Welcome to HQN and The Housing Quality Network

   

Decent Homes

• Decent Homes - the National Audit Office verdict

  25 February 2010

  Network briefing by Neil Merrick

• Minister launches full assessments of the Decent Homes programme

  10 December 2009

  Housing Minister John Healey has announced a full scale assessment of the government's drive to improve England's social housing stock

• What does excellence look like? Asset management and major works

  3 November 2009

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon

• Low Carbon Communities Challenge

  30 September 2009

  Two-year programme, funded by Department of Energy and Climate Change, to provide financial and advisory support to 20 communities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that are seeking to cut carbon emissions. Scheme includes capital infrastructure funding to stimulate community investment, free advice and support, a common framework to share learning. Interested applicants should register by 28 October

• HCA announces results of SHESP bids

  30 July 2009

  Forty six councils, housing associations and ALMOs have, between them, successfully bid for £84m worth of funding, over two years, from the Social Housing Energy Saving Programme to provide cavity wall insulation in difficult-to-fill homes

• Decent Homes - the next steps?

  18 June 2009

  Network briefing by Sheila Camp looks at the aims of the report; 'Towards a successor standard to Decent Homes', the key areas for a new standard, areas to be excluded/tackled locally and the next steps

• Fuel poverty

  24 February 2009

  Network briefing by Maria Wardrobe explores the issues surrounding fuel poverty

• Social housing watchdog welcomes energy saving proposals to cut bills

  19 February 2009

  The Tenant Services Authority has welcomed the government's proposals to increase energy efficiency and low carbon heat technologies in every home, which would see lower energy bills for social housing tenants

• Decent Homes in the Social Sector - Statistics Reconciliation Project 2008

  14 January 2009

  This CLG report summarises the results of a project to explore the discrepancies in non-decent social sector dwelling estimates reported in a national survey and local statistical returns

 

Procurement

• Incorporating equality and diversity into procurement

  1 July 2010

  Network briefing by Joanna Jeffery and Richard Seager

• A review of collaborative procurement across the public sector

  21 May 2010

  National Audit Office and Audit Commission joint review based on research in local government carried out during the autumn of 2009. The review finds that although collaborative procurement has the potential to improve value for money, the public sector procurement landscape is fragmented, with no overall governance. It recommends that public bodies should work together much more effectively than they currently do

• Roots Review: review of arrangements for efficiencies from smarter procurement in local government

  19 February 2009

  Independent report which highlights that substantial actions are underway by the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs) and others to enhance procurement efficiency. But more can be done. It sets out practical recommendations that can be acted on by relevant organisations, such as the RIEPs

• Effective procurement/VfM/contract arrangements

  4 November 2008

  Network briefing by Rob McNaughton looks at joint procurement, whole life costing, partnering and other common issues

• Best Value and Procurement: Workforce Matters in Best Value Authority Contracting: Statutory Guidance - Draft for Consultation

  29 October 2008

  This consultation paper seeks views on updating and re-issuing existing guidance which sets out how staff who work on best value authority contracts are treated. Consultation closing date is 19 January 2009

 

Property maintenance

• What inspectors say about asset management and major works

  18 August 2010

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon

• HQN Your questions answered – health and safety – cold water storage systems

  12 August 2010

  Network briefing by Steve Mount

• Key issues from short notice inspections – void repairs

  13 July 2010

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon

• Home renewables grants

  2 July 2010

  Householders are being urged to snap up grants for home renewables from the Scottish Government

• Handypersons Financial Benefits Toolkit

  24 March 2010

  CLG guidance

• New green strategy will overhaul Britain's homes

  4 March 2010

  A green transformation of Britain's homes will take place over the next decade

• Clarifying when an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is required on the sale or letting of buildings

  2 March 2010

  Impact assessment

• Proposals for requiring Energy Performance Certificate ratings to be displayed on all property advertisements

  2 March 2010

  Impact assessment

• Requiring Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs)

  2 March 2010

  Impact assessment

• New deal on energy efficiency to help social housing tenants

  2 March 2010

  The government’s Warm Homes, Greener Homes Strategy will help social housing landlords halve the amount of carbon dioxide emissions from the homes they own, according to the TSA

