The north of England’s first tenants’ climate jury will host its inaugural session tonight. The Social Housing Tenants’ Climate Jury is made up of 30 tenants from project partners First Choice Homes Oldham, Karbon Homes, Salix Homes, Thirteen Group, and Yorkshire Housing. The project is being led by the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC), which represents […]
What do the pioneering ReFLEX Orkney project, the unique ‘Solopower’ solution, and the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator all have in common? They are either led by or partnering with one innovative energy services company, SMS plc, which is on a mission to support housing organisations with long-term sustainability and fuel poverty targets. The […]
Jennifer Robinson has joined as a Partner in Ward Hadaway’s Built Environment Team to grow the firm’s social housing offering to clients across Yorkshire and nationally. Jennifer, who will be based at the firm’s Leeds office, has over 20 years’ experience in the social housing sector. She will lead a multi-disciplinary team of lawyers, qualified […]
Even before Covid-19, the Government was far from reaching its target of delivering 300,000+ homes a year in England by the mid-2020s[1]. Now, the pandemic has had and will continue to have an impact on the national economy and the practicalities of building new homes[2]. Funding remains one of the main challenges. Availability and terms […]
The Unlocking Success Bursary Scheme, funded through the Northern Housing Consortium Charitable Trust, awards bursaries of £500 to help tenants develop learning and skills to support future employment. From April to June 2021, we had a total of 18 applications from 7 of our member organisations. We are delighted to award 12 bursaries to successful […]
The Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government’s review of the Decent Homes Standard continues to progress. The first phase – which will run until September – is considering the case for change to the existing standard. Following a meeting in June, last Friday the NHC submitted written comments to Ministry. Our previous submission in […]
Homes for the North, with support from the Northern Housing Consortium, has this week launched new research on appraisal guidance. This follows revisions made to the Government’s ‘Green Book’ in 2020 and examines how appraisal guidance can be ‘operationalised’ to reflect levelling up. The research finds that the review of the Green Book will come […]
On Monday 12th July, the NHC’s Brian Robson appeared before the House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee to provide evidence as part of the Committee’s inquiry into Local Government and Net Zero. As part of a session focused on housing, local government and net zero, the committee covered a wide range […]
The mental health impact of all that we have experienced since early 2020, is huge – and will be long lasting. “On a population-wide basis, the negative mental health effects of the pandemic are likely to last much longer that its physical health impacts. The effects of physical distancing, social isolation, and lockdown on individual […]
The NHC are embarking on a new perceptions survey to help us understand what we’re doing well, where we need to improve, and where we should focus our attention for the future. As a membership organisation, it is vital that the work NHC does is relevant and adds value to our members. As we now […]
Training and development opportunities for senior leaders Kate Maughan, Director of Member Engagement, NHC In 2020, the NHC ran its first Action Learning Set for members, facilitated by Action Learning Associates. While Action Learning is a great tool for any topic, we designed the sets around decarbonisation – the net zero agenda is a priority for our members, and when thinking about new skills, […]
A further £350m of funding is now available to upgrade the homes of low-income residents. Local authorities have until 4th August to submit bids to the Sustainable Warmth Competition – which combines the third round of Local Authority Delivery and the new Home Upgrade Grant scheme. £200m is available through the Local Authority Delivery (LAD3) […]
Geraldine Howley, Chair of the CIH Governing Board, GEM Programme Director As a passionate believer in partnership working, I was privileged to be directly involved in the NHC Commission for Housing in the North. Looking back at the five years since the publication of the Commission’s report in 2016, it’s also important to bear in […]
Northern Housing Summit 2021 – Tuesday 2nd November – AM & Thursday 4th November – AM Click here to book your place The Northern Housing Summit is back for 2021 as an online event and at no cost to NHC members. Taking place during Glasgow’s COP26 and hosted over two half days, our focus will again be firmly on decarbonisation […]
7,500 social housing tenants from across the North will this week be invited to register their interest in taking part in a first of its kind engagement exercise. Of those eager to take part, a final ‘Social Housing Tenants’ Climate Jury’ of 30 residents will be tasked with developing recommendations as to how they, along […]
The smart energy solutions provider, SMS, has become the latest Supporter member of the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) following the launch of its fully–financed and intelligently–operated solar PV + battery storage solution for social housing, Solopower. SMS plc joins Northern Housing Consortium possessing a long history working with the UK public sector – as well as the wider housing sector – through its range of energy services offered independently and procurable through the Crown Commercial Service frameworks. These partnerships include the delivery of utility […]
Tuesday 2nd November – AM & Thursday 4th November – AM The Northern Housing Summit is back for 2021 as an online event! Taking place during Glasgow’s COP26 and hosted over two half days, our focus will again be firmly on decarbonisation and net zero as a key priority for our membership. Day 1 […]
Prior to the pandemic, the argument for levelling up the North was largely about inequality: it was recognising the decades of under investment that had led to the North’s economic under performance and was no doubt also driven by the Brexit referendum result, which clearly signalled the frustration and anger felt by those living in […]
The Commission for Housing in the North showed us what needs to be done: a million homes in the North of England require upgrading. Most are owner occupied, often by people with relatively low incomes. But the worst conditions are found in the PRS. Quite apart from relieving fuel poverty and the miseries of cold […]
Homes England, the Government’s Housing Agency, has launched its Local Government Capacity Centre with a programme of summer learning for local authorities. This will run from 14th to 25th June and includes sessions on brownfield sites, development appraisals and viability, and an update on latest planning policy relating to design. Officers working in local government […]
In recent months, the NHC has brought together it’s membership of Housing Associations, Local Authorities, and ALMO’s to form two new Networks. The new groups, which will offer members a space to network, share learning, and collaborate, focus on two of the most pertinent issues facing the North’s housing sector today – building safety, and […]
Guest blog by Gary Cawley, Director, North & Central England, CPC The Government has come in for a lot of stick for the delivery of the Green Homes Grant voucher scheme for private homes. But, it’s widely acknowledged that the public sector arm of the initiative – the Local Authority Delivery scheme – has been […]
The NHC is a core participant in the Sounding Board for the Government’s review of the Decent Homes Standard. We have surveyed members on their views and are continuing to consult members through our regional networks. Here’s our latest update on the Review. As you may be aware, the Review is in two parts – […]
Last year, the North’s combined authorities were allocated £276m from the Brownfield Housing Fund. Building on that success, at the Budget in December 2020, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced further funding for brownfield land release in areas not currently covered by Mayoral/Combined Authority arrangements. The Brownfield Land Release Fund is being managed by One […]
From our market towns to our major cities, the North is home to a diverse range of town centres with a wide variety of assets and opportunities. But changing retail habits and the impact of Covid-19 pose challenges. The focus is now on how we can renew and reshape town centres to ensure they continue […]
Click the link below to read a copy of the letter sent from Northern Housing Consortium Chief Executive Tracy Harrison to Gillian Keegan MP in response to the Further Education Skills for Jobs White Paper: The letter draws attention to a report published in late 2020 by IPPR North called Northern Powerhomes: A green recovery […]
An influential Conservative-led House of Commons Select Committee has recommended urgent action to improve energy efficiency of homes, citing written and oral evidence provided by the NHC. The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee has this week recommended rolling out the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and Homes Upgrade Grants ‘without delay’ with funding front-loaded. The […]
Regional climate coalitions in Yorkshire & Humber and the North East have gathered pace this month. The North’s housing sector is playing an important role in both coalitions. On 17th March, the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Comission held a well-attended launch event, which is available to watch again on YouTube. The Commission is an independent […]
As part of our efforts to influence housing decarbonisation plans, NHC Chair Paul Fiddaman and CEO Tracy Harrison met with Climate Change Minister Lord Callanan earlier this month. A former MEP and local councillor in Tyne and Wear, Lord Callanan is now a minister at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The meeting […]
Future facing digital marketing agency, Mediaworks is celebrating after its work for one of the UKs biggest housing groups was named as one of the best new websites. The prestigious UK Dev Awards 2021 has named Home Group’s new website as the best Third Sector website in the last 12 months. Mediaworks developed a site […]
The Levelling Up Fund prospectus was published with the Budget on 3 March. It will invest £4.8 billion in high value local infrastructure. Here are the 10 key things you need to know about the Fund: UK-wide -The Fund is UK-wide but intended for places that need it the most such as ex-industrial areas, deprived […]
Susan Borrow, Care and Support Manager (contracts) at Thirteen, reflects on Thirteen’s experiences since the roll out of Universal Credit, the measures we’ve put in place and investments we’ve made to ensure tenants have been able to manage their claims and maintain their tenancies. Universal Credit (UC) has been with us in the Tees Valley […]
Newcastle upon Tyne was one of the first areas where Universal Credit was introduced, and Your Homes Newcastle have been managing its impact for 6 years. We have seen the progress of roll-out, from minor tweaks around the edges, to significant overhauls in IT systems and legislation. We are now in a position to reflect […]
The Government is consulting on potential changes to the New Homes Bonus. The NHC will be responding to the consultation as part of our efforts to make housing policy work for the North, and we’d like to hear member views. The New Homes Bonus was introduced in 2011 as part of the Coalition government’s localism […]
The NHC is a core participant in the Sounding Board for Government’s Review of the Decent Homes Standard. The Review is now underway, and the Sounding Board met for the first time in February. MHCLG are running the Review in two phases – the first phase, running over Spring and Summer, is considering the case […]
The current health crisis has had a significant impact on employment levels across the north. This has had a knock-on effect on the welfare system with one-third of claims to Universal Credit since it’s roll out being made during the pandemic. The Government has offered low-income families the lifeline of the £20 uplift in Universal […]
An influential House of Commons committee has cited the NHC’s evidence on net zero and levelling up three times in their latest report on ‘greening the recovery’. The House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee, chaired by Conservative MP Phillip Dunne, published their latest report Growing back better: putting nature and net zero at the […]
Law firm Ward Hadaway has extended its social housing offering with the appointment of an experienced new lawyer in its Manchester office. Melanie Dirom has joined as director, responsible for advising and providing legal advice and litigation services to many of the firm’s social housing clients and local authorities. Melanie is recognised in both Legal […]
Blog by Positive about Inclusion – consultants. Released in November 2020 the Social Housing White Paper was the long awaited Government response to the Grenfell tragedy. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said that the Paper had been prepared with the ‘views of those devastated by Grenfell in mind’ and set in this context […]
Fuel poverty charities National Energy Action (NEA) and Energy Action Scotland (EAS) are undertaking research to investigate pre-payment meters (PPM) and the rollout of smart meters for pre-payment customers. We would like to hear your views through this call for evidence, which aims to collect information to inform this research. In particular, NEA and EAS […]
The Dealing with Disrepair Network for NHC members reconvened this week after a short hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. The group, organised by the NHC and Ward Hadaway, was originally formed in response to the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act. Since March 2020 the Act has imposed upon landlords an implied contractual obligation […]
