Roundtable with the Housing Secretary and Housing Minister 

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Northern Housing Consortium Chief Executive Tracy Harrison attended an introductory roundtable discussion on building more social and affordable housing with the new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed and Minister of State for Housing and Planning Matthew Pennycook. The session was held with a small group of senior representatives from councils, housing associations and sector bodies.  

Tracy said:

“I was pleased to meet the Housing Secretary and Housing Minister. It was a very productive discussion about how we can all work together to achieve shared objectives. We discussed the critical focus on the delivery of new homes, the opportunities around Brownfield and the impact that housing partnerships are having across the North.  

“I’m committed to supporting our members to work with the Government to tackle the housing crisis and boost economic growth, while continuing to offer good quality homes to existing residents. I pressed the importance of housing-led regeneration in the North, and the opportunity for it to support the Government’s ambitions.” 

Thank you to both the Ministers and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for hosting such a useful session.  

The Renters Rights Bill

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The Renters Rights Bill completed its passage through Parliament and received Royal Assent on 22nd October 2025, entering into law. The Act seeks to increase protections for those renting in the private rental sector and marks a comprehensive rebalancing of the rights and requirements for both private tenants and landlords.  

The Northern Housing Consortium has been a longstanding supporter of attempts to reform the private rental sector, improve housing quality within the tenure, and more closely align the renting experience between private and social renting tenures. We have, however, stressed the importance of ensuring that local authorities are appropriately resourced so that they can effectively monitor and enforce compliance with the Act’s requirements.  

Major features of the Act are listed below: 

  • Abolish Section 21 or “no-fault” evictions for private renters.  
  • Replace fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) with rolling periodic tenancies.   
  • Limit in-tenancy rent increases: landlords may increase the rent only once a year, must give notice, and tenants will have rights to challenge above-market increases at Tribunal.  
  • Ban rental “bidding wars”: landlords/letting agents must publish an asking rent and cannot invite or accept offers above that listed rent.  
  • Prohibit discrimination in lettings against people in receipt of benefits or with children. 
  • Grant tenants a statutory right to request keeping a pet, which landlords must consider and cannot reject without reason.  
  • Introduce a “Decent Homes Standard” into the private rented sector for the first time. The government has also committed to extending Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector, so that hazards such as mould, damp, structural issues must be remedied within defined timeframes, at a future point.  
  • Require landlords to make changes to advance-rent demands: for example, limiting how much rent can be asked in advance. This will amend the Tenant Fees Act 2019 so that more than one month’s rent in advance cannot be charged before the tenancy begins.  
  • Strengthen enforcement: expand the use of rent repayment orders (RROs) to more offences, raise penalties and give local authorities stronger investigatory and enforcement powers.  
  • New regulatory infrastructure, including a new database of private rented sector landlords and introduce the ability for private tenants to appeal to an Ombudsman to handle disputes between tenants and landlords.  
  • Reform the grounds for possession (the valid reasons landlords can reclaim the property) so that landlords regain control when genuinely needed (e.g., for sale, moving in) yet with enhanced protections/notice periods for tenants.  

 

The full text of the Act can be found here.  

Regeneration inquiry moves forward with Lord Best OBE DL as Chair 

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The NHC’s inquiry on housing-led regeneration, supported by Homes for the North and Muse, is gathering pace with the Call for Evidence set to launch at the Northern Housing Summit, and meetings with advisory groups happening now.  

Lord Best OBE DL will chair the inquiry and its advisory group, who met for the first time this week. The advisory group is made up of a mix of housing association chief executives, local and regional government regeneration specialists, policy experts and academics.   

At the first meeting group members fed back on the overarching aims of the inquiry and discussed the Call for Evidence. Director of the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University Ed Ferrari updated the group about the research he is doing which will set the scene for the project and analyse the evolving context of regeneration in the North. The work will set out the longstanding challenges and concerns the inquiry will grapple with, as well as the emerging importance of devolution, sustainability, and community cohesion and belonging.  

This followed an NHC member roundtable with senior officials at the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government. The meeting was used to discuss and improve knowledge of the northern-specific challenge of regeneration as well as to explore how housing led regeneration can contribute to the national drive for growth and stronger communities.   Insight from the meeting will be used as part of the inquiry’s commitment to identifying how the Northern social housing sector can play a role in the Government’s policy programme in this Parliament. 

Next week, the inquiry Westminster Group will meet for the first time. Over the course of the inquiry they will have quarterly meetings to hear evidence and testimonials first hand, as well as offer insight and guidance.  

