What's new

7 January 2009

Booking places for tenants at the TSA’s regional National Conversation events

Booking is now open (see our earlier notice for details of locations, venues and times). To register tenants’ interest in attending an event, ring our TSA event manager on 0191 566 1026. We’ll need to know your name, your organisation, location, and how many tenants you’d like to send and to which event (we’d strongly prefer you to send tenants to an event being held in the region in which they live, so if there are exceptions please mention this when booking).

We expect demand for the events to be very high and so we can’t guarantee any place. The deadline for booking onto events is ten days before the event is due to happen. We will then confirm with you how many places we can offer you

6 January 2009

TSA National Conversation update - Regional events for tenants

The regional events for tenants are going to be held on the following dates and locations:

27 January - Leeds, Town Hall: 10.00 - 12.00 and 2.00 - 4.00

3 February - Manchester, City of Manchester Stadium: 10.00 - 12.00 and 2.00 - 4.00

4 February - Birmingham, Villa Park: 10.00 - 12.00 and 2.00 - 4.00

5 February - Durham, Ramside Hall Hotel: 10.00 - 12.00 and 2.00 - 4.00

11 February - Leicester, Athena Conference Centre: 10.00 - 12.00 and 2.00 - 4.00

12 February - Cambridge, Corn Exchange: 10.00 - 12.00 and 2.00 - 4.00

24 February - Gatwick, Effingham Hotel: 11.00 - 1.00

25 February - Twickenham Stadium (for SE region): 11.00 - 1.00

26 February - London, Emirates Stadium: 10.00 - 12.00 and 2.00 - 4.00

4 March - Plymouth, Duke of Cornwall Hotel: 11.00 - 1.00

5 March - Bristol, Ashton Gate Stadium: 11.00 - 1.00

The TSA is writing to every provider today to provide further information on how you can book places for your tenants – further details will also be posted on this website shortly

6 January 2009

To see ourselves as others see us - but first

How good is your board? Test yourself in our quick online quiz for board members. Follow the link to our HQN governance self-assessment toolkit with a foreword from Peter Marsh of the TSA

6 January 2009

Gypsies and Traveller accommodation – an update

Network briefing by Vanessa Morton, provides an update on the developing frameworks around Gypsy and Traveller accommodation, looks at recent analysis of progress on the ground and highlights the excellent practical toolkits and guidance now available to assist local authorities and housing organisations

5 January 2009

Supporting local information and research: Understanding demand and improving capacity

CLG in partnership with the Audit Commission and the Local Government Association, commissioned this external review to better understand how to strengthen support to local partners in using local information and research in decision-making

5 January 2009

Civic Pioneers Case Study Review

In the spring of 2007, funding was made available through the Community Empowerment Division to Civic Pioneer local authority areas to carry out projects focusing on community empowerment. This Review presents case studies of each of the twelve funded projects, together with a simple analysis of the lessons learned from these experiences. The report represents valuable learning for practitioners and policy makers

2 January 2009

Sustainable maintenance in existing homes

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

2 January 2009

Reform of the Scottish fuel poverty policy

Network briefing note by Colin Armstrong looks at the background to this reform, summarises the key measures being introduced and considers the wider implications

30 December 2008

Delivering Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods - A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society

This publication is a follow up to Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society which was published in February 2008

30 December 2008

Citizens of Equal Worth: putting tenants at the heart of government

Network briefing by Nigel Long summarises the now publicised recommendations of the NTV project group

24 December 2008

More handy help at home for older people

Older people are to get more 'handyman' help to carry out repairs to their homes following a £33m allocation announced by Communities Minister Baroness Andrews

23 December 2008

Healey - 100 days to bang the drum for new councils

The 100 day countdown to the biggest transformation of local government for 30 years has now begun

23 December 2008

Positive practice information

Identified at inspection by the Audit Commission

22 December 2008

The government’s new rough sleeping strategy: No One Left Out – a new goal to end rough sleeping

Network briefing by Sheila Spencer looks at what's new in this strategy, what is planned and the role of local authorities and their partners