BEIS has finally published the updated Fuel Poverty Strategy called “Sustainable Warmth: Protecting Vulnerable Households in England.” The new strategy makes 21 commitments to “ensure everyone can afford the energy required to keep their lights and heating on.” It sets out how it will meet the UK’s legal target to “improve as many fuel poor […]
Synopsis There is a growing body of experience of MMC in the social housing sector now, with a number of Registered Providers in the North having conducted pilot projects, large and small. LHC has worked on hundreds of projects for social landlords all around the UK, totalling more than 5,300 homes to date. However, it’s […]
Earlier this month the Housing Ombudsman Service published a report focusing on complaints about heating and hot water, identifying unnecessary delays in resolving issues together with landlords’ management of contractors as particular issues of concern. The report highlights the serious impact these complaints can have on residents, especially when dealing with vulnerable households. The report, […]
New Forest District Council is going live this week with a new Private Sector Housing System module from Locata. The system incorporates a caseload dashboard, a private sector properties database as well as full Journal capabilities for surveyed properties linked to homeless cases and housing register applications. The new module will also boast a fully […]
LHC is currently in the pre-planning stage of their New Build Housing Construction (H2) framework that will be procured on behalf of SPA, CPC and LHC. It will deliver a range of traditional housing as well as low, medium and high-rise construction, sheltered, student and keyworker accommodation, care homes, and mixed use sites, development agreements […]
The Social Housing White Paper announced a review of the Decent Homes Standard. The Northern Housing Consortium is pleased to have been invited by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to be a core participant in the Review sounding board. The first phase of the review is considering the case for criteria within […]
On Tuesday the Housing Minister, Chris Pincher MP, attended the latest meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Housing in the North to learn about the work of the Group, give an update on Government priorities, and underline his support for APPG’s as cross-party, Parliament-wide forums of important debate. To summarise the recent and […]
Incommunities Group Chief Executive, Geraldine Howley is getting ready to step down at the end of the month after nearly two decades leading the West Yorkshire housing association. It follows Geraldine’s decision to retire and her leaving comes as the Group gets ready to mark 18 successful years in business. Her long career started as […]
Social Housing membership organisation the Northern Housing Consortium have welcomed Paul Fiddaman as the new Chair of their member-led board. Paul is currently the Chief Executive Officer with Karbon Homes, having previously held Chief Executive roles with Isos Housing and Cestria Community Housing, and brings over two decades experience of the housing sector. He replaces […]
Yesterday (19th January) the government published their plans to introduce rigorous new energy efficiency standards to lower energy consumption and bills, helping to protect the environment. The full announcement can be read HERE (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rigorous-new-targets-for-green-building-revolution Speaking about the government’s announcement on Future Homes and Future Buildings standards Tracy Harrison, Chief Executive of the Northern Housing Consortium, […]
ENERGY EFFICIENCY Are you unsure about who CPC are? Let us explain… CPC is a partnership between LHC & NHC designed to offer each organisation’s current and potential new members an unrivalled range of procurement solutions. Through CPC, Northern Housing Consortium’s clients will be able to access LHC’s suite of frameworks. …still confused? We created […]
Kent Homechoice went live on December 1, 2020, with a new enhancement from Locata to its Choice Based Lettings system that allows the pre-population of its Change of Circumstances (ChoC) form. This gives Kent’s existing social housing applicants a change of circumstances form with details of their application already filled in for them to change […]
Locata has once again been successful in applying to join the latest G-Cloud 12 framework. This means that we continue to be an official Crown Commercial Service supplier and our products and services can be bought by local authorities through the Digital Marketplace without needing to go through a full tender process – helping save […]
This year has been challenging for all of us, we’ve had to adapt in many different ways and adopt new processes to regain some normality. Some organisations have adapted quicker than others and will come out of this stronger, while others have closed shop and those experiences will leave a bad taste that will remain […]
A new Government consultation has set out an ambitious proposed trajectory for energy efficiency in the private rented sector. The new consultation, from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), makes range of proposals, including that homes let in the private rented sector from 2025 should have to meet an energy efficiency rating […]
As the NHC’s Director of Member Engagement, I’ve been reflecting on the extraordinary year we’ve had so far. So much has changed since March and the sector has responded swiftly and with impact. Here at the NHC, we’ve made big changes too. We rapidly moved from traditional, face to face events into a full digital […]
On 8 July 2020, the Chancellor’s Summer Economic Update announced the UK-wide Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator (SHDF Demonstrator) to support the decarbonisation of social housing over 2020/21, and to boost green jobs as part of the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan. This £50 million programme will support social landlords to demonstrate innovative approaches to retrofitting social […]
With plans for an Autumn Budget cancelled, the future of the multi-year Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) due this Autumn is uncertain. Nevertheless, the NHC has used its CSR Representation to call on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to work with the North’s housing sector to deliver on his aims to rebuild, level-up and invest in people and […]
The Create Streets Foundation has launched ‘No place left behind’, a Commission into prosperity and community placemaking. This is chaired by Toby Lloyd, the former Head of Policy at Shelter and Housing Advisor to the Prime Minister. Over the next year the Commission intends to come up with new ideas to help “level-up” England as part […]
The Government’s white paper Planning for the Future has garnered much attention, but a second consultation, Changes to the Current Planning System, was released on the same day and proposes more immediate changes that, if approved, could be implemented before the end of the year through amendments to national planning guidance or by way of […]
Locata has redesigned its company website and introduced a new page for videos demonstrating its housing software. The new page currently has four HPA2 videos that show how the dashboard and help sites work. Each video is just three or four minutes long so that Locata users can easily get the information they require simply […]
2020 has challenged public sector organisations like no other. From providing local services with a remote workforce, to having to do even more with reduced manpower and tight budgets – it’s been tough. Yet many have stepped into the challenge and transformed the way they are serving members of the public. While the first six […]
Locata has launched two new enhancements designed to make the management of housing applicants even more efficient and effective. Both enhancements were flagged up and discussed at the Virtual National Users Group in July and are now available to order. Document Uploads The document upload enhancement is already being used by several schemes across the […]
September proves to be a busy month for the Northern Housing Consortium’s engagement activity, with a string of free webinars to support our members across a range of issues. Gathered here in one place for you to look over, please do sign up or pass on to colleagues you think may be interested. #OurNorth Net […]
As part of our commitment to supporting members to improve homes and lives through the decarbonisation of our existing housing stock, the Northern Housing Consortium team has been getting carbon literate! Carbon literacy is an awareness of the carbon dioxide costs and impacts of everyday activities, and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions, on […]
With a Government commitment to level up the regions of the UK, we have scrutinised the White Paper: Planning for the Future for signs of opportunities for housing growth and renewal in the North. The following brief summary of the proposals is no substitute for reading the 84-page document itself, as well as the accompanying consultation on […]
#OurNorth Net Zero partners Momentum is growing around the NHC’s #OurNorth Net Zero programme, we are very proud to announce our five partners who are enabling the ground-breaking programme designed to help our members decabonise their housing stock. We’re delighted to welcome: Halton Housing Liverpool City Region Housing Associations Thirteen Together Group Consortium Procurement Their generous […]
Yesterday Government provided detail on how to access the Green Home Grant scheme, which was announced as part of the Chancellor’s Summer Economic Statement last month. The Government confirmed the grant programme is scheduled to go live towards the end of September, and also opened bidding for a £500m local authority-led component. The £2bn scheme […]
Croydon LBC v Kalonga [2020] EWHC 1353 (QB)Tipples J A flexible tenancy is a type secure tenancy that can be granted by a local authority to its tenants. They must be granted for a minimum fixed term of two years however, at the end of this term, a mandatory ground for possession arises. Mrs Kalonga […]
Award-winning digital marketing agency, Mediaworks, has completed a year-long project with Home Group, the UK’s leading provider of high-quality housing, health, and social care to deliver a new digital experience. The project set out to deliver accessible and personalised online content to Home Group’s customer groups, enabling them to quickly find the information they are […]
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 96% of social housing in the North. Our vision is to use our collective voice to have unrivalled influence in achieving housing policy that works for the […]
Develop your leadership skills, think differently about organisational challenges and come together with strategic leaders from across the sector through action learning. The Northern Housing Consortium is delighted to be working with Action Learning Associates to run a series of Action Learning Sets for strategic leaders in the sector from September 2020. Action Learning Sets […]
The influential Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee have called for social housing to be ‘top of the agenda’ for recovery. Their new report Building More Social Housing is the culmination of a year-long Inquiry, which included the NHC appearing before the Committee in October 2019. The report’s conclusions include that: At least 90,000 […]
The £400m Brownfield Housing Fund has now been largely allocated – and the North’s city regions are big winners. The Brownfield Housing Fund was announced at the March Budget – with Chancellor Rishi Sunak commenting it would help “ambitious Mayoral Combined Authorities and local areas to establish housing on brownfield land across the country”. On […]
On Wednesday 8th July, Chancellor Rishi Sunak presented his Summer Economic Update – the second stage in the Government’s economic response to Coronavirus. At the NHC, we urged the Chancellor to take the opportunity to place net zero and new homes at the heart of the North’s recovery. The Chancellor has previously warned that we […]
On the 13th July the Northern Housing Consortium launched #OurNorth – Net Zero at a Webinar where we were joined speakers representing the United Nations, devolved Combined Authorities, and of course the NHC membership. Here, we outlined our commitment to achieving Net-Zero as a core policy objective. Our long-term aim is to ensure that homes […]
Locata’s document upload enhancement is being used by increasing numbers of housing schemes across the country. The 13 partners forming the Kent Homechoice scheme, four more in the West London partnership, New Forest and North Herts were some of the first councils to take the update to their CBL system. There are now several more […]
On June 24th, over 40 NHC members joined with the NHC and Homes England for a joint workshop on local authority skills and capacity. The highly interactive session was focused on understanding and responding to local government capacity needs. The Homes England team presented their emerging thinking on the agency’s role in providing the skills […]
Building and improving homes must be at the heart of the North’s economic and social recovery from the coronavirus crisis. That’s the message from right across the North’s housing sector, and it’s why the NHC was delighted to add our support to the #HomesAtTheHeart campaign being coordinated by the National Housing Federation, CIH and other […]
Decarbonising the North of England’s existing housing stock will be central to the UK’s climate ambitions, with figures from 2017 showing that 26% of all carbon emissions across the northern regions are from our existing homes. Work is under way, Local Authorities across the North have declared climate emergencies and Housing associations and ALMOs have […]
Award-winning digital agency Mediaworks and York St John University have received over 2,500 applications from across the world in just 10 days for their Virtual Digital Marketing short course. At the beginning of May, Mediaworks and York St John University agreed to produce and deliver a shortened introductory version of their MSc course. With businesses […]
