In October 2001 we were reporting:
A new report concludes that Housing Benefit performance varies widely, with many claims delayed by months - bringing hardship for some of the most vulnerable people. The study, part of the Audit Commission's Learning from Inspection series, draws on Best Value inspections of councils' benefits departments.
In particular, the study highlights the stark variation in service provided by councils, with three quarters of councils taking an average of more than five weeks to process claims. Some, particularly in London, take 100 days or more...
The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 came into force, providing a vehicle for what is widely regarded as one of the most radical programmes for housing change ever seen in Scotland.
Among other provisions, the Act will give Scottish Ministers powers to tackle homelessness, including requiring all local authorities in Scotland to carry out assessments of homelessness and prepare strategies for preventing and alleviating homelessness in their areas...
More than 700 wardens will support 125 new schemes announced under the Street Wardens Programme. The new programme builds on the achievements of the existing 85 Neighbourhood Warden Schemes in England and Wales...
The Government published a consultation document, which proposes measures aimed at cracking down on the growing problem of abandoned cars. An estimated 350,000 cars were dumped last year, providing an increasing eyesore on our streets and a real danger to children who are attracted to them as playgrounds. Often, they are also a target for local arsonists...
The Housing Corporation published new guidance to help housing associations adjust their rents to reflect government guidelines. Changes to the rents structure - with the aim of achieving a fair and more coherent system for local authority and housing association rents over the next 10 years - were a key feature of the Government's housing policy statement.
Guidance was issued to local authorities, advising on the mechanics of seeking possession, while stressing the importance of working with the Courts toward effective and speedy results.
Getting the Best out of the Court System (in possession cases) also covers new remand and bail provisions for Housing Act Injunctions against anti-social behaviour, which came into force in October 2001. Allied to the new remand and bail provisions, new court rules came into force, which allow judges to accelerate claims through the court process for housing Possession Orders where anti-social behaviour is alleged...
In October 2005 we were reporting:
The ODPM launched a three-month consultation exercise on its proposal to use new powers to make it possible for councils to ask those bodies managing their housing under s.27 of the Housing Act 1985 to also carry out some or all of their ASBO functions on their behalf.
This would include Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs), Tenant Management Organisations (TMOs), and those managing housing as part of a Private Finance Initiative scheme...
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) published its new strategy for tackling benefit fraud - Reducing Fraud in the Benefit System - a crackdown on benefit fraud, using 21st century techniques to beat criminals.
The strategy will see the DWP using data matching with credit reference agencies for the first time. This will enable it to check what claimants declare about their financial situation against what they tell others...
Plans for £60,000 homes became a reality as the successful bidders for the first four sites were announced. Following tough competition from all six bidders involved at this stage, three developers were selected by national regeneration agency English Partnerships to build their Design for Manufacture homes on four of ten publicly owned competition sites.
These first four competition sites will see the creation of more than 500 homes. At least 30% of homes on each site will be built to a construction cost of £60,000. The remainder will be a mix of smaller and larger homes constructed with similar cost efficiencies...
Housing Minister Yvette Cooper announced the details of nineteen projects across England that have been awarded funding to develop new ways of preventing homelessness and reducing the number of households living in temporary accommodation.
The schemes range from a crash pad offering accommodation and support for youngsters at risk of homelessness because of parental disputes, to rent deposit schemes and a high street property shop giving homeless households better access to private sector properties...
A ruling by Inland Revenue went a long way in clarifying an ambiguous situation for ALMOs. It means that profits made by an ALMO as a result of work with its parent local authority will no longer be taxable. Previously, some local tax offices had allowed ALMOs to be exempt from Corporation Tax on such profits, whilst others had not...
Fifteen new consortia of local authorities and housing associations have been given £1.6 million funding to help set up sub-regional choice based lettings schemes as part of a government drive to offer more choice and better services for home-seekers.
The funding will ensure a further 59 councils adopt a choice based lettings approach, bringing the total to 150 local authorities. It will provide new and existing social housing tenants with the maximum possible choice; promote partnership working between social landlords and the private rented sector; and offer increased mobility in the social housing sector...
The Housing Corporation announced it has significantly reduced the amount of information small associations have to submit as part of the annual Regulatory Statistical Return (RSR). Small Associations are defined as those owning and/or managing less than 250 homes.
The announcement reduces by two-thirds the amount of information required from small associations. Additionally, the FV3 Quarterly Financial Return has been discontinued...