19 December 2008

Options for the Future of the Household Projection Model: A final report

The Communities and Local Government 'household projection model' is used to generate household projections using the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) sub-national population projections, with the outputs used as a key element of the evidence base for housing and planning. The national household projections are the government's official long-term view of the future if demographic trends were to continue, and are particularly important in supporting policy development and enabling regional and local bodies to plan their housing and other services

19 December 2008

Fair Rules for Strong Communities

A cross-government plan setting out the values and characteristics that ministers believe matter for strong communities. The purpose of the plan is to provide a clear statement of the government's understanding of the issues facing communities and its approach to addressing them

19 December 2008

The Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determination 2009-2010 and the Item 8 Credit and Item 8 Debit (General) Determination 2009-2010

The Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determination 2009-2010 and the Item 8 Credit and Item 8 Debit (General) Determination 2009-2010, together with supporting papers and explanatory notes

19 December 2008

Affordable Housing Supply, England, 2007-2008

The latest statistics on gross affordable housing supply in England

19 December 2008

Crunch time? The impact of the economic downturn on local government finances

Despite recent scare stories, councils are well placed to ride out the immediate effects of the credit crunch, according to new Audit Commission research. The watchdog has published a study of council finances which shows that most local authorities anticipated the increased costs, and loss of income to some extent

19 December 2008

Inspection report

North Somerset Housing Limited - Housing management services

19 December 2008

Inspection report

Ealing Homes Limited (ALMO) - Ealing London Borough Council

19 December 2008

Inspection report

Southend on Sea BC - Supporting people

19 December 2008

Inspection report

Lee Housing Association Ltd - Housing management services

19 December 2008

Inspection report

Bridgnorth District Council - Landlord services

19 December 2008

Inspection report

Eastend Homes - Housing management service

19 December 2008

Inspection report

Cambridge City Council - Landlord services

18 December 2008

Implementation of tenant service charges

Network briefing by Tony Huff

17 December 2008

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

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

17 December 2008

Funding to help homeowners

The Scottish Government is to provide an extra £5m this year for its existing Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme which helps families at risk of losing their home

17 December 2008

Investing in Affordable Housing: a consultation

Good quality, affordable housing is fundamental to our wellbeing and success as individuals, communities and as a country. To maximise how affordable housing meets the needs of current and future tenants, the Scottish Government proposes a more strategic and competitive approach for delivering our investment and has now launched Investing in Affordable Housing, a consultation on those proposals. Consultation closes 17 March 2009

17 December 2008

The Wider Role Fund

The Wider Role Fund supports housing associations (HAs) to undertake projects in their local communities, beyond their principal role as landlords, which make life better for the people living there. HAs often work in partnership with other organisations to deliver wider role projects

16 December 2008

Rough sleeping in London

Speech by Iain Wright MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

16 December 2008

LEGI update report

This report reviews the initial development phase of the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) programme in terms of delivery and progress towards key objectives

16 December 2008

Empowerment Fund: Evaluation strategy – Summary

The Empowerment Fund will provide strategic, stable and sector funding for organisations with charitable, philanthropic or benevolent purposes

16 December 2008

£400m deal agreed to provide affordable housing

A deal worth more than £400m to help first time buyers aspiring to buy their own home has been approved by Housing Minister Margaret Beckett, as part of the government's programme of action to tackle current difficulties in the economy

16 December 2008

The Scottish Housing Regulator recruits tenant assessors

The Scottish Housing Regulator has launched a recruitment campaign for volunteer tenant assessors. The Scottish Housing Regulator regulates and inspects Registered Social Landlords and the housing and homelessness functions of local authorities

16 December 2008

How the social housing sector can help to tackle worklessness

Network briefing paper by Sheila Spencer focuses on the work that has been done by housing associations, arm’s-length management organisations (ALMOs), and local authorities, individually and in partnership with other housing organisations to tackle worklessness

15 December 2008

Measuring Housing Affordability: A Review of Data Sources

The Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research has collated information on the sources of standard housing data that Planning Authorities can use to understand housing affordability in one accessible resource

12 December 2008

More funding for housing choice

More tenants will be able to have a greater say over their housing options and where they wish to live following a £1m allocation announced by Housing Minister Iain Wright