What role should housing play in the North’s economic and social recovery from Covid-19? Over the last month, the NHC has worked with our members and GC Consulting to think through the economic and social impacts of Covid-19 on the North of England, and consider the ways housing can contribute to the North’s recovery, interact […]
The NHC is delighted to be working in partnership with the University of Huddersfield on a new research project which will explore the impact of Northerner’s homes on their experience of lockdown. This will include issues like the standard and quality of homes, overcrowding and access to outdoor space. The research team will undertake interviews […]
This pandemic has shown just how much we all need a safe and secure home to retreat to. But for some of us, staying at home means spending more time in accommodation that does not meet basic standards of decency, risking the health and wellbeing of millions of Northerners. Northern Housing Consortium Member Engagement Officer Matthew […]
Our members are at the heart of everything we say and do. We pride ourselves on our ability to bring people together to share best practice, networking opportunities and expert insight from inside and outside of the sector. Last year we engaged with 100% of our member organisations from across the North East, North West […]
We are committed to providing you with opportunities to come together online so we can collectively support each other during this period. We have already held webinars with the Housing Minister, the CEO of the Regulator of Social Housing and the Housing Ombudsman among others. We have been busy planning some further events for different […]
The first round of funding for the Unlocking Success Bursary Scheme has been awarded to tenants from member organisations across the North. The scheme is funded through the NHC’s Charitable Trust and helps tenants across the North develop learning and skills to support future employment. The applications received covered a vast array of support requests […]
At The Princes Trust, we have a great team in the North, committed to working in partnership with a variety of organisations, from local authorities to clinical commissioning groups, police and crime commissioners, colleges and in particular Housing Associations just like yourselves. We already work in partnership with some Housing Associations like Calico in Lancashire […]
The Chancellor presented his Budget on March 11th. Whilst recent events have dwarfed the scale of announcements, it contained some important news for our members. The NHC produced our usual on-the-day briefing after the Budget earlier this month. There were elements to welcome within the Budget – such as the commitment to extend the Affordable […]
We were delighted to welcome MHCLG Housing Delivery Director Cathy Francis and members of her team to the Tees Valley on Thursday 12th March. Cathy and her team undertook a day-long tour, taking in sites of opportunity, challenge and recent success. This included: The huge SSI industrial site in Redcar, now in the hands of […]
The 2019 General Election returned 140 new MPs to Parliament; of these, 40 represent constituencies in the North of England. Traditionally, new MPs arrive in Westminster and deliver their first speech to the House that gives some personal and constituency background, as well as briefly setting out the issues they aim to confront in the […]
Guest blog by Richard Blakeway, Housing Ombudsman It is critical for the Ombudsman, as well as resolving individual disputes, to share the insight and learning from our casework to improve services across the sector. We do this in several ways already – from training through to reports focusing on a specific issue – and will […]
“Our staff are the key to our ability to deliver excellent services to members”. Catherine Wilmot, Executive Director (Operations & Finance), Northern Housing Consortium talks about why empowering staff through training and development is so important to the NHC and how we strive to support staff wellbeing. Having worked most of my professional career within […]
Paul Fox, Director of Workplace Solutions, Texthelp Did you know that more than 15,000 businesses in the UK have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme? Disability Confident organisations play a leading role in changing attitudes for the better. They’re changing behaviour and cultures in their own businesses, networks and communities, and reaping the benefits […]
Smart Energy GB in Communities National Energy Action (NEA) is pleased to announce that the 2020 Smart Energy GB in Communities programme is now live, with grant funding and support being targeted to organisations reaching people aged over 65 who are unaware of smart meters. This group will have a very limited knowledge and understanding […]
Last month around 100 of the region’s engaged residents returned to The Principal York for the Northern Housing Consortium and Tenant Advisor’s 9th Annual Tenant Panel conference. The theme of the day was ‘influencing services and decision makers’ and with a General Election on the horizon, delegates used the day to produce their own ‘Resident’s […]
The NHC events calendar starts the new year off on a strong footing with two events looking at Social Value and Housing Strategy. An annual event now in its 6th year, our Social Value conference is run in collaboration with HACT, who have pioneered social value measurement in the sector. With an eclectic programme in […]
As attention turns to the year ahead, we take a look back at some of the work our members helped us to achieve in the year 2019. Our work programme has been busy, covering a new corporate plan, a focused influencing agenda and an exciting new collaboration to launch Consortium Procurement Construction, offering our members […]
The Northern Housing Summit took place earlier this month, attended by over 180 representatives from housing associations and local authorities. The day had three main themes running throughout – future vision and ambition, quality and place, and capacity, delivery and regulation. Our Chief Executive, Tracy Harrison welcomed delegates to the event, recognising that we face […]
We have learnt through our roundtable events that housing providers and local authorities are increasingly having to take up the slack and are investing increasing resources to ensure the smooth running of the Universal Credit system for the benefits of claimants and to maintain sustainable tenancies. In order to quantify the extent to which members […]
Where are we now? I’ve worked in the NHC’s Member Engagement team since 2015, and we’ve seen huge changes during that time, both to the housing landscape and in how we deliver services to our 146 local authority, housing association and ALMO members across the North. We’ve fundamentally changed the way we engage with members, […]
Representatives from Crisis, Youth Homeless North East, and both local authorities and housing associations shared their experiences, latest research and recommendations around tackling homelessness at an event organised by the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) in Leeds on the 25th November. Access to housing is a fundamental part of solving homelessness. There are now 84,740 households, […]
The Grenfell Tower tragedy raised the issue of building safety in tall buildings across the country and with 18 high-rise blocks, Salix Homes, based in Salford, Greater Manchester, has been at the forefront of identifying a new approach for the industry. As one of three housing providers who are part of the Government’s Early Adopters […]
Look out for our new online portal ‘MyNHC’ launching at the Northern Housing Summit (but available to everyone!) from the 5th November. MyNHC will give members: better oversight of how your organisation works with us the ability to book events, pay online and manage event bookings access documentation view procurement information and much more. If […]
We’re excited to bring you our Sponsor and Exhibitor Showcase for the Northern Housing Summit 2019 which takes place on the 5th November in the Renaissance Hotel, Manchester. All food and drinks will be served in the exhibition area which will be open throughout the event. Come and join us and our other exhibitors in […]
The evening of Monday 21st October saw our Executive Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Brian Robson, give evidence at the second session of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee regarding the long-term delivery of social and affordable rented housing (View the call for evidence here). The Northern Housing Consortium was invited to […]
It has become apparent during our conversations with members in our regular roundtable events that housing providers and local authorities are increasingly having to take up the slack and are investing increasing resources to ensure the smooth running of the Universal Credit system for the benefits of claimants and to maintain sustainable tenancies. As promised […]
Unproductive Brits ‘waste’ the equivalent of 30 WORKING DAYS per year on their office email, it has emerged. Office workers typically spend around two hours each day browsing their inbox, according to research. However, the survey found around half of this time is wasted by accidentally re-reading messages, needlessly checking for updates and sending emails […]
Mediaworks has recently partnered with the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC). As NHC’s Supporter member The partnership between NHC and Mediaworks will see Mediaworks provide digital advice and marketing expertise within the housing market. Mediaworks will provide sponsorship at trade shows, as well as offering member-relevant advice and insights. The partnership will ensure that members of […]
Locata is ready to roll out its new Housing Related Support (HRS) system across the country. The new launch was created in partnership with housing practitioners from Cheshire East who wanted a way to link applicants directly to support services. The system went live in Cheshire East four weeks ago and acts as a referral […]
Thursday 19th September 2019 – York Members were joined by Editor of Inside Housing magazine Martin Hilditch in York on Thursday 19th September as part of a series of member engagement sessions organised by the Northern Housing Consortium. We run a range of senior member engagement sessions, and all full member organisations are invited to at […]
Conference season is well under way and with a possible General Election looming the three main political parties have been setting out the direction of their housing policy. Below is a summary of what has so far been proposed: The Conservative Party Though the Conservative Party conference is yet to begin, Esther McVey gave […]
Britain’s housing system is not delivering the homes that the country needs or that people can afford. The evidence set out in our bold new Greater Manchester Housing Strategy makes it clear that our broken housing market is directly impacting the lives of many of us in this city-region. The housing crisis takes many forms, […]
Neurodiversity is not just about ‘doing the right thing’ anymore. GCHQ, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Direct Line Group and JPMorgan Chase are actively getting it ‘right’ and supporting neurodiverse employees throughout their employment – benefiting both the employee AND the organisation. Neurodiverse employees with Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Dyscalculia, Autistic Spectrum, Tourette Syndrome and more, […]
Steve Douglas CBE, Group Chief Executive, Altair I’m delighted to chair the annual NHC/Altair Asset Management Seminar once again. It is so important that northern housing providers have as much access to the policy debates on building safety, compliance and regulation, as London and the south providers do. This year’s seminar focusses on trying to […]
Finding and keeping the talent your organisation needs to succeed has always been a challenge. A recent CBI survey said that 56% of organisations cannot fill the jobs that they currently have available, and 80% of CEOs said that “Talent” was their single biggest issue, more important than concerns about the economy or their […]
Blog by officers attending from Sheffield City Council Intro John Three of us from Sheffield City Council had a day out at this conference in June. We are Shahid Khan, Engagement & Development Officer, Waleed Al-Gulaidi, Community Engagement Apprentice, and John Loveless, Manager of the Community Engagement Team. We met Barbara Spicer, Chief Executive of […]
Today marks the centenary of the Housing Act 1919. The ‘Addison Act’, as it was commonly known, paved the way for large-scale council housing and was driven by Health Minister at the time, Christopher Addison. We were excited to see what our members are doing to mark the occasion, including activity from Sheffield City Council […]
Our Director of Member Engagement, Kate Maughan talks us through the Digital Innovation in Housing Seminar taking place next month. Our digital innovation seminar is taking place on 18th July in Leeds – book your place here. Digital innovation is now recognised as key to an organisation’s success. Whether it’s bringing in new technology, making […]
Dawn McGuigan, Head of Brand and Communications at Gentoo talks through how health and safety teams can work with communications teams in a crisis. I recently spoke at Northern Housing Consortium’s Health and Safety 2019 conference about how communications and health and safety teams can work together to protect the reputation of their organisation during […]
It’s been an exciting time for the NHC! Earlier this month, our Deputy Chief Executive, Tracy Harrison was appointed to the role of Chief Executive, and we welcomed a new Executive Director (Policy & Public Affairs), Brian Robson who joined us from Homes England. The new executive team also includes Executive Director, Catherine Wilmot, who […]
The NHC hosted an event last week which saw Greater Manchester Housing Providers come together with local authorities to discuss how they tackle some of the key housing challenges facing Greater Manchester. Launched last year by GMHP, the Ambition to Deliver is a manifesto setting out how the 26 housing providers can work together with […]