The Northen Housing Summit on 12th November will provide the stage for the launch of the inquiry Call for Evidence, which help capture the views of the social housing sector in the North. The Summit will also include a session “Beyond 1.5m homes: Once in a (re)generation?” where MHCLG’s Director for New Towns, Infrastructure and Housing Delivery Cathy Francis, Sheffield City Council Director of Housing Services James Clark, NHC Executive Director of Policy and External Relations Patrick Murray, Onward Chief Executive and Chair of Homes for North Bronwen Rapley, and Interim Chair of Homes England Pat Richie will discuss the balance between building new homes, and regenerating the North’s communities, and how the two agendas can reinforce each other. 

You can find more and book your place the Northern Housing Summit here.  

If you would like to find out more about the regeneration inquiry please contact Senior Engagement Manager (Devolution and Place Lead) Liam Gregson.  

  

Phase 1 of Awaab’s Law enters into force

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As of 27th October, Phase 1 of Awaab’s Law has now come into effect, marking an important step forward in improving health and safety standards across the social housing sector.

Phase 1 of the regulations place legal duties on landlords to investigate and address all emergency hazards and all damp and mould hazards that present a significant risk of harm to tenants within strict timeframes.

The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) published final guidance for landlords on 17th October, confirming specific requirements for housing providers in areas such as identifying and categorising hazards, rectifying and making safe identified problems, providing a written summary of any problem and required works to tenants, finding suitable alternative accommodation where appropriate and more. This guidance can be found here.

The requirements laid out in Awaab’s Law are currently set to be extended to the below list of hazards in 2026, where they represent a significant risk of harm:

  • Excess cold and heat
  • Falls associated with baths etc. on level surfaces, on stairs and between levels
  • Structural collapse and explosions
  • Fire and electrical hazards
  • Domestic and personal hygiene and food safety

Following this, regulations will be extended to all remaining hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), where they present a significant risk of harm, in 2027.

The government have committed to taking a “test and learn” approach to the implementation of Awaab’s Law and to implementing lessons learned between phases.

The Northern Housing Consortium will continue to engage with members and officials at MHCLG on the implementation of Phase 1 of Awaab’s Law and further clarification of requirements for Phases 2 and 3.

Claire’s story: How the Unlocking Success Bursary Is Powering Her Artistic Career

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Claire, a passionate artist and digital illustrator, shares how the Unlocking Success Bursary has helped her invest in vital training, tools, and accessibility equipment to grow her creative practice and build a sustainable career in the arts.

“I am an artist and digital illustrator, passionate about expanding my creative practice and building a sustainable career in the arts. This grant will enable me to invest in further training in stencilling, branding, and illustration—skills that are essential for attracting new opportunities and growing my professional portfolio.

The funding will also allow me to purchase vital materials and equipment, including industry-standard software, which will support my continued learning and enable me to apply the techniques gained through the course. Additionally, as a disabled artist, I require a specialist chair to work comfortably and safely for extended periods which I can buy with the bursary.

Without this grant, I would not have been able to afford the course or the necessary supplies to support my development. Your support will make a meaningful difference in helping me progress as an artist and contribute more confidently to the creative sector.”

For more information visit the bursary website: https://bursary.northern-consortium.org.uk

NHC Autumn Budget Representation sets out key priorities for the North 

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The Northern Housing Consortium submitted a representation to HM Treasury in the run up to the Government’s Autumn Budget, set to take place on 26th November 2025. It focused on how the Government can help the North to deliver its housing ambitions, including 1.5 million new homes and improving the standard and quality of rented housing, including through housing-led regeneration.  

Our key points are: 

  • Rent Convergence – following the government’s commitment to a ten-year rent settlement (CPI+1%), we have reinforced our call for the reintroduction of rent convergence. Our priority is a £2 per week convergence mechanism, maintained throughout the full ten-year policy period. 
  • Housing-led regeneration – one of our major policy priorities to support the North’s housing sector is housing-led regeneration. We are calling for a dedicated, devolved fund for place-based housing regeneration, targeting areas with poor-quality or ageing stock. This will empower Mayoral Combined Authorities and enable the social housing sector to contribute to the government’s goal of delivering 1.5 million homes and driving economic growth. 
  • Decent Homes Standard and regulatory reform – we welcome the government’s commitment to improving housing quality, including modernising the Decent Homes Standard and new energy efficiency requirements. However, the proposed changes introduce costly elements that risk creating inefficiencies and a fragmented approach, diverting funds from improving homes to managing disrepair claims. We have urged the government to revise the proposals to ensure they are practical, cost-effective, and focused on delivering genuinely decent homes. 
  • Fair Funding – the NHC supports simplifying and consolidating grant funding for local authorities and reducing reliance on competitive bidding. We hope the Fair Funding Review will establish a sustainable financial framework for local government, and we stressed the need for increased funding for areas with higher deprivation, many of which are in the North. 
  • Supported Housing – we have urged government for greater investment to expand supported housing supply with a secure, five-year central funding stream, devolved to Mayoral Combined Authorities. 
  • Local Housing Allowance (LHA) – we have urged the government to restore LHA rates to at least the 30th percentile from 2026/27 to reflect actual rental costs. The NHC is a signatory to the joint sector letter calling for this change. 

