scotland’s planning system will place more emphasis on jobs and economic benefits to help deliver sustainable economic growth, Planning Minister Derek Mackay announced

New Homes Bonus: grant determination 2013 to 2014

This document shows how much New Homes Bonus grant DCLG will pay to each local authority in England in 2013 to 2014

MANAGING THE SOCIAL RISKS OF PUBLIC SPENDING CUTS IN SCOTLAND

How have Scottish local authorities managed the social risks of public spending cuts? By Joseph Rowntree

Royal Assent for Growth and Infrastructure Act

The successful passage of the government’s flagship growth legislation signals extra momentum towards economic growth, new homes and jobs

social hearted, commercially minded a report on tomorrow’s housing associations

Report by the Smith Institue

Dwelling stock estimates in England: 2012

The latest England dwelling stock estimates statistics produced by the Department for Communities and Local Government were released on Thursday 25 April 2013

Universal Credit

Network briefing by Sue Beasor

Housing and Intergenerational Fairness

This report is Policy Exchange's contribution to retirement housing provider Hanover's Hanover@50 debate on the future of housing for older people

Homelessness pot open for bids

Bids are open for the final round of the £20 million Homelessness Transition Fund

Scottish Housing Regulator publishes revised Technical Guidance

Funds for project to curb impact of welfare reform

A project to help Glaswegians develop the skills to claim benefits and find jobs online is to receive £170,000 support from the Scottish Government, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced

Private rented sector

Written ministerial statement about the Build to Rent Fund

Up to 10,000 new homes will improve the rental market

Up to 10,000 new homes for private rent will be underway by 2015, Housing Minister Mark Prisk said

Improving the rented housing sector

There are 1.8 million households on waiting lists for social housing. We must ensure people can get accommodation that meets their needs both in terms of quality and cost

Changes to make it cheaper to build own home could help many self-builders

New measures could make it cheaper for aspiring self-builders to get their ‘grand design’ off the ground

VfM toolkit

Network toolkit

Regulator publishes new guide for tenants and service users

The Scottish Housing Regulator has today published How We Regulate: A guide for tenants and service users

Housing Regulator seeks tenant feedback to help improve services

The Scottish Housing Regulator is seeking people to join a new National Panel

Housing demand and supply: are we building enough homes?

Network briefing by Roger Jarman

Health and Homeless Standards

First introduced in 2009 the standards aim to ensure access to healthcare for some of the most vulnerable groups in society

New Model Rules for housing associations in Wales

A bespoke set of Model Rules for Housing Associations in Wales that were recently accepted by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) have now been published

Potential impacts on the UK of future migration from Bulgaria and Romania

This report includes a section on housing, suggesting that the impact of migration from Bulgaria and Romania on social housing will be minimal

SPSO Publishes Model CHPs for the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament and Associated Public Authorities in Scotland

Social housing, lodgers and sub-letting

Response to reports on social housing, lodgers and sub-letting

Digital Deal: Challenge Fund prospectus Orgnisations: Department for Com

Social housing, lodgers and sub-letting

Government response to reports on social housing, lodgers and sub-letting

Supporting customers of temporary and supported accommodation through welfare reform

Network briefing by Lesley Healey

£9.5 million crackdown on social housing cheats

Councils to receive funding to help combat social housing fraud

Landlords are managing their financial health but facing significant financial stress, says Scottish Housing Regulator

Savings on home energy bills

People across Scotland are being urged to seek assistance to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, helping to reduce household energy bills

Landlords are managing their financial health but

Landlords are managing their financial health but facing significant financial stress, says Scottish Housing Regulator

The New Homes Bonus

The NAO believes a review of the New Homes Bonus scheme is essential to ensure the Department understands the substantial financial risks to local authorities

Thousands protected from council tax benefit cuts

Thousands of vulnerable people in Scotland will be protected from increased Council Tax bills following the UK Government’s abolition of council tax benefit this week, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth said

Providing housing support for older and vulnerable people

Older people occupy nearly a third of all homes. Nearly two-thirds (60%) of the projected increase in the number of households from 2008 to 2033 will be headed by someone aged 65 or over

£180 million to help vulnerable stay in their homes

Housing Minister Mark Prisk announces that councils across England will receive a share of the £180 million Disabled Facilities Grant

Funding boost for aspiring self-builders

Housing Minister Mark Prisk relaxes the funding rules for the Community Right to Build

Welfare benefits: the reform timeline

Keep up with welfare reform using HQN’s guide to the major changes from April 2013

The impact of welfare reform on tenants and providers of supported and temporary housing

Complimentary NeighbourhoodNet briefing by Lesley Healey

Congratulations to Yarlington HG

The first organisation in the SW to receive HQN income management accreditation

Tough new housing rules to control immigration

New measures to ensure fair play in taxpayer-funded social housing and stop rogue landlords cashing in from renting homes to illegal migrants were set out by the Prime Minister

Sector continues to weather economic downturn and represents good credit risk for investors – HCA publishes Global

Report from Homes and Communities agency

More affordable homes for Edinburgh

The Scottish Government has granted The City of Edinburgh Council power to borrow up to £21 million to help build up to 160 affordable homes in the city

Statutory homelessness in England: October to December 2012

Minister for Housing compliments HQNs Value for Money guide

Mr Prisk says ‘Your guide very much chimes with the Government’s thinking about the imperative to maximise value for money in the affordable housing sector’

The private rented sector: how effectively is it regulated?