Earlier this month we marked the retirement of our Chief Executive, Jo Boaden CBE, with a very special reception at the House of Lords. The event was hosted by Lord Best and guests heard from NHC Chair, Tom Miskell OBE who championed Jo’s great work in building the NHC into the organisation that it is […]
…but just what, exactly, is The Armed Forces Covenant? Hi, I’m Yvonne Castle, CEO of Johnnie Johnson Housing and a Board Member of our wonderful Northern Housing Consortium. I’d love to hear if you’ve signed the Covenant and what success stories you have! A bit about Johnnie – Johnnie Johnson was a real person. He […]
By Chris Bartlett, Business Unit Director – Public Sector, SoftwareONE Consumer expectations of how services should be delivered today are high. Increasingly, we have come to see online, convenient access to public services – whether paying council tax, reporting a pothole, or applying for a school space – as the norm. In April 2016, the […]
With the NHC set to launch a training programme for new and aspiring housing leaders, Glynis Osbourne discusses the importance of investing in first-time managers. Here are our top 10 reasons to invest in first level management The Northern Housing Consortium and Thinking Success UK will soon be launching their Stepping into Housing Leadership Programme. […]
In what is described as ‘a generational change’ to the lettings sector, Section 21 evictions, known as no fault evictions, will be abolished under plans to be put out to consultation. The announcement came with no warning and despite considerable pressure from landlord organisations following last year’s consultation on longer tenancies who said that the […]
The TV Licensing Community Relations team was set up to better interact with organisations that play a big part in their local communities. We are committed to making our information accessible to everyone in the community, and we work with a range of organisations such as housing, caring, money advice and multilingual groups to achieve […]
Building on the leadership and management training opportunities running over the course of the year, the NHC continues to partner with Abode – the home of education and training for the housing and community sectors, to offer three courses designed specifically for those on the frontline of housing management. Here, Abode training consultants Gill Bramfitt and Claire Harvey talk […]
Lee Sugden, Chief Executive, Salix Homes and NHC Board member At the last count, there were over 600,000 empty homes in England – that equates to two years’ worth of the Government’s targets for new home completions. Of those, more than 200,000 are classed as long-term empty, in that they’ve stood empty for more than […]
Advice was published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) on 18 December last year on ‘external wall systems that do not incorporate Aluminium Composite Material’ – in other words, buildings where the type of cladding used on the Grenfell Tower is not present. Despite this, MHCLG has advised that there are […]
Thirteen’s employability service has launched a new scheme to support young people aged 16-24 from County Durham into work (funded by DurhamWorks as part of the Youth Employment Initiative). Over recent years Thirteen has extended its employability portfolio, delivering services for both tenants and the wider public. Our support progressing individuals into work has provided […]
Landlords have a legal requirement to ensure that a property is safe before letting it to a new tenant and local authorities have a statutory duty to keep the housing conditions in their area under review. It is now almost thirteen years since the introduction of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Introduced […]
The new independent Affordable Housing Commission (AHC) is chaired by Lord Best and includes housing experts and parliamentarian commissioners. The Smith Institute will act as secretariat to the commission and the NHC will be supporting the commission by holding an event on 1 March 2019 (this event focuses on the North East and Yorkshire and […]
The cross-party forum for parliamentarians to discuss and advance northern specific housing challenges, the APPG Housing in the North, met again this week to explore further how housing can play a central role in supporting personal health. The group, made up of MP’s and Lords of all political persuasions, heard from a range of speakers […]
Landlords have a legal requirement to ensure that a property is safe before letting it to a new tenant and local authorities have a statutory duty to keep the housing conditions in their area under review. It is now almost thirteen years since the introduction of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Introduced […]
On 20 March 2019, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (The Act) comes into force in England and Wales amending sections 8 to 10 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. The Act creates an obligation on landlords to make sure dwellings provided are fit for human habitation from the start of their […]
In 2016, Plus Dane, in partnership with SHAP, was awarded the Refugee Resettlement Contract for Halton Borough Council; Halton are a great Council to work with and there was a coalition of the willing. The contract fitted well with the social and moral purpose of our organisation. And so began a new strand of […]
Karl Dickman, Product Manager at Home Group, explains why he set up the Housing Association Digital Forum and how already it’s been a great success. I started the Housing Association Digital Forum in September 2018 with the first participants invited from the North East, and Yorkshire and Humber. I set it up, primarily, because I […]
Liam Gregson, Member Engagement Officer, Northern Housing Consortium With austerity swelling social housing’s role as an ‘ambulance service’ for vulnerable groups, it is unsurprising that the mental health problems faced by residents has come increasingly into focus. Research by the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute has suggested that one in three people living in […]
The Social Housing Commission (the Commission) is an independent cross-party body which was set up by housing charity Shelter. On 08 January 2019 the Commission returned a year’s worth of findings in the form of a report entitled ‘Building for our future: A vision for social housing’ which aims to bolster tenants’ rights in the […]
The Social Housing Green Paper published last year included a specific question around how residents can be supported by their landlords to ensure their homes are safe. A Call for Evidence – available here – has been issued to understand what safety issues are most important, the extent to which current engagement works and what […]
Over the summer Homes England launched the Community Housing Fund (CHF) (£163m). Both phase 1 revenue support and phase 2 capital funds are now open for bids. At Homes England we are supporting community led housing activity and we know through enquiries and actual bids that communities are developing projects throughout the region. An element […]
In this article, Ward Hadaway discusses the renewed focus on modular (formerly known as ‘prefab’) housebuilding, particularly in light of the latest Affordable Housing Supply figures, published on 22 November 2018. The recent statistics The Affordable Housing Supply 2017-2018 figures, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, show a staggering 78% reduction […]
As 2018 draws to a close, this will be my last Christmas message as Chief Executive of the NHC, as I will be retiring next spring and handing the reins over to our Deputy Chief Executive, Tracy Harrison. I look forward to seeing her take the organisation from strength to strength. In the years I’ve […]
The appetite for mergers, group structures and amalgamations within the housing sector does not appear to be slowing, fuelled by the need to realise efficiencies, increase financial resilience and to create the capacity to increase the supply of much needed new homes. As Torus, a north-west based group comprising Golden Gates Housing Trust and Helena […]
Tracy Harrison, Deputy Chief Executive, Northern Housing Consortium Last month’s Budget delivered some welcome certainties and a shift in sentiment from government towards working with the social housing sector as part of the solution. The one clear certainty was the commitment to the national supply target of 300,000 new builds a year, this was despite […]
Our lives today are dominated by technology, from smartphones, to social networks, to the IoT, all of which we are now using daily in our places of work – and housing providers are no exception to this trend. As a result, hardly a day goes by without a mention of the need to transform digitally […]
Yvonne Castle, new NHC Board member and Chief Executive of Johnnie Johnson Housing When we talk about our pending crisis of an increasing population in the UK due to ageing we think about: pressure on the NHS; woeful Residential Care (at Southern Cross, winterbourne view and more recently Allied Healthcare), the scale of dementia issues, […]
Please help the Environment Agency by supporting their Flood Action Campaign which will launch between now and the end of the year in their next ‘torrential rain window’. The aim of the campaign is to target and educate 18-30 year olds about flooding and what they can do to minimise damage and any related emotional […]
The way we work has changed drastically in recent years. All organisations, regardless of sector, are now dependent on technology to some degree – unsurprising, given how much digital technologies have impacted our lives both in and out of work. Housing providers in particular are among those beginning to employ digital transformation strategies, looking to […]
With NHS Mental Health Trusts facing unprecedented levels of pressure it’s unsurprising that many in the field are looking for new ways to respond to the challenges they face. In this environment, it is becoming increasingly clear that housing is a key issue for their service users and that by integrating housing services and expertise […]
The government has published a consultation on its social housing rent policy from 2020. The document reflects the government announcement in October 2017 of the intention to permit registered providers to increase their rents by up to CPI+1% each year, for a period of at least 5 years. For the first time, the government intends […]
ValueLicensing are pre-owned Microsoft licencing specialists based in the UK. We support both the Private and Public Sector to save up to 70% on their licensing requirements. For over nine years, 3,300 businesses throughout the UK and Europe have benefited from purchasing pre-owned licences from ValueLicensing, representing a total saving in excess of £20 Million. […]
Along with the rest of the sector the Northern Housing Consortium had been anticipating the publication of a Social Housing Green Paper for some time. So, when the document was finally released on 14th August, it was important for the NHC to bring members together and take full advantage of the opportunity to give detailed […]
The Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) was delighted to join Lord Best and a variety of stakeholders in delivering the recent Rural Housing for an Ageing Population Conference. Alongside ADASS, Housing LIN, and the LGA, the NHC welcomed over one hundred delegates to the Harrogate Convention Centre to explore the opportunities and challenges of providing fit-for-purpose […]
One area of interest contained in the recently published Social Housing Green Paper was the renewed focus on neighbourhood management and addressing anti-social behaviour as a core component of the ‘new deal’ between tenants and landlords. This work has always been vital and respected as such by social housing providers, yet it was notable to […]
The long awaited, much trailed Social Housing Green Paper announced by the former Secretary of State for Housing as a “wide-ranging, top-to-bottom review of the issues facing the sector” and by the current Secretary of State as “a landmark opportunity for major reform” was finally published on 14 August. It was published alongside: A Review […]
Remember that there are increasing opportunities for affordable housing through the remaining unallocated funding within the SOAHP – Shared Ownership Affordable Housing Programme. Partners are therefore encouraged to speak to Homes England Contract and Relationship Managers at the earliest possible opportunity to discuss project requirements and grant needs to be taken through continuous market engagement […]
Over the past year Government policy has understandably turned to focus on the social housing sector and particularly the needs of residents. Against this backdrop, a strong attendance of over 100 tenants and housing staff attended the National Resident Involvement Conference in York to make sense of the recent changes in housing policy as well […]
The Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme is open for bidding – funding is available for a range of tenures. We offer increased flexibility in 18/19 and beyond – using our land, working in collaboration and encouraging new entrants into the programme. Talk to your Homes England Contract Manger or email Victoria.Keen@homesengland.gov.uk for more details. […]
In the year that we celebrate the 70th birthday of the NHS, we often forget that the man credited with its creation, Nye Bevan, was not just the Minister for Health, but also for Housing. His vision for the creation of the NHS was equally matched by a vision of a country living in new […]
Chief Executives from the NHC membership were present at the last meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group Housing in North (APPG HiN) to hear how innovative approaches were being used to support older people to live independent lives. APPG HiN Chair Ian Mearns MP also welcomed Lord Best, who updated attendees on the APPG […]
The Homes England NEYTH team would like to say a huge thank you for all your hard work to achieve such a fantastic result for 17/18. From a position of being significantly under programmed in September 17, working closely with our RP partners, we ended up in a position where we could have exceeded our […]
