First Tenants Moving Into Flat-Pack Homes

The first tenants have moved into flat-pack homes in Wolverhampton which have been built more than 200 miles away. The four homes were made in Dublin before being flown to the city and lifted into position on Cannock Road in Fallings Park. They were craned into place at the end of January to have brick 'skins' added and be connected to utilities. Council bosses said the homes are the first of their kind delivered by the authority alongside Wolverhampton Homes. Enabling works on the £600,000 pilot scheme, which is part of the council’s newbuild council housing programme on small sites, started in November. Read more on the Express and Star website.

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/wolverhampton/2018/04/30/first-tenants-moving-into-flat-pack-homes-in-wolverhampton/

Tenants Facing Eviction after Refusing To Pay a Penny of Bedroom Tax

A West Midlands ALMO has revealed that 36 of its tenants hit by the government's controversial bedroom tax have not paid a penny of it. And Wolverhampton Homes - which manages 23,000 properties on behalf of Wolverhampton City Council - has said that 60% of its tenants affected by the under-occupancy policy have fallen into debt. The ALMO's director of housing, Mark Henderson, has warned that those who have so far refused to pay the bedroom tax may soon face eviction. Read more on 24dash.

Council Strikes 15 Year Deal on Housing Stock with ALMO

Council houses in Wolverhampton will continue to be managed by Wolverhampton Homes with a deal agreed to extend their association for a further fifteen years.  Wolverhampton Homes began managing more than 23,000 homes in the city on behalf of the council back in 2005 – and the new deal will see that agreement extended to 2027.  Read more on the Wolverhampton Homes website.

Millions Set Aside To Cover Welfare Costs

The UK’s largest landlords are stockpiling cash in preparation for next year’s onslaught of welfare reforms.  A snap survey by Inside Housing of large housing providers across the UK found the vast majority expect rent arrears to increase after reforms come into effect from next April.  Landlords said they expect arrears as a percentage of rental income to soar from an average of 3.7 per cent this year to more than 5 per cent by 2014/15.   Many landlords are setting aside far more cash for ‘bad debt’ to meet the expected increase in arrears.  Wolverhampton Homes, which manages 23,000 homes, expects its rent arrears to treble from 1.5 per cent this year to 4.5 per cent by 2014/15. It has doubled the amount set aside for ‘bad debt’ from £500,000 to £1 million and estimates spending £250,000 more a year on management costs. Read more on Inside Housing.