• Making better use of Energy Performance Certificates and data

  2 March 2010

  Consultation closes 25 May 2010

• Meeting the challenge of climate change will establish a new era in local government

  26 November 2009

  Strong leadership, clear vision and ambition from councils could deliver reductions in carbon emissions of millions of tonnes annually and potentially unlock £1 billion in income for councils, according to Communities Secretary John Denham

• Energy efficiency of existing non-domestic buildings

  25 November 2009

  Where are we, and where do we want to be? Speech by Lord Bill McKenzie of Luton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

• What does excellence look like? Asset management and major works

  3 November 2009

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon

• Home Inspector Certification Schemes

  23 October 2009

  Certification Schemes are responsible for ensuring that Home Inspectors are 'fit and proper' persons, who are properly qualified and insured to produce Home Condition Reports (HCRs)

• Residents and businesses help shape the Thames Gateway eco-quarter

  16 October 2009

  New technologies and initiatives for homes and businesses in the Thames Gateway to tackle climate change will be tried out in the country's first eco-quarter, Thames Gateway Minister Shahid Malik has announced

• English House Condition Survey - 2007 Annual Report

  29 September 2009

  The report presents detailed findings from the 2007 survey on the housing conditions and energy performance of the stock

• Understanding permeable and impermeable surfaces

  15 September 2009

  Technical report on surfacing options and cost benefit analysis

• Further advice on fire risk assessments

  21 August 2009

  From Clare Miller, Executive Director - Risk and Assurance

• What does excellence look like? Gas servicing

  18 August 2009

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon looking at the attributes of excellent three-star organisations inspected by the Audit Commission in 2007 and 2008. This briefing covers gas servicing

• £84m for greener homes and cheaper energy bills

  4 August 2009

  The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has announced that 46 areas of the country will share a fund of up to £84m to help insulate social homes – reducing fuel bills for tenants and cutting carbon emissions

• HCA unveils cavity wall insulation funding

  14 May 2009

  The HCA has published on-line guidance of how social landlords - RSLs, ALMOs and local authorities - can bid for part of the additional £84m housing funding package announced in April’s 2009 budget for cavity wall insulation

• Right to enfranchise (RTE) provisions: a consultation

  12 May 2009

  This CLG consultation paper sets out the issues that have arisen in relation to the implementation of the Right to Enfranchise (RTE) provisions in the 2002 Act. Its aim is to seek views on the options that have been identified for how these could be dealt with and the proposal for the non-implementation and repeal of these provisions. Consultation closes 3 August 2009

• Efficiency in asset management

  28 April 2009

  Network briefing by Rob McNaughton looks at how organisations can achieve efficiency when dealing with existing housing stock

• Housing associations to note change to the gas safety law

  21 April 2009

  The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) has asked housing associations to note a major change in gas safety, which came into effect on 1 April 2009

• EU approves 5% VAT on home improvements

  12 March 2009

  Lifeline for builders as UK given option to reduce VAT on maintenance and repairs

• The Green Changing Rooms: Retrofitting the existing housing stock

  5 March 2009

  Speech by The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP, Minister for Housing and Planning

• The Future Home Improvement Agency - Handyperson services report

  3 March 2009

  This is a report on handyperson services, including benefits, steps in setting up services and key issues for service providers

• Minor repairs and adaptations ‘handyperson’ funding for 2009/10 and 2010/11

  3 March 2009

  Letter to local authority chief executives informing them of the availability of Minor Repair and Adaptation 'handyperson' grant allocations for 2009/10 and 2010/11

• The Quiet Revolution: Retro-fitting the Housing Stock

  13 February 2009

  Speech by The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP, Minister for Housing and Planning

• Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) consultation

  13 February 2009

  Government consultation on proposals for the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP). Consultation closing date 8 May 2009

• Heat and Energy Saving Strategy consultation

  13 February 2009

  CLG has launched the Heat and Energy Saving Strategy to seek views on its longer-term ambitions for how we can transform the way we use heat and energy in our homes and businesses when it comes to heat and energy efficiency. Consultation closing date 8 May 2009