For over 18 years the Northern Housing Consortium’s Anti-Social Behaviour Study Group has provided an invaluable forum for stakeholders to meet, discuss, and develop the services they provide. Group members, taken from the NHC membership and beyond, have heard from expert speakers outlining the changes and challenges brought about by government policies. These have included […]
Despite the terrible weather conditions that blighted the final week of February, a strong group of intrepid adventurers braved the elements on the 27th to attend the North West Housing Forum’s Debate on Regeneration. The Forum, which is supported by the NHC, brings together the housing officers, Board Members, and Elected Members of the North […]
Melanie Rees, CIH CIH’s Rethinking Social Housing project is now in full swing. Formally launched in January, we wanted to get a national debate going about the role and purpose of social housing – and we’ve been blown away by the response we’ve had! We developed a toolkit to help people to hold their own […]
Now there’s a question to get the brain cells working. For many, to even question the assertion that planned maintenance delivers value for money is heresy. But is it? Given that the vast majority of social housing has been modernised in the last 15 years and most have “reasonably modern” facilities, is continuing with component […]
In its guest blogs, NHC Supporter Ward Hadaway offers the legal perspective and some guidance on some of the social housing sector’s most pressing issues. In this edition: a look at what’s in store for the housing sector in 2018. On entering 2018, we reflect on the main outcomes of 2017 for the housing sector […]
IamYiam is a health platform that creates personalised health and fitness activities and nutrition plans based on science, genetics and history. The company has written the following piece as an introduction to NHC members. If your body is a temple, how can you worship it every day? It’s a good question, and one that probably […]
In November 2017, the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) welcomed more than 100 delegates to our 7th Annual National Tenant Panels Conference Focusing on the voice of our customers — Innovation, efficiency and effectiveness in partnership with Yvonne Davies at Tenant Advisor. The event was chaired by Tom Miskell, Chair of the NHC […]
As 2017 draws to a close, I am sure we can all agree this has been a very turbulent year for the housing sector; a year with many positives including more recognition of the importance of housing, but with the awful tragedy of Grenfell never far from our thoughts. We saw the Government focus on […]
We welcomed close to 70 delegates to Leeds for Tackling and Preventing Homelessness: The Role of the Housing Sector, delivered in partnership with Locata. With a mix of local authorities and housing providers in attendance and a great range of speakers, this event proved to be informative and insightful with lots […]
On 1st October 2017, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, announced proposals to address the imbalance of power in the private rented market by regulating letting and managing agents. A call for evidence sought views on a new regulatory model and how best to protect and empower tenants and leaseholders. The Northern […]
The Homelessness Reduction Act recently became law and is due to be enacted in April 2018. The Draft Homelessness Code of Guidance provides direction on how local authorities should meet the requirements of homelessness legislation and has been updated to include information on the Homelessness Reduction Act. The revised draft guidance is now open for consultation until […]
DCLG publishes consultation on draft homelessness code of guidance The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has published a draft statutory code of guidance which will accompany the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA), due to come into force in April 2018. The DCLG has now published a revised draft the Homelessness Code of Guidance (“Code”) […]
As housing associations battle reduced government subsidies and increased regulatory requirements, they face an uphill struggle to increase productivity without a significant outlay. One way in which organisations are looking to increase output and reduce expenditure is through digital transformation. By updating processes related to IT and procurement, housing associations and housing groups in […]
More services like Universal Credit are being transferred online – but at what cost to providers and end users? Mark McCusker, CEO of assistive technology specialists Texthelp highlights the importance of digital inclusion for housing associations and their residents. To describe the ongoing rollout of Universal Credit as an interesting challenge for UK housing associations […]
In its guest blogs, NHC Supporter Ward Hadaway offers the legal perspective and some guidance on some of the social housing sector’s most pressing issues. In this edition: disrepair. Asset management is a fundamental issue for Registered Providers – the quality and quantity of their housing stock have a direct impact upon their finances and […]
Building on the leadership and management training opportunities running over the next few months, the NHC has partnered with Abode – the home of education and training for the housing and community sectors, to offer three new courses designed specifically for those on the frontline of housing management. Here, Abode training consultants Gill Bramfitt and […]
“What if we train them and they leave?” “What if we don’t and they stay?” I love this quote as it says a lot about the way we approach training and development in our teams. I often hear of businesses reducing the amount of training they provide when the pressure is on. Whether it is […]
In its guest blogs, NHC Supporter Ward Hadaway offers the legal perspective and some guidance on some of the social housing sector’s most pressing issues. In this edition: social housing risk profiling. What are the main financial risks facing social housing providers? This is one of the things which the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) […]
In its guest blogs, NHC Supporter Ward Hadaway offers the legal perspective and some guidance on some of the social housing sector’s most pressing issues. In this edition: the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Building Safety programme. The Grenfell Tower tragedy has focused attention on the quality and safety of high-rise buildings across […]
Change in the social and affordable housing sector is constant. The last two years have put paid to any notion otherwise. From the rent cut to the Housing and Planning Act 2016, from the reclassification decision by the Office of National Statistics to the deregulation of housing associations, and from two general elections with the […]
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will change the way tenant data is dealt with. From 25th May 2018, all organisations will need to ensure they comply with the new data protection legislation. At this stage the social housing sector needs to be aware of the changes and should start reviewing documentation, and whether processes […]
Customer profiling has climbed housing providers’ list of priorities again recently after an apparent lull. More than ever, finances are tight in our sector and providers must be sure that resources are targeted where they will make the greatest impact. Painting a detailed picture of customers can help do that. From a purely commercial perspective, […]
The challenge of providing housing for our ageing population is often talked about in our sector and we’re all too aware of the competing factors at play when trying to meet this need. When it comes to a deprived area in the middle of much-needed but not yet completed regeneration, the need for an innovative approach […]
In February’s Housing White Paper the Government moved away from its broad focus on encouraging home ownership, something that was front and centre of the David Cameron administration, in favour of helping to fix the housing market so that more people across the country can have the security of a decent place to live. We […]
We live in a rapidly ageing society. A girl born today has a 50% chance of reaching 100. By 2024, one in four of us will be over 60 and 2m people will be over 85. Although many will start our ‘old age’ healthy and active, we will inevitably become frailer as the growth in […]
More than 40 housing estates across the North are set to benefit from a significant investment from the £32 million pound Estate Regeneration Fund to help kick-start their regeneration. The funding awards for northern registered providers, which account for 42% of all the bids, represent a significant investment in regeneration in the North of England […]
First of its kind Social Housing Tenants’ Climate Jury meets tonight
|Blog |by chendersonThe north of England’s first tenants’ climate jury will host its inaugural session tonight. The Social Housing Tenants’ Climate Jury is made up of 30 tenants from project partners First Choice Homes Oldham, Karbon Homes, Salix Homes, Thirteen Group, and Yorkshire Housing. The project is being led by the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC), which represents […]
Social housing green energy schemes lead way on sector decarbonisation efforts
|Blog |by dellwoodWhat do the pioneering ReFLEX Orkney project, the unique ‘Solopower’ solution, and the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator all have in common? They are either led by or partnering with one innovative energy services company, SMS plc, which is on a mission to support housing organisations with long-term sustainability and fuel poverty targets. The […]
New Partner Jennifer Robinson joins Ward Hadaway to expand firm’s social housing services
|Blog |by dellwoodJennifer Robinson has joined as a Partner in Ward Hadaway’s Built Environment Team to grow the firm’s social housing offering to clients across Yorkshire and nationally. Jennifer, who will be based at the firm’s Leeds office, has over 20 years’ experience in the social housing sector. She will lead a multi-disciplinary team of lawyers, qualified […]
Working together to help build the homes the UK needs
|Blog |by dellwoodEven before Covid-19, the Government was far from reaching its target of delivering 300,000+ homes a year in England by the mid-2020s[1]. Now, the pandemic has had and will continue to have an impact on the national economy and the practicalities of building new homes[2]. Funding remains one of the main challenges. Availability and terms […]
NHC bursary scheme awards 12 bursaries to 7 of their member organisations
|Blog |by dellwoodThe Unlocking Success Bursary Scheme, funded through the Northern Housing Consortium Charitable Trust, awards bursaries of £500 to help tenants develop learning and skills to support future employment. From April to June 2021, we had a total of 18 applications from 7 of our member organisations. We are delighted to award 12 bursaries to successful […]
Decent Homes Standard Review : Update
|Blog |by dellwoodThe Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government’s review of the Decent Homes Standard continues to progress. The first phase – which will run until September – is considering the case for change to the existing standard. Following a meeting in June, last Friday the NHC submitted written comments to Ministry. Our previous submission in […]
New research : operationalising the Green Book
|Blog |by dellwoodHomes for the North, with support from the Northern Housing Consortium, has this week launched new research on appraisal guidance. This follows revisions made to the Government’s ‘Green Book’ in 2020 and examines how appraisal guidance can be ‘operationalised’ to reflect levelling up. The research finds that the review of the Green Book will come […]
NHC provide evidence to Commons Net Zero Inquiry
|Blog |by dellwoodOn Monday 12th July, the NHC’s Brian Robson appeared before the House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee to provide evidence as part of the Committee’s inquiry into Local Government and Net Zero. As part of a session focused on housing, local government and net zero, the committee covered a wide range […]
Managing burnout – Claire Russell, CEO, Mental Health in Business
|Blog |by dellwoodThe mental health impact of all that we have experienced since early 2020, is huge – and will be long lasting. “On a population-wide basis, the negative mental health effects of the pandemic are likely to last much longer that its physical health impacts. The effects of physical distancing, social isolation, and lockdown on individual […]
Look out for our member perceptions survey
|Blog |by dellwoodThe NHC are embarking on a new perceptions survey to help us understand what we’re doing well, where we need to improve, and where we should focus our attention for the future. As a membership organisation, it is vital that the work NHC does is relevant and adds value to our members. As we now […]
The Power of Action Learning and the Net Zero Agenda
|Blog |by dellwoodTraining and development opportunities for senior leaders Kate Maughan, Director of Member Engagement, NHC In 2020, the NHC ran its first Action Learning Set for members, facilitated by Action Learning Associates. While Action Learning is a great tool for any topic, we designed the sets around decarbonisation – the net zero agenda is a priority for our members, and when thinking about new skills, […]
£350m Sustainable Warmth Competition opens for bids
|Blog |by dellwoodA further £350m of funding is now available to upgrade the homes of low-income residents. Local authorities have until 4th August to submit bids to the Sustainable Warmth Competition – which combines the third round of Local Authority Delivery and the new Home Upgrade Grant scheme. £200m is available through the Local Authority Delivery (LAD3) […]
Partnership Working at a Local Level
|Blog |by dellwoodGeraldine Howley, Chair of the CIH Governing Board, GEM Programme Director As a passionate believer in partnership working, I was privileged to be directly involved in the NHC Commission for Housing in the North. Looking back at the five years since the publication of the Commission’s report in 2016, it’s also important to bear in […]
The Northern Housing Summit 2021 – bookings now open!
