Briefing on Housing Announcements

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Earlier in the month the government made several significant housing announcements, following on from the spending review. The NHC sent out an email briefing to all members summarising the changes and what they mean for the social housing in the North.

A summary of the different announcements and links to the full briefing articles are below.

We are responding to Government consultations on implementation of rent convergence, the new Decent Homes Standard and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES). As part of our engagement with members we’re holding the following roundtables:

30th July 2 – 3:30pm Implementation of Rent Convergence Roundtable

5th August 10 – 11:30am Decent Homes Standard and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards

6th August 2 – 3:30pm Policy Network – all three consultations will be discussed here.

You can find out more about the events and book you place via MyNHC.

 

Government Housing Announcements:

New five step plan for housing: The government has published a new five step plan for social and affordable housing ‘Delivering a decade of renewal for social and affordable housing’. This high-level strategy sets out how the Government will work with the housing sector to increase the amount of social rent homes and improve quality.

Further details of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme revealed: Details of the new programme have been confirmed including that 60% of funding will be for social rent and that there will be flexibility to support regeneration, a key priority in the North.

Government announces consultation on how to reintroduce rent convergence: The government has launched a consultation on how to implement rent convergence, with a suggested rate of £1 – £2 per week.

Reformed Decent Homes Standard for social and privately rented homes:  The long-awaited consultation on the new Decent Homes Standard has now launched and will be open until 10th September.

Reforming the Right to Buy:  The Government has published its response to a consultation on the Right to Buy, including strengthened protections for new-build properties and a longer qualification period for existing tenants.

Health and Safety Hazards in Social Housing: ‘Awaab’s Law’ and Electrical Safety Requirements: Further details have been published by the Government on the implementation of Phase 1 of Awaab’s Law, set to come into force in October 2025.

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards consultation launched: The Government is consulting on new, stronger Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES). This includes proposals for all social housing homes to meet be a minimum of EPC C by 2030 and changes to the EPC rating system.

New National Housing Bank: A new subsidiary of Homes England will be established by the Government to support the development of 500,000 new homes. This is good news for the North as it should boost delivery of new homes, particularly on more complex sites, such as those on brownfield land.

New Government support for councils to increase housebuilding: New funding has been announced to help local authorities increase their housing and planning capacity.

On the day of the announcements NHC Chief Executive Tracy Harrison said:

“This package of Government announcements has struck a balance between delivering much-needed new social housing and ensuring the quality of existing homes. We especially welcome the Government retaining flexibility in the Social and Affordable Homes Programme for funding to be used to replace existing homes. Housing-led regeneration has a significant role to play in making sure everyone in the North has access to a safe, warm home in a place they’re proud of.

“Confirmation that the new Decent Homes Standard will be applied to the private rented sector, as well as the social rented sector, is welcome news for Northerners, with over a quarter of private rented homes in the North not meeting the current standard. We will be working closely with members on a detailed consultation response but are pleased the Government is proposing a ten-year implementation period.

“We are optimistic that the combination of confirmation of quality standards and long-term rent certainty will offer members the stability they need to plan investment in homes and places.”

Events following spending review and housing announcements capture sector optimism

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Following the social housing sector’s groundbreaking settlement at the Spending Review and further housing announcements, a series of events have shown there is optimism among members and an appetite for delivery in the North.

Members attended a dinner, hosted by the NHC, with Interim Chair of Homes England Pat Richie and Interim Chief Executive of Homes England Eamonn Boylan, where discussion centred on the new ten-year £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme. Alongside the ten-year rent settlement and deepening devolution, members felt the North has been given the right tools to deliver much-needed social housing and there was a keenness to get going.

The focus on delivery was also a key theme at a stakeholder reception, attended by NHC Chief Executive Tracy Harrison, at Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government with Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State Angela Rayner MP.  Tracy joined senior leaders from across the housing, community, and local government sectors for an evening of networking and discussion around MHCLG priorities.

It was a great opportunity to discuss how NHC members and the Government can work together to meet the needs of communities in the North.

We also held a series of dinners in Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle with Inside Housing Editor Martin Hilditch. Martin gave an update on Inside Housing’s priorities including the success of the ‘Build Social’ campaign and their new ‘Housing Management Matters’ publication and campaign. There was once again a sense of optimism among members with discussion around regeneration, housing partnerships and devolution, and attracting people to work in social housing.

The NHC regularly runs Influence North dinners which give members the chance to meet with key stakeholders. All member Chief Executives will receive an invitation to at least one of these events each year. If you would like further information, contact NHC Director of Member Engagement Kate Maughan.

