Building 100,000 Social Rent Homes A Year Would 'Contribute £24.5bn To Economy' Over 30 Years

 Giving councils the powers and funding to meet a third of the government’s current target of 300,000 new homes per year would improve the public finances by £24.5bn over 30 years, a new report has found. The report also found that a household typically saves £37 a week in social housing, compared to private rental and that for 1.6 million households, social rent would be the most appropriate form of housing. Social housing providers, including councils and their ALMOs, are already ahead of the curve on building ‘green’ and their expertise would boost national efforts towards meeting 2050 zero-carbon goals. Read more on the HQN website.

https://hqnetwork.co.uk/news/building-100000-social-rent-homes-a-year-would-contribute-245bn-to-economy-over-30-years-5749

ITV Exposes Weaknesses Of Housing Regulation – Again

This excellent HQN opinion piece by Roger Jarman, former Head of Housing, Audit Commission, neatly summarises the events of the last 13 or 14 years which has brought us to the point where the Regulator of Social Housing isn’t allowed to even speak to service users (or tenants as we know them). Roger relates how the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) came into being following the Cave Review in 2007, how it was scrapped by a Coalition Government which wanted little or no regulation, how – at the assistance of housing associations’ money lenders - this lead to a regulator more concerned with governance and financial viability than consumer standards. Then came the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the failure of this regulatory system was clear for all to see.

https://hqnetwork.co.uk/news/opinion-itv-exposes-weaknesses-of-housing-regulation-again-5553 

Social Housing White Paper Introduces ‘Tenant Satisfaction Measures’

The wait for the Social Housing White Paper is finally over, and government has set out in the document how it intends to “improve social housing and give residents a greater voice”. The White Paper is set to “make landlords more accountable for the services they deliver” and will introduce a set of “tenant satisfaction measures that landlords will have to report against”. As part of these tenant satisfaction measures, the government says it will "expect landlords to report to every tenant on such matters at least once a year, if not continuously using technology." Read more on the HQN website.

https://hqnetwork.co.uk/index.cfm?page=news&item=social-housing-white-paper-introduces-tenant-satisfaction-measures-4206 

Jenrick: Homelessness ‘More Of A Crisis Of Addiction And Mental Health’ Than Housing

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has been giving his views on tackling rough sleeping and homelessness in the country post-pandemic. Speaking at a Centre for Social Justice event, he said: “There is a lot to do and I need to get my other cabinet colleagues to support me as I don’t think this is just a housing crisis, this is also a crisis of mental health and addiction and there are also law enforcement issues. As well as trying to support people, we’ve got to take action against aggressive begging, gangs on the streets, individuals coming to this country to beg.” Read more on the HQN website.

https://hqnetwork.co.uk/news/jenrick-homelessness-more-of-a-crisis-of-addiction-and-mental-health-than-housing-4039 

HRA Reformed...The Final Draft Subsidy Determination Workshop

HQN Event
Leeds 7/12/11
Straightforward, impartial and up-to-date advice, providing you with all you need to know about how the very last subsidy determination will impact on your financial planning approach, self-financing and asset strategy. Our experts will evaluate all the numbers and take you through the outcomes and the next steps, ready for the changes in 2012. Find booking details on the HQN website.

Launch of the Residents’ Network

HQN has launched a network for everyone - residents, staff and board members - involved in co-regulation. Find out more details and how to join on the HQN website.

Welfare Reform and Social Housing – HQN Briefing

The Welfare Reform Bill was introduced to Parliament on 16 February. The reforms most directly concerning housing are those related to Housing Benefit (HB), the new Universal Credit regime and the overall benefit cap framework. The main HB reforms affecting social renters are the uprating of non-dependant deductions, and relating benefit payable to the rent payable for a dwelling of an ‘appropriate size’ Universal Credit, to be phased in over four years from October 2013, will radically reshape the entire welfare benefits structure, replacing existing income-related work-based benefits. Download the briefing from the HQN website.

Social Networking for Social Housing – an Introduction – HQN Briefing Paper

So, how are housing organisations embracing digital technology and social networking to best serve their tenants, residents, employers and partners? The Social Housing Providers Digital Inclusion Action Plan released in 2010 claimed 70% of residents don’t have online access. However, our own direct work with social housing organisations as well as evidence from other providers shows this to be much lower – often in the region of 50-60% of residents who do have access. Therefore online communications and particularly social networking should be a serious and effective part of the communications strategy for any housing organisation. Download this briefing paper from the HQN website.

Forthcoming Events – Click on the Hyperlinks for More Information

Tenants’ and the board’s role in handling customer complaints –HQN_Event London 26 Jan and Manchester 27 Jan
The government, in its recent review of regulation, has said there is scope to increase the involvement of councillors, MPs and tenants panels in resolving complaints. But are they ready to meet the challenge? Have your board members been trained to assist them in the role that they should play in the process?
Are you ready to be scrutinised? – HQN_Event
Tuesday 1 February 2011 London
Thursday 3 February 2011 Manchester
Wednesday 9 February 2011 Leicester
Thursday 10 February 2011 Bristol
Tuesday 15 February 2011 Leeds
In these masterclasses, you‘ll hear how other organisations have gone about setting up their scrutiny arrangements.
The way ahead after the Spending Review and Localism Bill – HQN_Event
Tuesday 8 February 2011 Manchester
Thursday 10 February 2011 London
Wednesday 16 February 2011 York
How can we keep delivering excellent services in the teeth of these changes?

