Section: Yesterday's News
Five Years Ago
In February 2003 we were reporting:
- The Government paved the way for the Audit Commission to take over as the single inspector of housing association. Amendments made to the Local Government Bill will allow for central government to fund Audit Commission inspections directly.......
- A working group of registered social landlords were reported to be considering an independent quality mark scheme, which could lead to a scaling down of future Audit Commission inspections. The voluntary scheme would assess housing management functions, with an emphasis on standards of services for tenants.......
- Latest statistics show significant rises in the number of homeless people in Scotland. The number in temporary accommodation showed an increase of 20% and the number of households applying to be accepted as homeless were up by 7%.......
- The Government introduced promised changes to the timing of rent increases for assured periodic tenancies in England and Wales. The Regulatory Reform (Assured Periodic Tenancies) (Rent Increases) Order 2003 allows landlords in future to choose a set fixed day, such as the first Monday in April, for rent increases - affecting some two million assured periodic tenancies.......
- Edinburgh Council awarded a contract to housing management company Pinnacle, which will see staff seconded to it from the Council to manage nearly 5,000 homes over a one year period. Key targets for Pinnacle are a reduction in rent arrears and improvements in void turn round times. This is Pinnacle's first contract in Scotland.......
- Former Leader of the Council Dame Shirley Porter breached a High Court Order obtained by Westminster CC, to disclose her assets. The Order is part of Westminster's ongoing action to recover £37 million owed for her part in the homes for votes scandal. The Council are considering further court action.......
- The new trade body representing arm's-length management organisations came into being. The National Federation of ALMOs has the support of the Housing Quality Network, which will provide briefings, lobbying services and arrange workshops for member organisations.......
One Year Ago
In February 2007 we were reporting:
- English Partnerships unveiled its carbon challenge, which is designed to encourage social landlords and house builders to make available sites and proposals for new eco-friendly homes. One of the aims of the will be to introduce a carbon challenge logo, which successful bidders can display to demonstrate accreditation.......
- The lack of available places to move is causing a major bottleneck for people working with the homeless. Finding solutions may soon be made easier, as a result of a Homeless Link project. Begun in late 2005, the Move On Plans Protocol (MOPP) pilot project involved local authorities and the voluntary sector in nine areas working together to gain a better understanding of move on need and develop appropriate solutions.......
- The Housing Corporation announced a shortlist of innovative proposals aimed at delivering affordable homes and contributing to economic growth in the North of England. Seventeen schemes have been short-listed for the Corporation's Northern Housing Challenge, which altogether propose to provide homes for over 10,500 people. The short-listed schemes are from a mixture of housing associations, private developers, ALMOs and joint venture companies........
- The London Mayor's office confirmed its commitment to preventing investors becoming the dominant homeowners in major developments across the Capital. It also advised that officers are also keen to develop initiatives that ensure that larger family homes are provided on new estates.......
- The Riverside Group became the first housing association to gain the See it Right accreditation from the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) for its website. Its website underwent a rigorous audit process to ensure it is accessible to as many users as possible, including those with physical or visual impairments or learning disabilities.......
- A major new report calls for reforms and an urgent debate into the future of social housing in England. The independent review was commissioned by the Government and produced by Professor John Hills, from the London School of Economics. The report - Ends and Means: The Future Roles of Social Housing in England - highlights four issues for urgent debate:
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Increasing the attention given to the existing stock and tenant population.
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Supporting a better income mix within existing communities.
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Supporting the livelihoods of tenants and others in housing need.
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Offering a 'more varied menu' for both prospective and existing tenants........
Following an open tendering process under EU rules, Tribal Group were appointed to provide the National Tenant and Training Programme and Information Service from April 2007. Funded through the Corporation's Tenant Empowerment Programme, the service will deliver training courses, conference events and information and advice services - including a telephone helpline - for social housing tenants in England.......