|Blog |by dellwoodNorthern Housing Summit 2021 – Tuesday 2nd November – AM & Thursday 4th November – AM Click here to book your place The Northern Housing Summit is back for 2021 as an online event and at no cost to NHC members. Taking place during Glasgow’s COP26 and hosted over two half days, our focus will again be firmly on decarbonisation […]
7,500 Tenants Across the North to receive Climate Jury Invitation this Week
|Blog |by dellwood7,500 social housing tenants from across the North will this week be invited to register their interest in taking part in a first of its kind engagement exercise. Of those eager to take part, a final ‘Social Housing Tenants’ Climate Jury’ of 30 residents will be tasked with developing recommendations as to how they, along […]
SMS becomes member of Northern Housing Consortium
|Blog |by dellwoodThe smart energy solutions provider, SMS, has become the latest Supporter member of the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) following the launch of its fully–financed and intelligently–operated solar PV + battery storage solution for social housing, Solopower. SMS plc joins Northern Housing Consortium possessing a long history working with the UK public sector – as well as the wider housing sector – through its range of energy services offered independently and procurable through the Crown Commercial Service frameworks. These partnerships include the delivery of utility […]
The NHC Northern Housing Summit – Save the date
|Blog |by dellwoodTuesday 2nd November – AM & Thursday 4th November – AM The Northern Housing Summit is back for 2021 as an online event! Taking place during Glasgow’s COP26 and hosted over two half days, our focus will again be firmly on decarbonisation and net zero as a key priority for our membership. Day 1 […]
Northern Regeneration: National Opportunity
|Blog |by dellwoodPrior to the pandemic, the argument for levelling up the North was largely about inequality: it was recognising the decades of under investment that had led to the North’s economic under performance and was no doubt also driven by the Brexit referendum result, which clearly signalled the frustration and anger felt by those living in […]
Who will retrofit a million homes in the North? Lord Best – Guest Blog
|Blog |by dellwoodThe Commission for Housing in the North showed us what needs to be done: a million homes in the North of England require upgrading. Most are owner occupied, often by people with relatively low incomes. But the worst conditions are found in the PRS. Quite apart from relieving fuel poverty and the miseries of cold […]
Homes England launch Local Government Capacity Centre
|Blog |by dellwoodHomes England, the Government’s Housing Agency, has launched its Local Government Capacity Centre with a programme of summer learning for local authorities. This will run from 14th to 25th June and includes sessions on brownfield sites, development appraisals and viability, and an update on latest planning policy relating to design. Officers working in local government […]
Two New Networks formed between Northern Housing Consortium Members
|Blog |by dellwoodIn recent months, the NHC has brought together it’s membership of Housing Associations, Local Authorities, and ALMO’s to form two new Networks. The new groups, which will offer members a space to network, share learning, and collaborate, focus on two of the most pertinent issues facing the North’s housing sector today – building safety, and […]
Unlocking Success Bursary Scheme – Open for applications
|Blog |by dellwoodFighting fuel poverty – how to leverage frameworks as part of the Local Authority Delivery scheme
|Blog |by dellwoodGuest blog by Gary Cawley, Director, North & Central England, CPC The Government has come in for a lot of stick for the delivery of the Green Homes Grant voucher scheme for private homes. But, it’s widely acknowledged that the public sector arm of the initiative – the Local Authority Delivery scheme – has been […]
Decent Homes Review – April Update
|Blog |by dellwoodThe NHC is a core participant in the Sounding Board for the Government’s review of the Decent Homes Standard. We have surveyed members on their views and are continuing to consult members through our regional networks. Here’s our latest update on the Review. As you may be aware, the Review is in two parts – […]
Pressure builds to frontload social housing retrofit fund
|Blog |by dellwoodBrownfield Land Release Fund Opens
|Blog |by dellwoodLast year, the North’s combined authorities were allocated £276m from the Brownfield Housing Fund. Building on that success, at the Budget in December 2020, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced further funding for brownfield land release in areas not currently covered by Mayoral/Combined Authority arrangements. The Brownfield Land Release Fund is being managed by One […]
Levelling Up – Reimagining Town Centres
|Blog |by dellwoodFrom our market towns to our major cities, the North is home to a diverse range of town centres with a wide variety of assets and opportunities. But changing retail habits and the impact of Covid-19 pose challenges. The focus is now on how we can renew and reshape town centres to ensure they continue […]
North East of England Climate Coalition (NEECCo)
|Blog |by James FairlessChief Executive’s response to Further Education Skills for Jobs White Paper
|Blog |by jamesburmanClick the link below to read a copy of the letter sent from Northern Housing Consortium Chief Executive Tracy Harrison to Gillian Keegan MP in response to the Further Education Skills for Jobs White Paper: The letter draws attention to a report published in late 2020 by IPPR North called Northern Powerhomes: A green recovery […]
Influential Select Committee Energy Efficiency report reflects NHC evidence
|Blog |by dellwoodAn influential Conservative-led House of Commons Select Committee has recommended urgent action to improve energy efficiency of homes, citing written and oral evidence provided by the NHC. The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee has this week recommended rolling out the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and Homes Upgrade Grants ‘without delay’ with funding front-loaded. The […]
Regional climate coalitions gather pace
|Blog |by dellwoodRegional climate coalitions in Yorkshire & Humber and the North East have gathered pace this month. The North’s housing sector is playing an important role in both coalitions. On 17th March, the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Comission held a well-attended launch event, which is available to watch again on YouTube. The Commission is an independent […]
NHC meet the minister
|Blog |by dellwoodAs part of our efforts to influence housing decarbonisation plans, NHC Chair Paul Fiddaman and CEO Tracy Harrison met with Climate Change Minister Lord Callanan earlier this month. A former MEP and local councillor in Tyne and Wear, Lord Callanan is now a minister at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The meeting […]
Mediaworks scoops Third Sector website gong for transformational Home Group project
|Blog |by dellwoodFuture facing digital marketing agency, Mediaworks is celebrating after its work for one of the UKs biggest housing groups was named as one of the best new websites. The prestigious UK Dev Awards 2021 has named Home Group’s new website as the best Third Sector website in the last 12 months. Mediaworks developed a site […]
NHC’s Brief Guide to the Levelling Up Fund
|Blog |by jamesburmanThe Levelling Up Fund prospectus was published with the Budget on 3 March. It will invest £4.8 billion in high value local infrastructure. Here are the 10 key things you need to know about the Fund: UK-wide -The Fund is UK-wide but intended for places that need it the most such as ex-industrial areas, deprived […]
Thirteen’s experiences since the roll out of Universal Credit
|Blog |by dellwoodSusan Borrow, Care and Support Manager (contracts) at Thirteen, reflects on Thirteen’s experiences since the roll out of Universal Credit, the measures we’ve put in place and investments we’ve made to ensure tenants have been able to manage their claims and maintain their tenancies. Universal Credit (UC) has been with us in the Tees Valley […]
Universal Credit – Your Homes Newcastle Perspective
|Blog |by dellwoodNewcastle upon Tyne was one of the first areas where Universal Credit was introduced, and Your Homes Newcastle have been managing its impact for 6 years. We have seen the progress of roll-out, from minor tweaks around the edges, to significant overhauls in IT systems and legislation. We are now in a position to reflect […]
Changes to the New Homes Bonus – we want your views
|Blog |by dellwoodThe Government is consulting on potential changes to the New Homes Bonus. The NHC will be responding to the consultation as part of our efforts to make housing policy work for the North, and we’d like to hear member views. The New Homes Bonus was introduced in 2011 as part of the Coalition government’s localism […]
Decent Homes Review – update
|Blog |by dellwoodThe NHC is a core participant in the Sounding Board for Government’s Review of the Decent Homes Standard. The Review is now underway, and the Sounding Board met for the first time in February. MHCLG are running the Review in two phases – the first phase, running over Spring and Summer, is considering the case […]
Northern Housing Consortium Universal Credit – Resources Report Published
|Blog |by dellwoodThe current health crisis has had a significant impact on employment levels across the north. This has had a knock-on effect on the welfare system with one-third of claims to Universal Credit since it’s roll out being made during the pandemic. The Government has offered low-income families the lifeline of the £20 uplift in Universal […]
Select committee recovery report cites NHC evidence
|Blog |by dellwoodAn influential House of Commons committee has cited the NHC’s evidence on net zero and levelling up three times in their latest report on ‘greening the recovery’. The House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee, chaired by Conservative MP Phillip Dunne, published their latest report Growing back better: putting nature and net zero at the […]
Ward Hadaway appoints new director to head up social housing offering in Manchester
|Blog |by dellwoodLaw firm Ward Hadaway has extended its social housing offering with the appointment of an experienced new lawyer in its Manchester office. Melanie Dirom has joined as director, responsible for advising and providing legal advice and litigation services to many of the firm’s social housing clients and local authorities. Melanie is recognised in both Legal […]
The Social Housing White Paper – Cautious Optimism for Race Equality
|Blog |by dellwoodBlog by Positive about Inclusion – consultants. Released in November 2020 the Social Housing White Paper was the long awaited Government response to the Grenfell tragedy. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said that the Paper had been prepared with the ‘views of those devastated by Grenfell in mind’ and set in this context […]
National Energy Action (NEA) and Energy Action Scotland (EAS) survey
|Blog |by dellwoodFuel poverty charities National Energy Action (NEA) and Energy Action Scotland (EAS) are undertaking research to investigate pre-payment meters (PPM) and the rollout of smart meters for pre-payment customers. We would like to hear your views through this call for evidence, which aims to collect information to inform this research. In particular, NEA and EAS […]
Disrepair Claims: Reconvened Network and Full-Day Conference for NHC Members
|Blog |by dellwoodThe Dealing with Disrepair Network for NHC members reconvened this week after a short hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. The group, organised by the NHC and Ward Hadaway, was originally formed in response to the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act. Since March 2020 the Act has imposed upon landlords an implied contractual obligation […]
Fuel Poverty Strategy Published
|Blog |by dellwoodBEIS has finally published the updated Fuel Poverty Strategy called “Sustainable Warmth: Protecting Vulnerable Households in England.” The new strategy makes 21 commitments to “ensure everyone can afford the energy required to keep their lights and heating on.” It sets out how it will meet the UK’s legal target to “improve as many fuel poor […]
Modern Methods of Construction – time for some honesty?