Recent briefings - Click on the Hyperlinks for More Information

*Localism Bill – localism and ALMOs - NFA Briefing on the Localism Bill
*A more risky world - HQN Briefing on risk assessment
*Localism and the Big Society agenda: the role for social landlords? HQN Briefing which aims to generate a wider debate about the opportunities this agenda brings for social landlords
*New Help for Anti-Social Behaviour Victims - Trials of a new approach for handling complaints of antisocial behaviour. Home_Office Press Release
*Your questions answered – governance (part 1) - This HQN briefing is published in response to questions about governance from HQN members.

Comprehensive Spending Review - Responses

There have been many responses to the Comprehensive Spending Review announced on 20 October. Below you will find links to some of those responses. Nottingham City Homes has also produced its own, email me phil.meadows@nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk for a copy.

Institute_of_Fiscal_Studies  HouseMark  CIH  Crisis  Empty_Homes

HQN Local_Govt._Association  National_Federation_of_ALMOs

National_Housing_Federation Shelter Alan_Johnson_(Shadow_Chancellor)

Alison_Seabeck_(Shadow_Housing_Minister)

What Do Tenants Want? HQN’s Guide to the Annual Report to Tenants

Annual reports to tenants used to be compulsory, but as no one read them, they were dropped. Will things be different this time around? Will the reports be useful? Most tenants will only read an annual report if it covers the things that matter to them quickly, honestly and clearly. Landlords should ask tenants what they want to see in the annual report. This free HQN guide suggests the sorts of questions tenants might want to ask – and how landlords should look to answer. Download the guide from the HQN website by clicking on the logo below. Remember – your organisation may need to be a member of HQN to download this briefing.

Tackling Homelessness – Assessing the Needs of 16- and 17-Year-Olds

This HQN briefing paper summarises recent developments in assessing the need for accommodation and related services by 16- and 17-year-olds faced with homelessness. It follows guidance issued jointly by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCFS) and Communities and Local Government (CLG) published in response to recent case law. Download a copy from the HQN website.

The TSA's Proposed Governance Standard – HQN Briefing

This briefing looks in detail at the proposed governance standard, and is intended to assist in responding to the statutory consultation and to help members prepare to meet the requirements of the new regulatory regime. Further briefings on the other standards are available through either The Housing Quality Network or through one of HQN’s specialist networks. HQN’s governance toolkit also provides much relevant additional background information on good governance. Members can download the briefing from the What’s New section of the HQN website and access the governance toolkit by clicking on the logo below.

The TSA’s Equality and Diversity Requirements

The new regulatory regime for all social landlords in England will come into force on 1 April this year. The regulator, the TSA, has set out a new ‘co-regulatory’ approach: it has promised a more mature relationship between landlords, tenants and regulator, offering more flexibility for landlords in return for robust self-assessment and accountability to tenants. Landlords willneed to ensure tenants’ priorities shape the services they offer and they will have to involve their tenants fully in monitoring what they do. There will be standards both nationally and locally to ensure landlords deliver. This HQN Briefing looks in more detail at the TSA's approach to equality and diversity as set out in the draft standards. You will need to be a member and logged in to the HQN site to access the document.

Short Notice Inspections – The First Nine Months

This is the first of two briefings looking at the outcomes of the first 27 published short notice inspections (SNIs) carried out by the AC. HQN has analysed the reports and this briefing covers the process, outcomes and lessons from them. The follow-up will analyse the results in more detail and draw out lessons for individual service areas. Click on the logo below to go to this HQN Briefing. Note: To access this HQN briefing you (or your organisation) must be an HQN member.

Tackling Unlawful Subletting And Other Tenancy Fraud

The government has confirmed its commitment to stamp out tenancy fraud in social housing. According to an Audit Commission study published recently, as many as 50,000 homes owned by councils and housing associations in England were acquired unlawfully or are being unlawfully sublet. According to CLG, the cost of recovering a home that is being unlawfully sublet can be as little as £3,000, compared with more than £100,000 for building a new property. Click on the logo below to go to this HQN Briefing. Note:To access this HQN briefing you (or your organisation) must be an HQN member.

What Does Excellence Look Like? Asset Management And Major Works

This briefing covers the sub-section of the asset management and stock condition KLOE entitled Capital improvement, planned and cyclical maintenance, major repair works. It encompasses the key areas of asset management planning, stock condition and major works. The briefings will eventually cover all the service and cross-cutting areas inspected. It is intended to provide advice and guidance for officers looking to prepare for inspection and for those wanting to understand what top-performing organisations are doing which impressed the inspectors. Please note, this briefing is available to HQN members only and you will need to be logged in to HQN to access the briefing. The document can be found in the "What's New?" section.

Regulating Social Housing: The TSA's Proposals

After a huge consultation exercise, the TSA has now published its formal proposals for regulating the social housing sector. The consultation, A new regulatory framework for social housing in England, sets out what landlords and tenants can expect from the new regulatory regime, at least in terms of the TSA’s approach and the standards which it will set. But there are still unanswered questions. This briefing looks at the proposals and highlights some of the key issues. Please note, this briefing is available to HQN members only and you will need to be logged in to HQN to access the briefing. The document can be found in the "What's New?" section.

What Does Excellence Look Like? Value For Money

The Housing Quality Network has analysed the reports on the ten organisations given a three-star ‘excellent’ rating and drawn out those areas where the Audit Commission has commented positively (or negatively) in their reports.The result is a briefing, “What does excellence look like? Value for Money” .Please note, this briefing is available to HQN members only and you will need to be logged in to HQN to access the briefing. The document can be found in the "What's New?" section.