• TSA’s corporate plan puts tenants first and outlines financial viability twin-track plan

  29 January 2009

  Economic and housing market conditions will pose a significant challenge to providers of social housing in the coming months, and they will need to 'be viable and well governed and improve constantly', according to the Tenant Services Authority

• English House Condition Survey - 2006 Annual Report

  26 November 2008

  CLG report which was based on a random achieved sample of 16,670 dwellings comprising a detailed non-intrusive physical inspection of the dwelling (including an assessment to its environment), and an interview with the householder

• Energy performance certificates: the new requirements

  20 November 2008

  Network briefing by Janis Bright which considers the new requirements and some of the issues arising from a pilot of EPCs carried out by social landlords last year

• Tackling fuel poverty

  14 October 2008

  Network briefing by Chris Bowen, explores amongst other things, the extent of fuel poverty, government targets and what a housing organisation can do to help reduce fuel poverty

• Research to assess the cost and benefits of the government's proposals to reduce the carbon footprint of new housing development

  9 September 2008

  CLG research, which provides an analysis of the costs and benefits of the proposed policy options for all new homes being zero carbon from 2016

• Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and renting homes: A landlord's guide

  8 September 2008

  This booklet gives advice to landlords on Energy Performance Certificates which will be required if renting to a new tenant from 1 October 2008

 

Performance measurement, management and improvement

• What inspectors say about asset management and major works

  18 August 2010

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon

• Grant Shapps sets out grand design for the future of green housing

  28 May 2010

  Housing Minister Grant Shapps joined eco-designer and broadcaster Kevin McCloud at his new eco-housing development in Swindon

• Lifetime Neighbourhoods: turning vision into reality

  25 February 2010

  Speech by Lord Bill McKenzie, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

• What does excellence look like? Asset management and major works

  3 November 2009

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon

• Risks of infection at work

  14 July 2009

  Complimentary SAFETYnet briefing, by Morag Brown, which covers a very topical issue, taking a look at 'risks from infections' giving you some things to think about, along with links for you to find more information if you require

• Code for Sustainable Homes: Technical guide - May 2009 Version 2

  3 July 2009

  This technical guidance sets out the requirements for the Code, and the process by which a Code assessment is reached. It aims to make gaining a Code assessment as simple, transparent and rigorous as possible

• Room for improvement: a review of strategic asset management

  22 June 2009

  This report follows up on the Audit Commission report Hot Property (2000), and reveals that councils have made only modest progress in improving the management of their estate - worth an estimated £250 billion in 2008 - over the last ten years. The report also finds central government partly to blame, by sending local government mixed messages: calling on councils to rationalise assets, to improve buildings and offices, and to share assets with the community

• Efficiency in asset management

  28 April 2009

  Network briefing by Rob McNaughton looks at how organisations can achieve efficiency when dealing with existing housing stock

• The National Energy Efficiency and Savings Plan

  16 March 2009

  This plan aims to reduce Wales’ greenhouse gas emissions by making all parts of Welsh society more energy efficient. This means helping people to save energy and cut costs at home, working with communities, and supporting the public sector and business to become more energy efficient

• TSA calls for housing associations to examine stock to improve services to tenants

  27 February 2009

  Housing associations that streamline the ownership and management arrangements of their homes can improve services to tenants, according to the Tenants Services Authority (TSA)

• Health and safety journey to excellence

  4 February 2009

  An exclusive narrated PowerPoint presentation by SAFETYnet member Jas Sidhu, Head of Property Services at Mercian Housing Association. Jas sets out Mercian’s five-step journey toward health and safety excellence. Originally presented at the SAFETYnet Stay out of jail event in Solihull on 28 January 2009, Jas recreates this inspirational story of leadership and engagement through his narration of Mercian’s journey. For more information about SAFETYnet contact at safetynet@hqnetwork.co.uk

 

Service providers (DLO and contractor information)

• Contractor insolvency: a survival guide

  30 July 2010

  Complimentary TEAMnet briefing by Emma Wiltshire

• HQN accredits two high-performing DLOs

  23 July 2010

  HQN is proud to announce the DLO accreditation of two clients: Merlin Housing Society, based in Gloucestershire and Calico Housing based in Lancashire

• HQN Accredit: DLO

  13 April 2010

  The UK’s first and only accreditation system, developed by HQN and specifically designed for direct labour organisations

• Partnering and open-book – till dispute do us part?