Simplifying Tenancy. Empowering People.

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The challenge of delivering simple accessible digital services remains a common thread across the housing sector. Tenants expect more, not just functionality but clarity ease of use and digital journeys that simply work first time. Housing providers need solutions that meet these expectations without adding layers of cost or complexity. HomeLynk is designed specifically for UK housing associations to deliver just that.

Enabling tenants to manage their tenancy services through an intuitive self-service portal that works on top of existing internal systems. From paying rent to submitting requests or simply updating details, HomeLynk delivers a consistent digital experience across devices with no need to replace core infrastructure.

Unlike many tenant portals that are extensions of existing products, HomeLynk has been purpose-built from the ground up as a dedicated digital platform for tenants. Backed by a team with deep experience in housing technology, shaped through direct collaboration with associations of all sizes, reflecting real operational needs and tenant priorities.

All designed with accessibility and inclusion at its core, supporting the sector’s commitment to delivering digital services that work for everyone.

Key benefits include:

  • Intuitive and accessible for all users
  • Works with existing back-office systems
  • Custom branded for each housing association
  • 24/7 mobile and desktop access
  • Supports tenant satisfaction through improved digital experience
  • Cost effective and scalable to meet demand
  • Fast to deploy with minimal disruption to existing operations

To find out more and speak to one of the team, visit www.homelynk.co.uk

NHC Policy Network

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The NHC’s Policy Network is back, and in our session on the 6th August 2025 we’ll be joined by Karen Brown and Tom Kennedy from the NHC’s policy team who’ll talk us through the recent consultations announced by Government on the:

  • new Decent Homes Standard
  • Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for all social homes
  • rent convergence proposals

We’ll also be seeking your views as to how the Policy Network can best support you over the coming year. We’re especially interested in how we can work together on our policy projects, consultations, visits and tours, and engagement with MPs.

Below is some background information, which you may find helpful before the session.

Book here for the next ​Policy Network – we look forward to seeing you there!

 

Quality of Social Housing Stock

As part of a package of measures aimed at improving the quality of rented housing, the Government has announced a consultation on a new Decent Homes Standard (DHS) for the social and private rented sectors.

We will be seeking the views of members to the questions on the reformed Standard including:

  • updating the way in which disrepair is measured, removing age requirements, updating the thresholds used to define that a component is in poor condition, revising the list of core facilities and updating the list of building components which must be kept in reasonable repair.
  • seeking views on adding a new requirement that suitable floor coverings are provided in all rooms at the start of a tenancy.
  • a newly established criterion to ensure properties are free from damp and mould (supported by the HHSRS to measure compliance and enforcement).

Phase one regulations for Awaab’s Law will come into force in the Autumn and from 27 October 2025, social landlords will be required to address damp and mould using the timescales set out in the new regulations. If the property cannot be made safe in the timescales, tenants must be decanted to temporary accommodation until the repairs are completed.

Phases 2 and 3 of Awaab’s Law will be implemented in 2026 and 2027 respectively.

 

Social Housing Energy Efficiency

Alongside the ongoing consultation into a new Decent Homes Standard, the Government is also consulting on the introduction of new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for all social homes. We will be discussing these proposals, as well as the proposed changes to the Decent Homes Standard, at the next meeting of our Policy Network.

Under new MEES, all social homes will need to achieve at least an EPC C on a ‘fabric metric’ and then on either a ‘clean heating’ or ‘smart readiness’ metric, by 2030.

The consultation closes on 10th September 2025, and full details of the proposals can be found here.

 

Government consultation on rent convergence

The Government is also currently consulting on how to reintroduce rent convergence, as part of a 10-year rent policy set to take effect from April 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is seeking views on whether rents should be permitted to rise by £1 or £2 per week, in addition to CPI+1%, to allow homes which have never reached target rent, to do so.

The consultation also seeks to understand what the reintroduction of convergence would mean for landlord plans for investing in new and existing homes, as well as what the impacts would be on individual households.

The consultation is available here and is open until 27th August 2025.

 GEM bursary “an amazing opportunity to grow, build confidence, and develop new skills”

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The NHC is once again partnering with the GEM programme to offer a free place on their housing leadership development programme for someone who lives in social housing and works for an NHC member organisation.

We caught up with Katie Spittle an Investment Planning Officer at the Riverside Group and this year’s GEM Bursary recipient to find out more about her experience of the programme.

