Government consultation closed on how to amend the 70-year-old statutory definition of overcrowding. Earlier this year, the Government accepted that the status quo was no longer relevant, and launched a consultation exercise on alternative approaches. The bedroom standard, a measure used in social research since the 1960s, which allocates a number of bedrooms to a household according to sex, age, and marital status of family members, seems to be the popular alternative.
The Housing Corporation commissioned research into how disabled tenants feel housing associations could improve their services. The study will examine how the Corporation can influence associations to respond better to disabled needs and also how the Corporation can itself make a significant contribution. The findings will feed into the Corporation's guidance to associations on how to respond to the requirements of the new Disability Discrimination Act.
Manchester Council launched a £350 million joint venture company with Morrison Facilities Services to provide repairs and maintenance services. The new company will service 13,000 Manchester Council homes, with 550 staff transferring to it from the Local Authority. The Council has a 20% stake in the new company, called Manchester Working.
Metropolitan Housing Partnership awarded a £5.5 million, five-year contract to Connaught, to provide gardening and cleaning services. Initially the contract provides for services in the Association's North Thames region. It will be extended to the South Thames region in April 2007.