Network briefing by Roger Jarman

£4.5 billion Budget deal to help homebuyers and boost economy

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles welcomes new multi-billion pound housing package

Improving the rented housing sector

Affordable Rent Model - Commons Library Standard Note

The Government announced an intention to introduce a new “intermediate rent” tenure as part of the October 2010 Spending Review. Under this model housing associations can offer tenancies at rents of up to 80% of market rent levels within the local area. The additional finance raised is available for reinvestment in the development of new social housing

£1 billion of fraud, found!

The National Fraud Initiative (NFI), established in 1996, this week confirmed it has now helped identify over £1 billion potentially lost to fraud, overpayment or error, across the UK

Hundreds of new greener homes

Hundreds of new greener and easier to heat homes will be built across Scotland thanks to a £13.5 million investment announced today by Housing Minister Margaret Burgess

New initiative to bring university research direct to housing practitioners

A prestigious new service is set to bring the latest housing research direct to practitioners. The initiative will see a bespoke HQN network launched in April, in partnership with the University of Sheffield’s Department of Town and Regional Planning and the Housing Studies Association (HSA).

Youth justice: the systems in Scotland, England and Wales

Network briefing by Tim Horsley

The housing revenue account self-financing determinations

The General Housing Consents 2013

From the DCLG

INNOVATIVE FINANCING OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING

A study by Joseph Rowntree

Multi-million pound fund to get stalled sites back on track

How many homes?

A guide by the London Housing Requirements assessment working group

Vibrant and Viable Places – A New Regeneration Framework

Vibrant and Viable Places is the Welsh Government's new regeneration framework

Multi-million pound fund to get stalled sites back on track

Housing Minister Mark Prisk has launched a £225 million fund to help unlock large-scale, locally led developments and get Britain building

New-look regeneration policy launched by Huw Lewis

Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage, Huw Lewis has launched 'Vibrant and Viable Places: New Regeneration Framework' - which changes the way regeneration is delivered across Wales

Millions for warmer homes

More than 300,000 poorer households will be eligible for free insulation and heating from April 1st, Housing and Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess said

Mobile Homes Bill - Commons Library Standard Note

An overview

Help for people hit by bedroom tax

xtra advice and support will help those who will lose out under UK Government housing benefit cuts like the bedroom tax, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced t

Millions to help heat homes

A £60 million fund will help local authorities to transform thousands of properties across Scotland into warmer, environmentally friendly homes which are easier and cheaper to heat

Conducting surveys of tenants and service users – a guide

Scottish Housing Regulator publishes Revised Tenant and Service User Satisfaction Indicators

We have published revised technical guidance on the tenant and service user satisfaction indicators that we will use to monitor and assess landlords’ achievement of the standards and outcomes in the Scottish Social Housing Charter

Left hand, right hand: housing regulation cultures in England and Scotland

Network briefing by Janis Bright

CHANGES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN LONDON AND IMPLICATIONS FOR DELIVERY

An overview of the London housing market, focusing on affordability and the impact of recent policy reforms on affordable housing

Housing Statistics for Scotland - Quarterly Update

Updated housing statistics have been released today by Scotland’s Chief Statistician

Rise in new house building starts

The total number of new homes started in the year to September 2012 increased by 11 per cent from the previous year - the first increase since 2006 - official statistics confirmed

New members appointed to Scottish Housing Regulator Board

SHR consultation on draft guidance for financial information

Millions pledged to councils for new homes

Councils will receive a share of £40 million to help families into hundreds of new social homes, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed today

Table of debt associated with housing revenue account (HRA) properties

This model is relevant for the Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) Amendment Regulations 2012

SHR Update - Welfare Reform special edition

Protecting Scotland's poorest

Crucial financial support worth £33 million will help people in times of need in Scotland, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced

THE LINKS BETWEEN HOUSING AND POVERTY

This Joseph Rowntree study analyses the past decade of UK evidence

Welwyn Hatfield residents scrutiny panel evaluation report

Transparency and freedom of information for housing associations

Network briefing by Julian Dobson

£225 million affordable housing fund open for bids

Housing Minister Mark Prisk will today unlock a multi-million pound government fund to deliver up to 15,000 extra affordable homes

Housing Regulator promotes the place of whistleblowing in effective governance

The Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) today urged social landlords to embrace whistleblowing as an essential element of good governance.

Scottish Housing Regulator publishes Scottish Housing Quality Standard Progress Report

The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) today published its annual analysis of social landlords’ progress towards achieving the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS)

Right to Buy sales double

New figures today reveal a surge in the numbers of aspiring homeowners taking up the Right to Buy their council home

Strategic leadership is key to achieving good outcomes for tenants

The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) today launched the second edition in its series of 'Governance Matters' reports. Aimed primarily at RSL governing body members, the series highlights the impact weak governance can have on an RSL by looking at real-life case studies where RSLs got into serious difficulties

Home swap service to tackle welfare reform

Social landlords are negotiating to start a mobility scheme to help tenants affected by underoccupation and other welfare changes, says Inside Housing

Analysing the impact of welfare reform in Wales

Welsh Government assessment of the effects of UK government reforms, with worrying findings on lost family income

HBnews - February 2013 edition

Housing Benefit Newsletter by Sue Beasor