The programme offers a combination of face-to-face events, mentoring and the opportunity to achieve a CIH Level 4 qualification.

 

Why did you apply for the GEM bursary?

Over the past four years at Riverside, I’ve often considered applying for development programmes but lacked the confidence to take that step. When the GEM bursary opportunity was announced, I saw it as a chance to challenge myself, grow professionally, and build on the skills I’ve been developing. Although I wasn’t sure I’d be successful, I knew it was the right time to step forward and invest in my potential.

What has been your experience of the programme so far, what have been the highlights?

I’ve particularly valued the GEM Shacks, as they’ve given me the space to reflect on my career path and consider new directions I hadn’t previously explored. They’ve opened my eyes to different areas within the housing sector and helped me recognise how my existing skills are transferable across a range of roles.

Being part of a programme that promotes reflection, and continuous improvement has reignited my passion for working in this sector. It’s boosted my confidence and inspired me to approach new challenges with a more proactive and open mind.

It’s hard to pinpoint a single highlight, as each GEM Shack brings something new and valuable. However, our visit to the Wheatley Group in Glasgow stands out as one of the most impactful experiences so far. The warm welcome we received and the thoughtfully curated programme made a lasting impression.

 

How to you think the GEM programme will help you develop your role or career?

The GEM programme is already helping me build the confidence and skills I need to take the next step in my career. Through my mentor support, expanding my professional network, and making progress towards my CIH qualification, I’ve gained increased personal confidence and a clearer sense of direction.

It’s made me see my organisation from a broader perspective, encouraging me to explore opportunities I might have previously overlooked. I’ve started getting involved in areas beyond my current role, which has deepened my understanding of the wider business and helped me build new connections with colleagues I wouldn’t normally interact with.

It’s also reinforced the importance of keeping tenants at the heart of our work—something that can be easy to overlook in non-customer-facing roles. It’s encouraged me to explore new ways to connect with tenants and find opportunities within our team to engage with them directly, ensuring their voices help shape the work I do.

 

What would you say to someone who is thinking of applying?

 I’d say—go for it! The GEM programme is an amazing opportunity to grow, build confidence, and develop new skills, all while being supported by a fantastic team. Be open to learning and make the most of every opportunity. I hesitated at first, but applying was one of the best decisions I’ve made. The experience has exceeded all my expectations, both personally and professionally.

 

Please email Ross Price to find out more about the programme, the deadline for applications is 26th September.

NHC event puts regeneration centre stage in Parliament

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The Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) hosted a parliamentary event which brought MPs, NHC members and other stakeholders together. They discussed the need for housing-led regeneration to make sure northern communities can live in safe, affordable homes in places they are proud of.

The event followed recent government housing announcements that have significantly increased investment in affordable housing and provided much-needed long-term funding certainty and clarity around legislation. Regeneration has also featured in the announcements, with confirmation about flexibility in the Social and Affordable Homes Programme for replacement homes. It has also been put forward as a key deliverable in integrated settlements, and the Local Growth Plan is set to support Mayors to boost community-led regeneration.

The NHC plans to launch an inquiry Where Next for Housing-Led Regeneration in the North, supported by Homes for the North and Muse, later in the year to define housing-led regeneration’s role in tackling the housing crisis, delivering growth and building stronger communities.  It will look at how the social housing sector can bring maximum benefits to communities through regeneration with current government support and explore how to go even further in the future to meet the needs of the North.

Northern Housing Consortium Chief Executive Tracy Harrison said: “The outcome of the spending review and the recent housing announcements are milestone moments for the social housing sector in the North, which will drive real change. To effectively tackle the housing crisis in the North, housing-led regeneration must sit alongside new housing supply and support to improve existing homes.

“Our research has consistently shown that the North is disproportionally affected by low quality homes with over one million non-decent homes in the North. The problem is most acute in the private rented sector with 27 per cent of homes not meeting current Decent Homes Standards.  We’ve also found that there are 126,000 social housing homes in the North reaching the end of their serviceable life. These issues must be addressed if we want to make sure everyone has access to a safe and warm home they can afford.

“The right foundations are in place for the North to hit the ground running. We’re leading the way with devolution, and housing partnerships are driving collaboration. Through our Inquiry, we want to work with parliamentarians, members, residents and other stakeholders to maximise the benefits of regeneration for communities in the North.”

