Be proactive about gas safety

Bob Kerr of the Gas Safe Register reminds readers of the legal requirements associated with gas installation and maintenance, and highlights contractor management in the housing sector as vitally important to ensuring registration, competence and monitoring Among the array of... View Article

Reducing costly repeat drainage issues

Chris Nelson of Metro Rod discusses the importance of efficient maintenance of drainage to reduce costly repeat visits Blocked drains are a common issue in housing, and can lead to significant costs for providers and local authorities – as well... View Article

Flat roof refurbishment: why choose liquids?

Listen here. Victoria Ramwell of Kemper System discusses the key considerations of flat roof refurbishment in housing projects The refurbishment of any housing complex requires adequate planning to ensure budget and time constraints are adhered to – not to mention... View Article

Birmingham will require planning permission for small HMOs

A citywide direction on houses in multiple occupation is being introduced by Birmingham City Council from June 2020, giving the council greater control over the conversion of residential properties in the city. The Article 4 direction will mean that planning... View Article

Tenant found guilty of attempted Right to Buy fraud

A council tenant has received a 20 month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for fraudulently attempting to purchase a three bedroom house with a £80,900 discount. Debbie Mclean, 54, from Hove, was prosecuted by Lewes District Council after claiming... View Article

Landlords demand a speeding up of court processes

Courts across the country are struggling to cope with the volume of property repossession cases they are hearing, with private landlords warning this could reduce the supply of homes available for rent in the future. The delays are worse in... View Article

Social sector has lessons to learn over furnished tenancies

The End Furniture Poverty organisation claims the social housing sector has lessons to learn from the private rented sector over the use of furnished tenancies. While furnished tenancies are commonplace in the private sector, they are rarely found in social... View Article

HA maintenance costs soar, driving operating surpluses down

Increased expenditure on repairs and maintenance by housing associations, driven by a sharper focus on health and safety after the Grenfell Tower fire has been revealed in the sector’s global accounts for 2018/19. The global accounts published by England’s Regulator... View Article