LA Stars

The following are summaries of local authority and registered social housing inspection reports issued by the Audit Commission during April.

Priority Adapted Housing for Ex-services Personnel

Housing Minister Iain Wright announced that ex-servicemen and women who are seriously injured are to be given priority for specially adapted social homes.

Noisy Neighbours Making Life a Misery

A new survey from insulation manufacturer Rockwool found that noisy neighbours are making lives a misery for more than a third of us.

HA Groups Advocate Major Change

Five of the largest housing association groups have joined forces to publish a new report, which challenges the current model for providing affordable housing.

New Staff Structure for HCA

The Homes and Communities Agency published a new staff structure that focuses the whole organisation on regional and local delivery.

Affordable Housing Survey Gives Mixed Results

HCA and CABE pledged their commitment to drive up the design quality of new affordable homes, following the publication of a new survey.

Tories Publish New Social Housing Strategy

The Conservative Party set out a series of new housing policies that it claims will promote social opportunity and neighbourhood pride.

Facebook Helps to Communicate with Younger Tenants

A Doncaster housing organisation has tapped into Facebook to communicate with its younger tenants.

Government Approval for New RICS Code of Practice

The RICS Code of Practice for Service Charge Management was published and it received Government approval from the Housing Minister, Iain Wright.

Lord Best to Lead Commission on Housing in NI

Lord Richard Best OBE will chair a new Commission, which will hope to play a leading role in contributing to housing solutions in Northern Ireland over the next decade and beyond.

New Improved Warm Front Scheme

The Department of Energy and Climate Change's Warm Front Scheme has been changed to improve the quality of service for its customers.

Budget Update

The Budget set out a number of measures which the Chancellor claims are aimed at delivering desperately needed homes and bolsteing the housing industry.

Herculean Task of Greening Existing Homes

A new publication highlights the need to focus on improving the energy efficiency of millions of buildings in Britain.

Housing Professionals Concerned About Recession

A second poll released by the HCA Academy found a significant increase in the number of housing and regeneration professionals admitting to mounting concern about the recession.

Successful Community Involvement Projects

The Government announced the successful third sector organisations which are to share multi million funding for projects that help to give people a say in their communities.