Speakers at the event included Lord Best OBE, DL who set the scene about why housing-led regeneration is a priority for the North and Liz Twist MP and Andrew Cooper MP gave parliamentarians perspectives on regeneration. Onward Chief Executive and Chair of Homes for North, Bronwen Rapley, highlighted why regeneration is a priority for Homes for the North. Managing Director of Muse, Phil Mayall, spoke about regeneration from a commercial view point and his experience of transforming places. Chief Executive of believe housing Alan Smith shared insight about regeneration projects and Chief Executive of Incommunities and Chair of the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership Rachael Dennis talked about regeneration and devolution from a housing partnership perspective.

Bronwen Rapley, Chair of Homes for the North, said: “The Government has set out a transformative vision to deliver the biggest boost to housebuilding in generations. Regeneration has a critical role to play in helping to unlock the delivery of more and better homes. Our research shows that regeneration across the North could support the creation of 305,000 homes, equivalent to 4.3 years of housing supply.

“The North faces a particular set of challenges, from a lack of housing to contaminated sites and ageing homes, that are holding back regeneration. We now have an opportunity to work with the Government to help shape delivery mechanisms that can address some of these barriers. Whilst there are challenges, the potential of regeneration is even greater.

“This inquiry comes at a critical moment and we look forward to contributing to this vital and timely conversation about the role that regeneration has to play in unlocking growth and revitalising communities.”

Phil Mayall, Managing Director at Muse, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with the NHC and Homes for the North on this important inquiry. Against the backdrop of the government’s positive agenda for the industry and the tools which have already been provided to us, we’re at a real moment in time where we can go even further in delivering meaningful change in the North of England.

“Drawing on our decades of experience as placemakers, we’re looking forward to sharing our case studies, lessons, and learnings. With a growing focus also on promoting partnerships as a means to further transform communities, we are excited to offer an insight into how we have been working in partnership with the public and private sector, including through ECF, our partnership with L&G and Homes England, and our plans for the future through Habiko, with PIC and Homes England.”

Further information about the need for regeneration in the North can be found in the NHC’s annual state of the region report the Northern Housing Monitor. The NHC conducted member research ‘Understanding the Need for Regeneration in the North’, which can be found here.

This event supported by Homes for the North and Muse and powered by the NHC’s commercial arm NHC Procurement.

NHC 2025 Election of Directors

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The Northern Housing Consortium represents the views of housing organisations in the North of England, with our membership of local and combined authorities, ALMOs and housing associations representing over 9 out of every 10 social homes in the North.  Our vision is our collaborative Northern voice helps members create and regenerate sustainable homes and build resilient, thriving communities.

The overall management and strategic direction of the Northern Housing Consortium is entrusted to the Board of Directors who are subject to election each year from Member organisations.  Membership of the Board is balanced between the three Northern regions and consideration is made of sectoral representation across different organisation types as well as the need for balance across the range of equality categories – age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation. We would strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds to support our inclusion and diversity objectives.

Under the Consortium’s governance arrangements, all nominations for the position of Director will be reviewed by the Board (or their nominated representatives), against a Skills Set for Directors to ensure that they meet the Board’s requirement to fill any vacancies – the Skills Set and Board Director Role Profile are enclosed in the Board Director Nomination Pack.

In accordance with a procedure agreed by the Board, we are seeking nominations for up to two new Directors’ places to be filled for the three-year period 2025-2028.  The Director who is also retiring this year but who wish to stand for re-election are as follows:

  1. Pam Smith, Chief Executive, Newcastle City Council

NB The Board have confirmed their support for the re-election of the above candidate.

Should the number of successful nominations exceed the vacancies available, a ballot will be arranged and the results announced for formal approval by the Members at the Consortium’s Annual General Meeting on 20th November 2025.

 

How to apply

 An application form can be obtained from jennifer.gursoy@northern-consortium.org.uk and must be returned by Wednesday 13th August 2025.

If you would like to discuss your nomination for the position of Director, please contact:

Tracy Harrison

Chief Executive

T: 07809659492

E: tracy.harrison@northern-consortium.org.uk

 

Government publishes new five step plan

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On 2nd July, the Government published a new five step plan for social and affordable housing, titled ‘Delivering a decade of renewal for social and affordable housing’.

This high-level strategy sets out how the Government will work with the housing sector to increase the amount of social rent homes and improve quality.