12 December 2008

HCA acts to drive up supply of affordable homes

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has spelt out its offer to development partners to help drive forward housing supply. Registered Social Landlords and other partners, eligible for funding through the National Affordable Housing Programme, have been given a menu of options from the HCA to support them through the current volatile market

12 December 2008

Positive practice information

Identified at inspection by the Audit Commission

11 December 2008

Homelessness numbers down by 60%

National statistics released, show that the number of households accepted as homeless has been cut by 60% since 2003

11 December 2008

TSA to address finance experts at national conference

Speech by Andrew Dench, Deputy Director TSA Policy and Transition Team

11 December 2008

Tenant Services Authority letter to Housing Associations

Tenant Services Authority letter to Housing Associations assesses current threats and advises on responses

11 December 2008

Delivery team for Tenant Services Authority’s National Conversation announced

HQN and the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC), who provide a range of membership services to clients in the housing sector, have formed a partnership to deliver a comprehensive events programme. This will include both tenant-led and TSA-led events for tenants, prospective tenants, landlords and providers

11 December 2008

Housing Statistics 2008

The latest annual volume of Housing Statistics for 2008 have now been released

11 December 2008

Statutory Homelessness: 3rd Quarter (July to September) 2008, England

The latest national statistics on Statutory Homelessness for the third quarter (July to September) 2008 have now been released under arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority

11 December 2008

Programmes to promote employment for disabled people: Lessons from the United States

This DWP report reviews evaluation findings from the US experience in providing return-to-work supports for people with disabilities and discusses the implications for similar efforts in the UK. The report provides lessons for developing and evaluating future UK employment initiatives, especially for people with severe psychiatric conditions and long-term disability claimants

11 December 2008

The Tenant Services Authority National Conversation - A joint briefing by HQN and the Northern Housing Consortium

Network briefing by Charlie Hughes sets out what we know so far and explains why providers from all parts of the sector should get involved

11 December 2008

Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs)

Network briefing by Chris Bowen highlights the pros and cons of CPOs, summarises their legal basis and alerts HQN members to good practice in the use of CPOs

11 December 2008

Give me shelter - Providing housing and support services that older people want

Tuesday 3 February 2009, Regents Park Marriott, London

10 December 2008

House price index - October 2008

The latest UK house price index statistics have been produced by Communities and Local Government

10 December 2008

Stop press - Delivery team for Tenant Services Authority’s National Conversation announced

HQN and the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC), who provide a range of membership services to clients in the housing sector, have formed a partnership to deliver a comprehensive events programme. This will include both tenant-led and TSA-led events for tenants, prospective tenants, landlords and providers

10 December 2008

Community ownership and management of assets

A Joseph Rowntree review of evidence on community organisations owning or managing assets, including buildings and land

10 December 2008

Minister announces 2009-10 Disabled Facilities Grant local authority allocation

Housing Minister Baroness Andrews today announced how much funding each local authority will get to help disabled and older people stay in their homes through the Disabled Facilities Grant Programme. The government is making £157m available to local authorities in England for 2009-10 through the programme, with over 230 local authorities receiving an increase

10 December 2008

£605m for Local Authorities with plans for housing growth

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett has today announced a £605 million allocation to 163 local authorities with long-term plans to increase house building to meet the needs of their communities

10 December 2008

Home buying and selling

Speech by Margaret Beckett, Minister for Housing and Planning

10 December 2008

Improving consumer information in the Home Information Pack - Summary of responses

Summary of the responses to the proposals

9 December 2008

State of the Nation 2008: a reality check

Network briefing paper by Anna Evans, summarises all the main recent developments in Scotland

8 December 2008

Queen's Speech

Network briefing which summarises the speech and highlights implications for housing providers

8 December 2008

Monitoring poverty and social exclusion 2008

This Joseph Rowntree report marks the tenth anniversary of the first edition of Monitoring poverty and social exclusion. Built around a set of indicators constructed using the latest official government data, the report assesses the record across a wide range of subjects from low income to exclusion from services. It effectively provides a picture of the state of poverty and social exclusion in the UK just before the onset of the recent economic downturn

8 December 2008

New measures to benefit consumers

A new package of measures to ensure consumers receive improved information in the home buying and selling process was announced today by Housing Minister Margaret Beckett

