Decent Homes Review – sign up for updates

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The Review of the Decent Homes Standard has been underway since early 2021 – and the Northern Housing Consortium are part of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ Review Sounding Board.

With a consultation on extending the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector having concluded last year, the NHC are expecting the Review of the Standard itself to pick up pace in coming weeks.  During the passage of the Social Housing Regulation Bill, Ministers also pledged to bring forward a consultation on a regulatory standard for energy efficiency in the social rented sector, within six months of the Bill receiving Royal Assent.

The NHC are therefore expecting the next few months to be a critical period to influence the development of both initiatives, and to ensure we have ambitious and deliverable standards to take us into the 2030s. Commenting, NHC Executive Director (Policy and Public Affairs) Brian Robson said:

“We welcome the Government’s commitment to bringing forward a new Decent Homes Standard to replace the current 2006 version. Energy efficiency will form an important part of updates to the Standard, and the NHC is therefore encouraging the Department to bring these consultations forward in parallel, in order that social landlords can provide holistic and considered feedback.”

NHC members can sign up for updates direct from the NHC’s policy team, ensuring that you are kept up-to-date on the progress of the review, and get to shape our response. If you’d like to receive our Decent Homes Review update, please email kristina.dawson@northern-consortium.org.uk

Northern Housing Markets Outlook with JLL 2023 – Event write-up

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International real estate company JLL gave a session on market trends in housing on the 22nd February 2022. The session was hosted by NHC with involvement from members in the roundtable. From JLL, we had Marcus Dixon and Paul Winstanley, who gave insights into the economic insight into the housing market, the PRS and the situation in social housing. The session was chaired by Dave Richmond, chief executive of St. Leger Homes.

The session began with an introduction from Marcus Dixon with an economic narrative giving a breakdown of what is happening in different areas of the housing market. Mr. Dixon informed the roundtable of key headlines, such as the fact that housing prices have risen significantly over the past two years, with a 27% rise compared to pre-pandemic. Similarly, when looking at the private rented sector, JLL predicts that rents are predicted to grow by 15.6% over the next 5 years. JLL highlighted that it is the poorest households who will be impacted by any financial instability, and according to their presentation around 40% of those in the lowest income bracket rent through either a housing association or a local authority. Finally, the presentation ended with information around the highlighted living priorities for people, in terms of things that are important for people in terms of what they look for in a home. These include; Access to green spaces, close to public transport, Broadband, Energy efficiency and space for home office.

Secondly, Paul Winstanley gave an update on what is happening in the private rented sector, informing the group that regulatory factors are having an impact on the financial viability of landlords in the PRS sector and they’re being asked to do more and more. The key headline from this presentation is that landlords in the PRS are valuable as they increase the amount of housing available on the market. However, now, landlords are leaving the markets due to increasing pressures, and this is having an impact on the amount of housing going forward. Mr. Winstanley highlighted to the group that there needs to be consideration for the PRS alongside affordable housing to help solve the housing crisis.

Finally, there was a questions and answers session chaired by Dave Richmond, with questions from the group asking about regional differences in the market, age profiles of potential buyers, the situation for social landlords and homelessness. JLL gave their insight into the questions and answers informing the group of trends that are appearing in each of these questions.

The NHC would like to thank JLL for their participation in the event, particularly Marcus Dixon and Paul Winstanley for their engagement with the group and for their presentations. If you would like to find out more about the Roundtable with JLL, please contact Liam Gregson, Membership Engagement Manager liam.gregson@northern-consortium.org.uk.

 

 

DLUHC consultation on tenant involvement and mutual exchange

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The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has launched a new consultation on issuing new directions to the Regulator of Social Housing relating to tenant involvement and mutual exchange.

This is part of the Social Housing White Paper’s commitment to introduce a proactive consumer regulation regime. DLUHC has reviewed existing directions covering tenant involvement and mutual exchange to ensure they are suitable for the new regulatory framework.

The Social Housing Bill is currently progressing through parliament enabling the Secretary of State to direct the Regulator on certain aspects of regulatory standards to deliver the reforms set out in the White Paper.

The consultation proposes a number of small, but important changes to the existing directions covering tenant involvement and mutual exchange to support the implementation of the new consumer regime. DLUHC will issue new directions to the Regulator in spring 2023 subject to the outcome of the consultation and the Social Housing Bill’s passage through parliament.

The consultation closes on 30 March 2023.

The direction relating to tenant involvement requires the Regulator to set a standard on tenant involvement that applies to all registered social housing providers. For example, a requirement to provide tenants with greater opportunities to engage with and scrutinise their landlord’s activities. The direction regarding mutual exchange covers tenants’ rights to access a service that helps them exchange their propriety with other social housing tenants.

We are keen to hear feedback from our members to inform our submission. If you would like to comment on the consultation please send your comments to:

Joanne Wilson at joanne.wilson@northern-consortium.org.uk by the 24th of March 2023.

 

Government launches ‘Make Things Right’ campaign

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The Government has this week launched its new ‘Make Things Right’ campaign to inform social housing residents that if they have a problem, it’s now easier to make things right.

The campaign aims to help more social housing residents in England know how to complain if they’re unhappy with a service provided by their landlord. The ‘Make Things Right’ website provides information on how to raise a complaint and contact the Housing Ombudsman. Additional information is also available to help tenants who wish to contact their local MP, councillor, or Tenant Panel.

The campaign will feature on radio and social media adverts, as well as in online searches, and will run until the end of April 2023. Community engagement will also take place in the North West and London, where there are higher concentrations of social housing.

The Government campaign will reinforce the message that everyone deserves to live in a home that is safe, secure and well-maintained.

You can view the ‘Make Things Right’ campaign assets and support the campaign through your channels. Posters, leaflets and social media posts are all available to print, download or share. There’s also a blank poster to enable you to add in details of your own complaints process, plus translated materials available.

Read more in the press release or share your work and social media content with the @luhc Twitter account.

The DLUHC campaign team would also like to hear how you’ve used the campaign materials to support your local community – please send case studies to socialhousingcomplaintscampaign@23red.com

If you’d like any further information on the campaign please contact externalaffairs@levellingup.gov.uk

Focus group findings will shape new sector-wide retrofit campaign

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Would you want retrofit work done on your home? How do you like your landlord to communicate with you? What language should we use to talk about energy efficiency?

Those are just some of the questions which were discussed at a focus group with the tenant advisory group for the cross sector retrofit communications project.

Launched by Northern Housing Consortium, Placeshapers and Tpas the project will create a suite of resources to support social landlords to communicate with tenants about net zero and retrofit. It follows on from research which highlighted the importance of getting communication with tenants right if the sector wants to meet decarbonisation targets and offer great customer service.

The session was facilitated by Dominic Ridely-Moy from the Behaviour Change Network and creative partners Maxmedia also attended.

The tenants’ advisory group will play a key role in making sure the project addresses the needs of tenants. We’ll also pilot the resources to get input from a wide range of people.

We’re also holding a focus group session with housing colleagues, to find out more about the challenges they’re facing in communicating about retrofit.

If you’d like to find out more about the cross sector retrofit communications project, contact Project Communication Manger (Net Zero) Kathy Thomas.