A breakdown of the five steps and their supporting policy initiatives are below:

 

1: Deliver the biggest boost to grant funding in a generation

    1. A ten-year ‘Social and Affordable Homes Programme’ worth £39 billion, which will open for bids this winter, following a prospectus to be published over summer. The plan also confirmed that at least 60% of the next programme will be for social rent, at least 70% will be for outside of London and the programme will be able to support regeneration on sites that deliver a net-addition of units.
    2. This follows the announcement of a new National Housing Bank – a new subsidiary of Homes England which will work with Mayors and local leaders to provide up to £16 billion of financial transactions (loans, equity investment and guarantees) to support the development of 500,000 new homes.

 

2: Rebuild the sector’s capacity to borrow and invest in new and existing homes

    1. A ten year rent settlement of CPI+1% and a consultation on how to implement rent convergence, at either £1 or £2 a week.
    2. Granting social landlords equal access to remediation funding, with an additional £1 billion made available through the Building Safety Fund and Cladding Safety Scheme.
    3. An additional £2.5 billion low-interest loans to support the delivery of new social and affordable housing.

 

3: Establish an effective and stable regulatory regime

    1. The implementation of Awaab’s Law Phase 1 from October 2025, and new electrical testing requirements from November 2025.
    2. Consultations on a new, updated Decent Homes Standard to come into force in 2035, and new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards to be met by social landlords by 2030.
    3. Requirements for senior housing managers and executives to have specific housing qualifications through a new Competence & Conduct Standard from October 2026, following a transition period.
    4. A new Access to Information Scheme, requiring social landlords to proactively publish information about housing management from October 2026, and respond to Freedom of Information style requests from tenants from April 2027.
    5. £1 million of funding for a new Resident Experience Innovation Fund to support social landlords, tenants and tenant organisations to test and scale up new projects looking to deliver better outcomes for tenants.

 

4: Reinvigorate council housebuilding

    1. New reforms to the Right to Buy following the conclusion of a previous consultation, further reducing discounts, granting greater freedom to local authorities over the use of receipts and exempting new build council properties for 35 years.
    2. £12 million for a new Council Housebuilding Skills & Capacity Programme (CHSCP) for local authorities to increase skills and capacity, including in their planning departments and in their engagement with registered providers.
    3. A review of the Public Works Loan Board discounted interest rate for building new affordable housing, which is set to expire in March 2026.
    4. A review of the threshold of homes at which local authorities need to have a Housing Revenue Account.

 

5: Forge a renewed partnership with the sector to build at scale

    1. A ‘call to arms’ to the housing sector to demonstrate that they can deliver at pace.

 

The plan also confirmed that the Government will be publishing its Long Term Housing Strategy in the near future.

Many of these policies were included in the Northern Housing Consortium’s submission to the Spending Review, and we are glad to see the progress made by government on directly addressing the housing crisis.

We will be working with our members to respond to relevant consultations and continuing to work with both our members and government officials to ensure that policy supports housing providers in the North to create better homes and places. If you want to inform our response to the consultations, please attend our Disrepair Network on 24th July, and the next ​Policy Network​ is due to take place on the 6th August.

Reforming the Right to Buy

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Last year the Government consulted on changes to the Right to Buy scheme and on 2 July 2025 published its response to the consultation.

The response confirmed reforms to the Right to Buy including:

  • Exempting newly built social homes from Right to Buy for 35 years
  • Increasing the length of tenancy requirements to qualify for Right to Buy from 3 to 10 years
  • Reforming discounts so they start at 5% of the property value, rising by 1% for every extra year an individual is a secure tenant up to the maximum of 15% of the property value; and
  • Tightening the restrictions on properties post sale by increasing the period from 5 years to 10 years that the council has the right to ask for repayment of all or part of the discount; and
  • Extending the period in which a local authority has the right of first refusal so that it applies in perpetuity.

In addition, further policy development and analysis will explore:

  • More effective fraud prevention
  • Reforms to the cost floor to better protect investment in existing homes
  • The current timelines for processing Right to Buy applications
  • How the Right to Buy applies in rural areas.

In a ministerial statement, the Housing Minister said the reforms will “better protect much-needed social housing stock, boost councils’ capacity, and enable them to once again build social homes at scale.” The Government intends to remove the formal one-for-one Right to Buy replacement target  but calls on councils to go over and above replacing sold stock and to play a central role in the commitment to deliver a generational increase in social and affordable housebuilding.

The Government will legislate when parliamentary time allows to bring these reforms into force. More immediately, the Government confirmed that the flexibilities that were introduced in July 2024 will continue indefinitely and, from 2026-27, will permit councils to combine Right to Buy receipts with grant funding for social and affordable housing to accelerate delivery of replacement homes.