8 December 2008

Amendments to Part 2 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996

This impact assessment contains information on options considered for the implementation of amendments to the 1996 "Construction Act". A draft version was originally published in July 2008 for public consultation. This consultation closed in September 2008 and this assessment takes into account comments made during that consultation

8 December 2008

New legislation to help build stronger communities

The government has published wide-ranging legislation that will give local people new rights to shape local services and give greater responsibility to local authorities to promote economic development helping communities respond to local challenges

8 December 2008

From engagement to empowerment - the changing agenda in provider-resident relationships

Wednesday 4 February, Kingsway Hall Hotel, London; Thursday 5 February, Royal York Hotel, York

5 December 2008

Pre-Budget (PBR) report

The Housing Quality Networks Pre-Budget (PBR) report, from 24 November 2008, which covers the implications for the housing sector

4 December 2008

Fair Rules for Strong Communities

A cross-government plan setting out the values and characteristics that Ministers believe matter for strong communities. The purpose of the plan is to provide a clear statement of the government's understanding of the issues facing communities and its approach to addressing them

4 December 2008

Guidance on standards for the establishment and operation of drug consumption rooms in the UK

Joseph Rowntree Housing report which provides essential guidance for local multi-agency partnerships that are contemplating establishing and operating a drug consumption room (DCR) in the UK

4 December 2008

Tackling worklessness in NDC areas - a policy and practice update

This paper draws out lessons from four NDC programmes' efforts to tackle worklessness, giving examples of progress made, the problems faced and projects used to address them and provides a guide to some of the issues relevant to neighbourhood level interventions to tackle worklessness

4 December 2008

Delivering Succession Strategies

The New Deal for Communities Programme has been the most intensive and enduring area-based initiative aimed at tackling the issues faced by deprived neighbourhoods to date. NDC Partnerships, as they approach the end of the 10-year grant-funded period, are seeking to find sustainable ways to continue supporting change in their neighbourhoods. This research reviews the experiences of case study partnerships in developing appropriate arrangements for succession

4 December 2008

New scheme to help people at risk of repossession

The government today announced a new scheme to help people who suffer a temporary loss of income stay in their home

4 December 2008

Statement welcoming Queen's Speech

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

4 December 2008

Local Area Agreements

Research publications about Local Area Agreements (LAAs)

4 December 2008

National Landlords' Association

Speech by Iain Wright MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

4 December 2008

New council powers to boost economic prosperity

The government have introduced and published in Parliament a Bill which will provide new scope for councils and businesses to work together to invest in the long-term economic prosperity of their local communities

4 December 2008

Minister announces £350m boost to Welsh economy

Andrew Davies, the Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery, has announced a £350m package to boost the Welsh economy via innovative, cross-cutting and strategic capital projects

4 December 2008

Inspection report

Dartford Borough Council - Strategic housing services

4 December 2008

Inspection report

Haringey London Borough Council - Allocations and lettings

3 December 2008

Responding to the Changing Economic Climate – Further Action on Housing

Network briefing note by Colin Armstrong summarises Responding to the Changing Economic Climate – Further Action on Housing

2 December 2008

Metropolitan Housing Partnership and sustainability

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

2 December 2008

Disability Equality Report

The purpose of this report is to help further the government's vision of equality for disabled people by 2025 as set out in the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit Report Improving Life Chances of Disabled People

2 December 2008

Inspection report

Valleys to Coast Housing Association - According to the Auditor General Valleys to Coast HA are providing mostly ‘satisfactory’ services

2 December 2008

Planning bill green light will now accelerate renewable energy

The UK's ability to compete in a tough global economy and deliver new green infrastructure vital for reducing our carbon emissions has been given a major boost with the Royal Assent of the Planning Bill

2 December 2008

Tackling credit crunch first priority for Homes and Communities Agency

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), has outlined its commitment to address current market conditions. England’s new housing and regeneration agency will establish new ways of working in a bid to sustain development activity during the downturn

2 December 2008

Drive for affordable homes and improved rights for tenants steps up a gear

The drive to deliver much needed affordable homes and safeguard higher housing standards for eight million social housing tenants has taken a massive step forward, as the new Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Tenant Services Authority (TSA) are officially launched by Housing Minister Margaret Beckett