|Blog |by dellwoodSynopsis There is a growing body of experience of MMC in the social housing sector now, with a number of Registered Providers in the North having conducted pilot projects, large and small. LHC has worked on hundreds of projects for social landlords all around the UK, totalling more than 5,300 homes to date. However, it’s […]
Spotlight on complaints about heating, hot water and energy in social housing report
|Blog |by dellwoodEarlier this month the Housing Ombudsman Service published a report focusing on complaints about heating and hot water, identifying unnecessary delays in resolving issues together with landlords’ management of contractors as particular issues of concern. The report highlights the serious impact these complaints can have on residents, especially when dealing with vulnerable households. The report, […]
New Private Sector Housing module goes live
|Blog |by dellwoodNew Forest District Council is going live this week with a new Private Sector Housing System module from Locata. The system incorporates a caseload dashboard, a private sector properties database as well as full Journal capabilities for surveyed properties linked to homeless cases and housing register applications. The new module will also boast a fully […]
Guest Blog – Contractors called up for new £1.5bn housing framework
|Blog |by dellwoodLHC is currently in the pre-planning stage of their New Build Housing Construction (H2) framework that will be procured on behalf of SPA, CPC and LHC. It will deliver a range of traditional housing as well as low, medium and high-rise construction, sheltered, student and keyworker accommodation, care homes, and mixed use sites, development agreements […]
Decent Homes Standard – we want your views
|Blog |by dellwoodThe Social Housing White Paper announced a review of the Decent Homes Standard. The Northern Housing Consortium is pleased to have been invited by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to be a core participant in the Review sounding board. The first phase of the review is considering the case for criteria within […]
Housing Minister Opens Dialogue with All-Party Parliamentary Group for Housing in the North
|Blog |by dellwoodOn Tuesday the Housing Minister, Chris Pincher MP, attended the latest meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Housing in the North to learn about the work of the Group, give an update on Government priorities, and underline his support for APPG’s as cross-party, Parliament-wide forums of important debate. To summarise the recent and […]
Leading housing chief to retire after seventeen successful years
|Blog |by dellwoodIncommunities Group Chief Executive, Geraldine Howley is getting ready to step down at the end of the month after nearly two decades leading the West Yorkshire housing association. It follows Geraldine’s decision to retire and her leaving comes as the Group gets ready to mark 18 successful years in business. Her long career started as […]
New chair for Northern Housing Consortium
|Blog |by dellwoodSocial Housing membership organisation the Northern Housing Consortium have welcomed Paul Fiddaman as the new Chair of their member-led board. Paul is currently the Chief Executive Officer with Karbon Homes, having previously held Chief Executive roles with Isos Housing and Cestria Community Housing, and brings over two decades experience of the housing sector. He replaces […]
Reaction to Future Homes announcement
|Blog |by dellwoodYesterday (19th January) the government published their plans to introduce rigorous new energy efficiency standards to lower energy consumption and bills, helping to protect the environment. The full announcement can be read HERE (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rigorous-new-targets-for-green-building-revolution Speaking about the government’s announcement on Future Homes and Future Buildings standards Tracy Harrison, Chief Executive of the Northern Housing Consortium, […]
Northern Housing Consortium launches new look
|Blog |by dellwoodCPC – ENERGY EFFICIENCY
|Blog |by dellwoodENERGY EFFICIENCY Are you unsure about who CPC are? Let us explain… CPC is a partnership between LHC & NHC designed to offer each organisation’s current and potential new members an unrivalled range of procurement solutions. Through CPC, Northern Housing Consortium’s clients will be able to access LHC’s suite of frameworks. …still confused? We created […]
New CBL enhancement makes form filling easier for social housing applicants
|Blog |by dellwoodKent Homechoice went live on December 1, 2020, with a new enhancement from Locata to its Choice Based Lettings system that allows the pre-population of its Change of Circumstances (ChoC) form. This gives Kent’s existing social housing applicants a change of circumstances form with details of their application already filled in for them to change […]
Eleven Locata services on latest G-Cloud 12 framework
|Blog |by dellwoodLocata has once again been successful in applying to join the latest G-Cloud 12 framework. This means that we continue to be an official Crown Commercial Service supplier and our products and services can be bought by local authorities through the Digital Marketplace without needing to go through a full tender process – helping save […]
Energy Angels Sponsor Blog – Restoring power in your empty homes
|Blog |by dellwoodThis year has been challenging for all of us, we’ve had to adapt in many different ways and adopt new processes to regain some normality. Some organisations have adapted quicker than others and will come out of this stronger, while others have closed shop and those experiences will leave a bad taste that will remain […]
PRS to face ambitious energy targets?
|Blog |by dellwoodA new Government consultation has set out an ambitious proposed trajectory for energy efficiency in the private rented sector. The new consultation, from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), makes range of proposals, including that homes let in the private rented sector from 2025 should have to meet an energy efficiency rating […]
Connecting our members – Kate Maughan, Director of Member Engagement, NHC
|Blog |by dellwoodAs the NHC’s Director of Member Engagement, I’ve been reflecting on the extraordinary year we’ve had so far. So much has changed since March and the sector has responded swiftly and with impact. Here at the NHC, we’ve made big changes too. We rapidly moved from traditional, face to face events into a full digital […]
Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator
|Blog |by dellwoodOn 8 July 2020, the Chancellor’s Summer Economic Update announced the UK-wide Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator (SHDF Demonstrator) to support the decarbonisation of social housing over 2020/21, and to boost green jobs as part of the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan. This £50 million programme will support social landlords to demonstrate innovative approaches to retrofitting social […]
NHC calls for chancellor to ‘rebuild, level-up and invest in people and places’
|Blog |by dellwoodWith plans for an Autumn Budget cancelled, the future of the multi-year Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) due this Autumn is uncertain. Nevertheless, the NHC has used its CSR Representation to call on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to work with the North’s housing sector to deliver on his aims to rebuild, level-up and invest in people and […]
‘No place left behind’ Commission – call for evidence
|Blog |by dellwoodThe Create Streets Foundation has launched ‘No place left behind’, a Commission into prosperity and community placemaking. This is chaired by Toby Lloyd, the former Head of Policy at Shelter and Housing Advisor to the Prime Minister. Over the next year the Commission intends to come up with new ideas to help “level-up” England as part […]
Changes to the Current Planning System – Things to look out for A Ward Hadaway Briefing for NHC Members
|Blog |by dellwoodThe Government’s white paper Planning for the Future has garnered much attention, but a second consultation, Changes to the Current Planning System, was released on the same day and proposes more immediate changes that, if approved, could be implemented before the end of the year through amendments to national planning guidance or by way of […]
Locata’s website redesign includes new video page
|Blog |by dellwoodLocata has redesigned its company website and introduced a new page for videos demonstrating its housing software. The new page currently has four HPA2 videos that show how the dashboard and help sites work. Each video is just three or four minutes long so that Locata users can easily get the information they require simply […]
Software One Guest Blog – Three ways we can help you adapt to this uncertain new reality
|Blog |by dellwood2020 has challenged public sector organisations like no other. From providing local services with a remote workforce, to having to do even more with reduced manpower and tight budgets – it’s been tough. Yet many have stepped into the challenge and transformed the way they are serving members of the public. While the first six […]
NHC supporter Locata launches two new enhancements
|Blog |by dellwoodLocata has launched two new enhancements designed to make the management of housing applicants even more efficient and effective. Both enhancements were flagged up and discussed at the Virtual National Users Group in July and are now available to order. Document Uploads The document upload enhancement is already being used by several schemes across the […]
NHC upcoming events
|Blog |by dellwoodSeptember proves to be a busy month for the Northern Housing Consortium’s engagement activity, with a string of free webinars to support our members across a range of issues. Gathered here in one place for you to look over, please do sign up or pass on to colleagues you think may be interested. #OurNorth Net […]
Team NHC get carbon literate
|Blog |by dellwoodAs part of our commitment to supporting members to improve homes and lives through the decarbonisation of our existing housing stock, the Northern Housing Consortium team has been getting carbon literate! Carbon literacy is an awareness of the carbon dioxide costs and impacts of everyday activities, and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions, on […]
What do the Government’s White Paper Planning Reforms mean for housing in the North?