  17 November 2008

  TEAMnet briefing by Wayne Hughes and Rob McNaughton, made available here to Network members, explores the benefits and pitfalls of partnering

 

Sustainable development

• The Sustainable Communities (Amendment) Bill

  13 April 2010

  Has now received Royal Assent

• Code for Sustainable Homes

  15 March 2010

  A cost review

• The Code for Sustainable Homes: Case Studies Volume 2 - March 2010

  2 March 2010

  CLG publication

• The Code for Sustainable Homes: Case Studies

  2 March 2010

  CLG publication

• Progress towards the sustainability of the building stock in England and Wales

  11 February 2010

  Second parliamentary report: Section 6 of The Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004

• Code for Sustainable Homes technical guide

  22 December 2009

  This consultation version of the technical guide is part of the Sustainable New Homes: The Road to Zero Carbon: Consultation on the Code for Sustainable Homes and the Energy Efficiency Standard for Zero Carbon Homes publication. The consultation closes on 24 March 2010

• Code for Sustainable Homes

  22 December 2009

  Impact assessment - December 2009

• Package for planners on 100th birthday of Planning Act

  3 December 2009

  Housing Minister John Healey has announced support for councils to plan and deliver new homes and green energy projects to power the country to a low carbon future

• Second wave of eco-towns

  3 December 2009

  Housing Minister John Healey has announced proposals for a second wave of world leading eco-towns and pledged to double the money to a total of £10m to support councils in developing their plans

• New powers key to meeting housing needs of Wales

  30 November 2009

  The proposed Sustainable Homes Legislative Competence Order (LCO)

• Community Land Trusts and affordable housing

  22 October 2009

  Network briefing by Vanessa Morton

• Residents and businesses help shape the Thames Gateway eco-quarter

  16 October 2009

  New technologies and initiatives for homes and businesses in the Thames Gateway to tackle climate change will be tried out in the country's first eco-quarter, Thames Gateway Minister Shahid Malik has announced

• Merseyside to become biggest UK low carbon economy

  17 September 2009

  Liverpool City-Region councils have gained further freedoms and powers to work together to create jobs by transforming the tourism and low carbon economy in the region, announced Housing and Planning Minister John Healey

• £84m for greener homes and cheaper energy bills

  4 August 2009

  The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has announced that 46 areas of the country will share a fund of up to £84m to help insulate social homes – reducing fuel bills for tenants and cutting carbon emissions

• The Next Steps: EPCS and the establishment of the Green Homes Service: Consultation

  21 July 2009

  Summary of responses

• Ian Austin: celebrating the best in housing design

  17 July 2009

  Housing Minister Ian Austin has congratulated the innovative projects recognised at this year's Housing Design Awards for delivering high quality homes to high environmental standards

• John Healey: action to help developers during downturn and build greener buildings

  19 June 2009

  Developers will be given more time to start building and further flexibility to adapt plans, under a package of new measures announced by Housing Minister John Healey to support the industry during these tough economic times

• Code for Sustainable Homes: technical guide - May 2009

  14 May 2009

  On 13 December 2006, the Code for Sustainable Homes - a new national standard for sustainable design and construction of new homes - was launched. This technical guidance sets out the requirements for the Code, and the process by which a Code assessment is reached. It aims to make gaining a Code assessment as simple, transparent and rigorous as possible

• Demonstrating sustainability of housing organisations

  14 April 2009

  Network briefing by Richard Lupo describes the benefit of demonstrating sustainability for a social housing provider

• The Hallmarks of a Sustainable City

  19 March 2009

  Speech by The Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

• Sustainable Communities Act 2007: Local Spending Reports - Consultation Document

  24 February 2009

  The purpose of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 is to promote the sustainability of local communities. It provides a channel for local communities and local authorities to ask central government to take action which they believe would improve the economic, social or environmental well-being of their area. Consultation closes 15 May 2009