2 December 2008

Community Infrastructure Levy: Impact assessment

CIL will be a new charge which local authorities in England and Wales will be empowered, but not required, to charge on most types of development

28 November 2008

Flexibility to deliver for vulnerable people

Communities Minister Baroness Andrews has confirmed that councils in England are to receive £1.66 billion Supporting People Programme Grant funding - as an unringfenced named grant

28 November 2008

Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2007-08 final outturn

The latest national statistics on the final outturn of local authority revenue expenditure and financing for 2007-08

28 November 2008

Impacts and Outcomes of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund

The NRF has been the principal funding mechanism deployed to drive forward the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal at the local level. It has assisted England's 88 most deprived authorities, in collaboration with their Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), in their work to improve services and narrow the gap between deprived areas and the rest

28 November 2008

Overall Employment rate (working age population) at neighbourhood level (in deprived areas), England, April 2007/March 2008

The baseline data measuring Departmental Strategic Objective 3.7: Overall Employment rate (working age population) at neighbourhood level (in deprived areas). The release covers the baseline data for the most deprived areas in Working Neighbourhood Fund (WNF) areas and the rest of England, for April 2007-March 2008

28 November 2008

Tackling Worklessness: A Review of the contribution and role of local authorities and partnerships - Interim Report

The Interim Report of Stephen Houghton's Tackling Worklessness Review contains the Review team's current thinking on how successful multi-agency and cross-sector local partnerships can best tackle worklessness in their communities

28 November 2008

Planning bill green light will now accelerate renewable energy

The UK's ability to compete in a tough global economy and deliver new green infrastructure vital for reducing our carbon emissions has been given a major boost with the Royal Assent of the Planning Bill

28 November 2008

Inspection report

Sheffield City Council - Benefits

28 November 2008

ALMO re-inspection report

Newark and Sherwood Homes - Newark and Sherwood District Council

28 November 2008

The regulatory and financial map of the affordable housing market

Network briefing by Charlie Hughes looks at regulation and funding and also includes both public and private players as we are increasingly operating in a mixed economy

27 November 2008

Are you going in the right direction?

Get your bearings with a housing strategy health check

26 November 2008

Addressing worklessness with social housing tenants through targeted outreach

Complimentary SUNnet briefing paper describes why it is such an important issue for social landlords, and shows how Unity Housing Association has addressed it by developing the Tenants Into Work (TIW) model of partnership working and outreach

26 November 2008

Government welcomes the Killian Pretty report

The government has welcomed proposals to help small businesses and councils save up to £300m a year through a root and branch overhaul of the bureaucratic planning application process recommended by the Killian Pretty review

26 November 2008

Government response to Prosperous Places: Taking forward the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration

This document sets out how the government will take forward the reforms proposed in the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration (the SNR), following public consultation

26 November 2008

History made as Corporation signs first ever funding agreement with an ALMO

For the first time in the Housing Corporation's history, a social housing funding agreement has been signed between an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) and the Corporation. Stockport Homes has received £1.02m from the Corporation to fund 17 new homes

26 November 2008

Milestone as Housing Corporation signs last funding agreements

The Housing Corporation has added a further six partners to its list of delivery partners who are now able to proceed with delivering much needed affordable homes. The Corporation has signed over £25m in funding agreements with private sector and other new partners to deliver over 600 homes, as part of the Corporation's £8.4 billion 2008-11 investment programme

26 November 2008

Inspection report

West Dunbartonshire Council. Interim Report on Improvement Progress. According to the Scottish Housing Regulator following the previous inspection in 2003/04, the Council’s housing service has improved in some areas

26 November 2008

Time and income poverty

Time and money are two key constraints on what people can achieve. The income constraint is widely recognised by policy-makers and social scientists in their concern with poverty. This Joseph Rowntree study looks at individuals who are significantly limited by time and income constraints: those who could escape income poverty only by incurring time poverty, or vice versa

26 November 2008

Allocations policies: effective practice to prevent homelessness

Speech by Iain Wright MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

26 November 2008

Working together to deliver for Gypsies and Travellers

Speech by Iain Wright MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State