Commenting on the representation the NHC’s Chief Executive Tracy Harrison said:  

“The NHC supports the government’s ground-breaking investment in social housing, including the £39 billion commitment to the Social and Affordable Homes Programme and the ten-year rent settlement. In our budget representation, we have highlighted ways the Government can make sure the social housing sector in the North is able to deliver more new homes while also continuing to ensure existing residents can live in a warm, safe and affordable home. 

“We welcomed the recent consultation on rent convergence and are urging the Government to reintroduce rent convergence from 1st April 2026 at £2 per week for the full ten-year rent policy period. This will strengthen sector finances and enable greater investment in new and existing homes.  

“Recent proposals to update the decent homes and energy efficiency standards are welcome. However, we are urging the Government to re-assess and modify the proposed standards through a better understanding of the realities in practice and trade-off with new supply.  It is vital to make sure the reforms support providers to invest in homes efficiently, while maximising benefits to tenants. 

“We have also highlighted the need to invest in place-based housing regeneration, alongside investment in new homes, to improve areas with poor-quality, ageing homes. Our regeneration inquiry will explore how the social housing sector can benefit communities through regeneration.” 

Read our Budget representation here. 

NHC at Sunderland Expo – there’s an opportunity to transform older, colder homes in the North

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NHC Chief Executive Tracy Harrison was part of the Housing Delivery Panel Discussion at Expo Sunderland’s Future City event.

She spoke about the opportunity offered by the Government’s landmark investment in social housing to support the building of more homes for people in the North. With devolution – and the growth of housing partnerships across the North – the social housing sector is working together better than ever before, and in a great position to deliver.

However, Tracy was keen stress that to truly transform the North’s older, colder homes, we need to explore not just how we build more homes, but how we make existing homes and communities better for the people who live in them.

The Future City events programme is an opportunity for business and Government to come together to discuss, explore and progress innovative ideas that create city success. Inspired by Sunderland’s regeneration, it looks how to boost social and economic growth and create sustainable cities.

We were pleased to be part of this fantastic event and an insightful panel discussion.

Leading at the Edge – a new and innovative senior leadership development programme

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The Northern Housing Consortium is delighted to be partnering with the GEM Programme to offer an innovative senior leadership development programme, The Edge.  It will include two-day experiential learning events designed to inform, challenge and inspire featuring speakers from exemplar organisations in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, in the UK, Ireland, Netherlands and beyond.

This is much more than a classroom experience and sessions will enable participants to build their leadership skills and widen their professional network. The programme will also offer participants the challenge of taking on and learning from a strategic change project, reflective learning and mentoring, plus the option to complete a CIH Level 5 qualification. It is a fantastic opportunity for those who have recently started director -level roles, prospective directors and directors new to the housing sector.

To be part of the programme participants must be nominated by their Chief Executive by Friday 9th January 2026. This will be followed by a discussion involving the nominee and the Edge Programme Director, and the identification of a strategic change project which will be carried out with the support of the Chief Executive, or another appropriate senior leader.

The Edge Programme begins in March 2026 with the first face-to-face Leadership Cabin. It builds on the success of the GEM Programme which has recruited, intensively developed and professionally qualified hundreds of upcoming housing professionals from diverse backgrounds and a range of housing sector roles.

You can download The Edge prospectus here. For further information or to apply contact Trevor Smith, Director Centre for Partnership LLP, trevor.smith@centreforpartnership.co.uk

NHC supports sector calls to unfreeze local housing allowance

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The NHC has signed a joint sector letter from the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) calling on the Government to unfreeze Local Housing Allowance (LHA).

Last year our Northern Housing Monitor research found 3.6 million people in the North – 22% of the Northern population, and 33% of children – are pushed into poverty after paying their housing costs.

The LHA freeze is particularly problematic in the North with a higher-than-average number of people in the lowest income bracket living in the private rented sector (PRS). In the North, 28% of people in the lowest income bracket live in the PRS, compared to 22% on average in England.
Keeping LHA at the same level while rents rise means more people living in the PRS will be pushed into poverty and potentially face arrears and eviction.

We are backing the CIH’s asks of the government to:

• Restore LHA rates to at least the 30th percentile from 2026/27, with a commitment to maintain this level for the duration of this Parliament and increase the benefit cap accordingly. It is simply not fair that tenants reliant on the LHA face year-to-year uncertainty about whether they will be able to afford a roof over their heads. This would go a long way to helping to sustain tenancies and prevent homelessness.
• Undertake a full assessment of the likely social and economic impact of restoring LHA rates to the median rent. Understanding the wider benefits of a more adequate support system is essential to informed policymaking

You can read the full CIH letter here.