• Social housing watchdog welcomes energy saving proposals to cut bills

  19 February 2009

  The Tenant Services Authority has welcomed the government's proposals to increase energy efficiency and low carbon heat technologies in every home, which would see lower energy bills for social housing tenants

• Sustainable maintenance in existing homes

  2 January 2009

  Network briefing by Richard Lupo explains not only how to maintain the existing stock but how to take the opportunity, during maintenance activities, to improve the environmental performance

• Definition of Zero Carbon Homes and Non-Domestic Buildings: Consultation

  17 December 2008

  Building a Greener Future: Policy Statement (2007) announced that all new homes will be zero carbon from 2016, and said that CLG would consult again on the detailed definition. Budget 2008 announced the government's ambition that all new non-domestic buildings should be zero carbon from 2019. This consultation proposes a definition of zero carbon new homes, based on high energy efficiency, on- or near-site carbon reduction, and allowable solutions for dealing with the remaining emissions. Consultation closes 18.3.09

• Metropolitan Housing Partnership and sustainability

  2 December 2008

  This Network case study by Matthew Bush summarises what they have achieved so far and where they are heading

• Before the well runs dry: sustainable building to save water

  14 November 2008

  Speech by The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP, Minister for Housing

• New climate change duty and parliamentary scrutiny to strengthen Planning Bill

  6 November 2008

  New amendments to the government's Planning Bill have been laid in Parliament to strengthen the scrutiny of national policy statements by the House of Lords, and tackle climate change

• Eco-towns: Living a greener future - summary of consultation responses

  4 November 2008

  The Eco-towns: Living a greener future consultation ran from 3 April 2008 to 30 June 2008 and sought the public's views on the vision for eco-towns and the shortlisted locations proposed

• Public consultation opens on toughest ever green standards for eco-towns

  4 November 2008

  Local communities will get their next chance to have their say on the eco-town proposals as Housing Minister Margaret Beckett has now launched the government's second round of formal consultation on the proposed locations and standards for eco-towns

• Eco-towns: Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Eco-towns Programme: Introduction

  4 November 2008

  Introduction to the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) of the eco-towns Programme, including an overview of the process and methodology, the initial scrutiny of bids received, and an outline of likely significant effects as part of the HRA

• Tackling the green agenda

  21 October 2008

  Network briefing by Richard Lupo outlines the main initiatives taken in the UK and what they mean for building practice with a particular reference to social housing providers

• Secretary of State's formal invitation to Local Authorities to submit proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007

  16 October 2008

  This is the first formal invitation to local authorities to submit proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007. Councils have until 31 July 2009 to submit their proposals to the selector (the LGA)

• Tenants home in on bills

  1 October 2008

  New research shows that 79% of renters are worried about the cost of their household bills

• Evaluation of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) pilot for social housing: Final Summary Report

  1 October 2008

  This publication evaluates the pilot scheme developed to support the roll-out of Energy Performance Certificates to rented properties, in particular social housing

• Research to assess the cost and benefits of the government's proposals to reduce the carbon footprint of new housing development

  9 September 2008

  CLG research, which provides an analysis of the costs and benefits of the proposed policy options for all new homes being zero carbon from 2016

• Eco-town plans shape up, say experts

  1 August 2008

  Significant progress has been made in the proposals for eco-towns, according to a report published by the Eco-Town Challenge Panel, an independent group of experts in sustainability and urban development set up by Housing Minister Caroline Flint

 

Fuel poverty

• Warmer houses – healthier homes

  26 February 2010

  Housing Health and Fuel Poverty Forum's website

• National Indicators for Local Authorities and Local Authority Partnerships

  26 February 2010

  Updated National Indicator Definitions

• Cold homes in the private rented sector

  26 February 2010

  The role of local authorities

• Leeds City Region Summit

  26 February 2010

  Speech by The Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Local Government

• Fuel poverty inquiry announced

  26 February 2010

  The Energy and Climate Change Committee has issued a call for written evidence for its forthcoming short inquiry into fuel poverty

• Fuel poverty policy challenged by think tank

  26 February 2010

  The government needs to revamp its strategy for helping people pay their fuel bills, a think tank claims