Uk & International

(from left) Standing: David Cowans, Places for People group chief executive, with Nigel Finney, managing director of Luminus. Sitting: Mike Forrest, chair of Luminus, and Chris Phillips, Places for People group chair Places for People has further strengthened its position as one of the UK’s larges

Image of the Grenfell Tower fire courtesy of Natalie Oxford via Twitter The UK government is facing questions from local government over plans to issue new guidance on 'desktop studies', whereby combustible materials are not regularly tested before their use in buildings.

A highly accessible concept house for people with disability or mobility issues was showcased by Blackwood at its AGM in 2015. Image credit: Lewis & Hickey Ltd Creating more modified homes which encourage older people to keep mentally and physically fit for longer could help save the NHS and soc

A landlord organisation in England and Wales is supporting efforts to overturn a flagship immigration policy, saying its members won’t be “scapegoats for the failures of the border agencies”. Under the UK government’s Right to Rent scheme, landlords are responsible for checking the immigrati

David Orr David Orr has announced his intention to retire as chief executive of the National Housing Federation at the end of September after more than 12 years in the role.

Legislation to protect the stock and incentivise the building of new social housing in Wales has been given Royal Assent by Her Majesty the Queen marking the abolition of the Right to Buy across the country. The Right to Buy and Associated Rights (Wales) Bill became an Act of the at an official Seal

A new national housing agency has been launched in England to replace the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and help boost Westminster’s efforts to deliver the homes the country needs. Housing secretary Sajid Javid said the rebranded Homes England will drive forward change and help deliver an ave

Homeless charities have said that police should not use anti-social behaviour powers against rough sleepers after a local authority leader called for legal action to be taken to remove homeless people from Windsor before the royal wedding in May. Conservative councillor Simon Dudley said “an epide

A landlord organisation is calling for a halt to the UK government’s Right to Rent scheme pending a full review of its impact on tenants after 42% of landlords in England and Wales said they are less likely to consider renting to someone without a British passport as a result of the scheme. The Re

The UK High Court has ruled that a Home Office policy of removing EU citizens found sleeping rough on UK streets is unlawful and must stop. A judge said the measures, which were introduced last year, were discriminatory and violated European law, following a challenge brought by campaigners on behal

New research has challenged the current stigma surrounding social housing with social renters more likely than homeowners to have lower levels of anxiety. The University of Birmingham in partnership with VIVID Housing Association has found for the first time a link between well-being and housing ten

Image of the Grenfell Tower fire courtesy of Natalie Oxford via Twitter The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has launched a new project to examine the human rights and equality dimensions of the Grenfell Tower fire after its application to participate in the official inquiry was declined.

A vending machine which gives out free food and clothes to homeless people has been launched for the first time in the UK in the run up to Christmas. A new charity, Action Hunger, plans to stock the machine in Nottingham with excess produce donated by supermarkets, such as fresh fruit and sandwiches

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reversed its decision to classify housing associations in England as public non-financial corporations, allowing their estimated £70 billion debt to be removed from the UK government's balance sheet. Announced a week before Chancellor Philip Hammond's au

Terrie Alafat A major new project which will combine original research and engagement with the sector, tenants, politicians and the public to explore fundamental questions about the future of social housing has been launched by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH).