Government Launches A Campaign To Empower Social Housing Residents To Raise Complaints

The Government's Social Housing White Paper promised to run an awareness campaign so that social housing residents know their rights to complain and are confident in navigating their routes to complain and are aware of how to escalate their complaints to get redress. The national campaign under the headline 'Make Things Right' will run adverts on digital and social media channels, as well as music streaming sites, to raise awareness of the complaints process and barriers to these being progressed. Read more on the ARCH website.

http://www.arch-housing.org.uk/news/latest-news/government-launches-a-campaign-to-empower-social-housing-residents-to-raise-complaints.aspx

 

Majority Of Public Still Unaware Of 'Build To Rent'

With renters increasingly demanding better choice, security and benefits from the rental market - the future seems bright for secure, high quality options. There's just one snag – the public haven't heard of them. New polling carried out by Deltapoll on behalf of Love to Rent, the UK's first Build to Rent specific search platform, has revealed that 59% of the British public have not heard of the term 'Build to Rent'. Of those who had heard of the term (38%), less than a quarter felt they knew what it meant. The polling has also revealed that nearly four in ten British adults expect that they or their children will be living in rented accommodation in ten years' time. Read more on the Property Reporter website.

https://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/landlords/new-poll-reveals-majority-of-public-still-unaware-of-build-to-ren.html

Survey Exposes Extent Of Unawareness Over Help To Buy Schemes

Half of adults in the UK (47%) are unaware that there are schemes to help first-time buyers get onto the housing ladder, according to new research from online mortgage broker Trussle. The national study surveyed 2,001 people UK wide and found widespread confusion over the Help To Buy ISA, Help to Buy Equity Loan, and Shared Ownership schemes. In September, the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said Help To Buy ‘helps those who can help themselves’ in balancing the scheme, increasing new-home supply against it not making homes more affordable. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/survey-exposes-extent-of-unawareness-over-help-to-buy-schemes/

Shared Ownership ‘Misunderstood And Underused

Shared Ownership remains “misunderstood and underused” among young people, according to new research. According to the research the 18-24 age group is the least aware of Shared Ownership, despite being most likely to benefit from the scheme. YouGov research commissioned by Leeds Building Society found that three-quarters of people in the UK have heard of Shared Ownership, however among 18-24-year-olds awareness is as low as 40%. Almost 40 years after the launch of Shared Ownership, awareness was found to have increased with age, with 83% of 55s and over, 79% of 45-54s, 78% of 35-44s and 70% of 25-34s aware of the scheme. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/shared-ownership-misunderstood-and-underused/

Disability Grants 'Not Always Meeting Need'

Government grants to help people adapt their homes to live more independently are not always allocated to meet need, a report has concluded. Around 40,000 people a year, the majority over 60 years of age, receive Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) to pay for changes to their homes such as the installation of stairlifts, level access showers and ramps. However, a report commissioned by the national body for DFGs and home improvement agencies, Foundations, said awareness of the grants is low, its provision is fragmented and too often older and disabled people are forced to find solutions on their own. Download a copy of the report from the Foundations website.