HA outlines plans to build 5,700 homes and achieve net zero carbon

A housing association has revealed plans to build and regenerate over 5,700 homes and achieve net zero carbon in its own operations. Orbit’s 2030 corporate strategy also outlines its ambitions to invest significantly in its … Read more

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Majority of homeowners lack knowledge to choose heat pumps

A new survey has found that 59% of UK homeowners lack the information to confidently transition from traditional heating systems, such as gas boilers, to heat pumps and other renewable heating options. The Construction Industry … Read more

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Social landlord wins bid for government clean energy funding

A social landlord’s partnership with a net-zero technology specialist has led to a successful funding bid for a pioneering energy project. Flagship Group and Sero have secured funds through the government’s Community Energy Fund, a … Read more

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Government scuppers third hydrogen town trial plan

The government has deferred plans for yet another hydrogen town trial, pushing the scheme back until at least after 2026. The move follows a similar decision to cancel plans to abandon hydrogen schemes in Redcar and … Read more

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Government’s heat pump grant scheme changes come into effect

The government says that heat pumps will become cheaper and easier for families to install as proposed changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme came into effect this week. The revised scheme will see homeowners given … Read more

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A week in climate change, 9 May

Warm ocean fans, rejoice, for the world’s greatest bodies of H2O have managed to break temperature records every single day over the course of the last tumultuous year. Pretty soon, fish eaters will be able … Read more

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Report calls for energy efficiency to be factored into social rents

Energy efficiency should be factored into the social rent formula, a new report has concluded. The Housing Forum, a cross-sector organisation that represents the entire housing supply chain, says that though social housing is currently the … Read more

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Opinion: The RICS’ Residential Retrofit Standard – what are the implications for housing associations?

By Simon Walker, National Director, Public Sector, RICS In March, the RICS unveiled a new standard for residential retrofit work, marking a significant milestone in the drive towards more sustainable and energy-efficient housing and potentially … Read more

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A week in climate change, 24 April

Would you like to know where the Scottish government’s flagship target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030 is? It’s in a ditch. They’ve ditched it. But why? Why this ditching? It’s too … Read more

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HA’s new partnership to offer free money management and energy advice

Housing association Orbit has entered into a new partnership with Citizens Advice Mid Mercia (CAMM) to offer customers free money management and energy advice. CAMM will support customers by providing debt and budgeting advice and … Read more

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Project Manager

As Project Manager, you will be responsible for all Project Management activities, from inception to completion, in the delivery of our Decent Homes, Sustainability and Neighbourhood Improvement Works. You will also be responsible for the … Read more

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Opinion: Building the future – developments in sustainable construction

New sustainability technologies are moving at a faster pace than ever. Here, James Bradbury, Director of Development Operations at Stonewater, looks at the innovations the social landlord has seen throughout its journey to 6,000 homes … Read more

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Social landlord awards almost £150k to environmental projects

Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group, has awarded £145,800 in funding to support environmental projects across the country. The Community Green Grants Programme offered grants of up to £7,500 to organisations delivering … Read more

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A week in climate change, 20 March

If you don’t like ice very much, then famously ice-haunted area the Arctic could be the place for you in a few years. For, according to researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder, the polar … Read more

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Tenants ‘could save’ £400 a year as government offers £75m towards efficiency upgrades

The government claims that social housing tenants could save as much as £400 a year on their energy bills after it awarded £75 million from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund towards free upgrades to tenants’ … Read more

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London residents to benefit from decarbonisation funding

Residents in some of a London borough’s least energy-efficient properties are set to benefit after the council secured £1.7m in grant funding from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) programme. Haringey Council says it will … Read more

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Charity’s toolkit aims to help social housing tenants grow own food

A charity is looking to partner with housing associations as it launches a new project to empower tenants to take control of growing in their shared community spaces. Garden Organics says its organic gardening programme, … Read more

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Developers must explore retrofitting before demolition under council’s new rules

New rules put forward by a local authority will mean developers must explore the option to retrofit before demolishing buildings. Westminster City Council says the move will accelerate the upgrading of commercial buildings to meet … Read more

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A week in climate change, 28 March

Bad news for UK trees this week – though, having said, I don’t imagine there are many good-news-for-trees weeks. Climate change experts are exasperated about cuts to tree-planting schemes in Scotland, with the woodland creation … Read more

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Donation boosts housing association’s warm spaces programme

Housing association Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group, has partnered with the Rothesay Foundation, the charitable foundation of UK pensions insurer Rothesay, to expand its warm spaces programme. The Rothesay Foundation has … Read more

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Course of the week

Collecting with care 2024 – Mental health, housing income and rent arrears: 13 March – Live virtual training  The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute estimates that one in three social housing tenants with rent arrears, … Read more

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Course of the week

An introduction to HHSRS and housing standards: 28 March – Live virtual training  This virtual training is aimed at frontline workers who frequently go into residents’ properties. It raises awareness and knowledge of the property … Read more

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Course of the week

A new era for resident engagement – for housing staff: 22 February – Live virtual training  This course will take delegates through the new regulatory expectations, help you get where you need to be and … Read more

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Course of the week

Condensation, damp and mould for non-technical officers: 13 February – Live virtual training  Condensation, damp and mould if left untreated can have profound consequences on quality of life and health as well as the fabric … Read more

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A week in climate change, 1 February 2024

Some enterprising people at the University of East London have been making building blocks out of sugarcane waste, which, it turns out, is a viable alternative to dirty old concrete – at least according to … Read more

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Three million households ‘will be trapped in fuel poverty by 2030’

Three million households will be trapped in fuel poverty by 2030, according to a new report. Launched this week by National Energy Action (NEA), the UK Fuel Poverty Monitor report also warns the UK government … Read more

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Course of the week

Customer complaint handling workshop: 28 February – Live virtual training  The Housing Ombudsman says that 2 of every 3 complaints they see could have been handled better by the landlord. Getting complaint handling right saves … Read more

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HQN Training – new for 2024

New for 2024 all of our courses are now certificated with professional development hours. View all our upcoming public courses here.  Further details on professionalisation requirements and the competency and conduct standard for the social … Read more

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Two million to be cut off from their gas and electricity this winter, warning

More than two million people across Britain will disconnect from their gas and electricity this winter because they can’t afford to top up their prepayment meter, new analysis from Citizens Advice has revealed. And the … Read more

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Housing Quality Magazine January 2024

Welcome to the January 2024 edition of HQM. We start the year with a look at the planned 2024/25 rent increase and its implications for both landlords and residents. We also ask some of the … Read more

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