Homelessness Reduction Act increasing numbers in TA

More people are being placed in temporary and emergency accommodation as councils struggle to cope with rising numbers of people facing homelessness and a lack of affordable housing for them. The findings of a Local Government Association survey coincided with... View Article

Right to Rent scheme ruled to be unlawful

The Right to Rent scheme which required landlords to check the passports and immigration status of prospective tenants has been found to be unlawful – as it encouraged racial discrimination against anybody with a foreign-sounding name or a foreign passport.... View Article

Empty homes in England rises to more than 216,000

The number of empty homes across England has risen for the second year running to more than 216,000, its highest level since 2012 (when 254,059 properties were empty) according to official figures. The number of long-term vacant properties (those that... View Article

Tenants not being protected from revenge evictions

Only five per cent of private sector tenants who complained to councils about the condition of t heir homes are being properly protected by their local authorities. According to Generation Rent, 99 English councils received a total of 67,026 complaints... View Article

Homelessness in Wales at highest level since law changed

Homelessness in Wales has climbed to its highest level since new legislation designed to tackle the problem was passed in 2015, with continuing austerity and welfare reforms being blamed for the increases. Some 2,997 households became homeless from October to... View Article

League tables for social housing less likely

The Government is understood to have dropped its proposal to introduce league tables for social housing providers, after tenants voiced their concerns it could increase their stigma and leave them trapped in poor housing. The idea was originally included in... View Article

Sprinklers should be provided in all new and refurbished flats

Influential building industry bodies have joined forces to demand that sprinklers are made mandatory in all new homes in buildings taller than 11 metres. The Royal Institute of British Architects, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute... View Article

Councils demand money for sprinklers in tower blocks

Council leaders have demanded Government funding for installing water sprinklers in hundreds of tower blocks, warning that residents in thousands of flats do not feel safe in their own homes. Representatives of 15 councils from Bristol to Newcastle delivered a... View Article

Sealing solutions for Stockport Council

Resiblock have combined with Rosgal Ltd to provide sealing solutions for Stockport Council’s Cheadle Corridor Scheme. Resiblock were specified by Stockport Council, and following consultations with Rosgal, Resiblock Resiecco has now been manufactured for site, which has seen both new... View Article

The Homes Act 2018: a landlord’s guide

By Richard Walker, National Technical and Development Manager at Peter Cox This April, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitations) Act came into effect. The updated legislation allows tenants in England and Wales to pursue legal action against landlords who do... View Article