|Blog |by dellwoodWith a Government commitment to level up the regions of the UK, we have scrutinised the White Paper: Planning for the Future for signs of opportunities for housing growth and renewal in the North. The following brief summary of the proposals is no substitute for reading the 84-page document itself, as well as the accompanying consultation on […]
#OurNorth Net Zero partners
|Blog |by dellwood#OurNorth Net Zero partners Momentum is growing around the NHC’s #OurNorth Net Zero programme, we are very proud to announce our five partners who are enabling the ground-breaking programme designed to help our members decabonise their housing stock. We’re delighted to welcome: Halton Housing Liverpool City Region Housing Associations Thirteen Together Group Consortium Procurement Their generous […]
Green Home Grants: News on launch of £2bn scheme
|Blog |by dellwoodYesterday Government provided detail on how to access the Green Home Grant scheme, which was announced as part of the Chancellor’s Summer Economic Statement last month. The Government confirmed the grant programme is scheduled to go live towards the end of September, and also opened bidding for a £500m local authority-led component. The £2bn scheme […]
Virtual NUG attracts officers countrywide
|Blog |by dellwoodWard Hadaway Speed Read: The risk behind flexible tenancies
|Blog |by dellwoodCroydon LBC v Kalonga [2020] EWHC 1353 (QB)Tipples J A flexible tenancy is a type secure tenancy that can be granted by a local authority to its tenants. They must be granted for a minimum fixed term of two years however, at the end of this term, a mandatory ground for possession arises. Mrs Kalonga […]
Mediaworks Unveils New Digital Experience for Home Group
|Blog |by dellwoodAward-winning digital marketing agency, Mediaworks, has completed a year-long project with Home Group, the UK’s leading provider of high-quality housing, health, and social care to deliver a new digital experience. The project set out to deliver accessible and personalised online content to Home Group’s customer groups, enabling them to quickly find the information they are […]
Northern Housing Consortium – 2020 Election of Directors
|Blog |by dellwoodThe 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 96% of social housing in the North. Our vision is to use our collective voice to have unrivalled influence in achieving housing policy that works for the […]
New for 2020 : Action Learning Sets for Strategic Leaders
|Blog |by dellwoodDevelop your leadership skills, think differently about organisational challenges and come together with strategic leaders from across the sector through action learning. The Northern Housing Consortium is delighted to be working with Action Learning Associates to run a series of Action Learning Sets for strategic leaders in the sector from September 2020. Action Learning Sets […]
MPs call for social housing to be ‘top of agenda’ for recovery
|Blog |by dellwoodThe influential Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee have called for social housing to be ‘top of the agenda’ for recovery. Their new report Building More Social Housing is the culmination of a year-long Inquiry, which included the NHC appearing before the Committee in October 2019. The report’s conclusions include that: At least 90,000 […]
Brownfield boost for the North’s city regions
|Blog |by dellwoodThe £400m Brownfield Housing Fund has now been largely allocated – and the North’s city regions are big winners. The Brownfield Housing Fund was announced at the March Budget – with Chancellor Rishi Sunak commenting it would help “ambitious Mayoral Combined Authorities and local areas to establish housing on brownfield land across the country”. On […]
Net Zero and New Homes: Housing’s role in the North’s recovery
|Blog |by dellwoodOn Wednesday 8th July, Chancellor Rishi Sunak presented his Summer Economic Update – the second stage in the Government’s economic response to Coronavirus. At the NHC, we urged the Chancellor to take the opportunity to place net zero and new homes at the heart of the North’s recovery. The Chancellor has previously warned that we […]
#OurNorth Net Zero Webinar Programme announced
|Blog |by dellwoodOn the 13th July the Northern Housing Consortium launched #OurNorth – Net Zero at a Webinar where we were joined speakers representing the United Nations, devolved Combined Authorities, and of course the NHC membership. Here, we outlined our commitment to achieving Net-Zero as a core policy objective. Our long-term aim is to ensure that homes […]
Introducing #OurNorth: Net Zero
|Blog |by dellwoodNet Zero and New Homes : Housing’s role in the North’s recovery
|Blog |by dellwoodGuest blog – More councils using Locata’s document upload module
|Blog |by dellwoodLocata’s document upload enhancement is being used by increasing numbers of housing schemes across the country. The 13 partners forming the Kent Homechoice scheme, four more in the West London partnership, New Forest and North Herts were some of the first councils to take the update to their CBL system. There are now several more […]
Creating the capacity to deliver on our housing ambitions
|Blog |by dellwoodOn June 24th, over 40 NHC members joined with the NHC and Homes England for a joint workshop on local authority skills and capacity. The highly interactive session was focused on understanding and responding to local government capacity needs. The Homes England team presented their emerging thinking on the agency’s role in providing the skills […]
Time to put #HomesAtTheHeart of the North’s recovery
|Blog |by dellwoodBuilding and improving homes must be at the heart of the North’s economic and social recovery from the coronavirus crisis. That’s the message from right across the North’s housing sector, and it’s why the NHC was delighted to add our support to the #HomesAtTheHeart campaign being coordinated by the National Housing Federation, CIH and other […]
#OurNorth – Net zero
|Blog |by dellwoodDecarbonising the North of England’s existing housing stock will be central to the UK’s climate ambitions, with figures from 2017 showing that 26% of all carbon emissions across the northern regions are from our existing homes. Work is under way, Local Authorities across the North have declared climate emergencies and Housing associations and ALMOs have […]
Guest blog – Emerging From Lockdown: 10 Marketing Actions for Every Housing Association
|Blog |by dellwoodMediaworks Goes Global With Record-Breaking Short Course
|Blog |by dellwoodAward-winning digital agency Mediaworks and York St John University have received over 2,500 applications from across the world in just 10 days for their Virtual Digital Marketing short course. At the beginning of May, Mediaworks and York St John University agreed to produce and deliver a shortened introductory version of their MSc course. With businesses […]
Housing’s role in the North’s economic and social recovery
|Blog |by dellwoodWhat role should housing play in the North’s economic and social recovery from Covid-19? Over the last month, the NHC has worked with our members and GC Consulting to think through the economic and social impacts of Covid-19 on the North of England, and consider the ways housing can contribute to the North’s recovery, interact […]
Lockdown and housing conditions : new research project
|Blog |by dellwoodThe NHC is delighted to be working in partnership with the University of Huddersfield on a new research project which will explore the impact of Northerner’s homes on their experience of lockdown. This will include issues like the standard and quality of homes, overcrowding and access to outdoor space. The research team will undertake interviews […]
Safe at home? Property standards during lockdown
|Blog |by dellwoodThis pandemic has shown just how much we all need a safe and secure home to retreat to. But for some of us, staying at home means spending more time in accommodation that does not meet basic standards of decency, risking the health and wellbeing of millions of Northerners. Northern Housing Consortium Member Engagement Officer Matthew […]
Response, resilience, recovery & renaissance – the Torus approach
|Blog |by dellwoodAre you making the most of our member networks?
|Blog |by dellwoodOur members are at the heart of everything we say and do. We pride ourselves on our ability to bring people together to share best practice, networking opportunities and expert insight from inside and outside of the sector. Last year we engaged with 100% of our member organisations from across the North East, North West […]
Take a look at our upcoming events
|Blog |by dellwoodWe are committed to providing you with opportunities to come together online so we can collectively support each other during this period. We have already held webinars with the Housing Minister, the CEO of the Regulator of Social Housing and the Housing Ombudsman among others. We have been busy planning some further events for different […]
Health and housing roundtable write-up
|Blog |by dellwoodUnlocking Success Bursary Scheme awards 36 tenants
|Blog |by dellwoodThe first round of funding for the Unlocking Success Bursary Scheme has been awarded to tenants from member organisations across the North. The scheme is funded through the NHC’s Charitable Trust and helps tenants across the North develop learning and skills to support future employment. The applications received covered a vast array of support requests […]
Princes Trust Guest Blog – About our programmes for Young People
|Blog |by dellwoodAt The Princes Trust, we have a great team in the North, committed to working in partnership with a variety of organisations, from local authorities to clinical commissioning groups, police and crime commissioners, colleges and in particular Housing Associations just like yourselves. We already work in partnership with some Housing Associations like Calico in Lancashire […]
Budget 2020 – on-the-day briefing
|Blog |by dellwoodThe Chancellor presented his Budget on March 11th. Whilst recent events have dwarfed the scale of announcements, it contained some important news for our members. The NHC produced our usual on-the-day briefing after the Budget earlier this month. There were elements to welcome within the Budget – such as the commitment to extend the Affordable […]
NHC welcomes MHCLG officials to Tees Valley
|Blog |by dellwoodWe were delighted to welcome MHCLG Housing Delivery Director Cathy Francis and members of her team to the Tees Valley on Thursday 12th March. Cathy and her team undertook a day-long tour, taking in sites of opportunity, challenge and recent success. This included: The huge SSI industrial site in Redcar, now in the hands of […]
What have new Northern MPs been talking about in their maiden speeches?
|Blog |by chendersonThe 2019 General Election returned 140 new MPs to Parliament; of these, 40 represent constituencies in the North of England. Traditionally, new MPs arrive in Westminster and deliver their first speech to the House that gives some personal and constituency background, as well as briefly setting out the issues they aim to confront in the […]
Raising and Enforcing Standards in the Northern Private Rented Sector
|Blog |by dellwoodHousing Ombudsman – Insight on data, individual complaints and learning
|Blog |by dellwoodGuest blog by Richard Blakeway, Housing Ombudsman It is critical for the Ombudsman, as well as resolving individual disputes, to share the insight and learning from our casework to improve services across the sector. We do this in several ways already – from training through to reports focusing on a specific issue – and will […]
How the NHC strive to support staff wellbeing
|Blog |by dellwood“Our staff are the key to our ability to deliver excellent services to members”. Catherine Wilmot, Executive Director (Operations & Finance), Northern Housing Consortium talks about why empowering staff through training and development is so important to the NHC and how we strive to support staff wellbeing. Having worked most of my professional career within […]
The 5 Step Plan for becoming an inclusive organisation
|Blog |by dellwoodPaul Fox, Director of Workplace Solutions, Texthelp Did you know that more than 15,000 businesses in the UK have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme? Disability Confident organisations play a leading role in changing attitudes for the better. They’re changing behaviour and cultures in their own businesses, networks and communities, and reaping the benefits […]
Guest blog (NEA) – Smart Energy GB in Communities – Launch of the large grants fund
|Blog |by dellwoodSmart Energy GB in Communities National Energy Action (NEA) is pleased to announce that the 2020 Smart Energy GB in Communities programme is now live, with grant funding and support being targeted to organisations reaching people aged over 65 who are unaware of smart meters. This group will have a very limited knowledge and understanding […]
Communications in Housing Write-up
|Blog |by dellwoodTenant Panels event summary
|Blog |by dellwoodLast month around 100 of the region’s engaged residents returned to The Principal York for the Northern Housing Consortium and Tenant Advisor’s 9th Annual Tenant Panel conference. The theme of the day was ‘influencing services and decision makers’ and with a General Election on the horizon, delegates used the day to produce their own ‘Resident’s […]
Northern Housing Consortium Events 2020 – A look ahead
|Blog |by dellwoodThe NHC events calendar starts the new year off on a strong footing with two events looking at Social Value and Housing Strategy. An annual event now in its 6th year, our Social Value conference is run in collaboration with HACT, who have pioneered social value measurement in the sector. With an eclectic programme in […]
A look back at 2019
|Blog |by dellwoodAs attention turns to the year ahead, we take a look back at some of the work our members helped us to achieve in the year 2019. Our work programme has been busy, covering a new corporate plan, a focused influencing agenda and an exciting new collaboration to launch Consortium Procurement Construction, offering our members […]
Northern Housing Summit 2019 Summary
|Blog |by dellwoodThe Northern Housing Summit took place earlier this month, attended by over 180 representatives from housing associations and local authorities. The day had three main themes running throughout – future vision and ambition, quality and place, and capacity, delivery and regulation. Our Chief Executive, Tracy Harrison welcomed delegates to the event, recognising that we face […]
Impact of Universal Credit – Resource Research Deadline Extended
|Blog |by dellwoodWe have learnt through our roundtable events that housing providers and local authorities are increasingly having to take up the slack and are investing increasing resources to ensure the smooth running of the Universal Credit system for the benefits of claimants and to maintain sustainable tenancies. In order to quantify the extent to which members […]
MyNHC – putting members at the heart of NHC services
|Blog |by dellwoodWhere are we now? I’ve worked in the NHC’s Member Engagement team since 2015, and we’ve seen huge changes during that time, both to the housing landscape and in how we deliver services to our 146 local authority, housing association and ALMO members across the North. We’ve fundamentally changed the way we engage with members, […]
Charities, local authorities and housing associations came together to tackle Homelessness in Leeds earlier this week
|Blog |by dellwoodRepresentatives from Crisis, Youth Homeless North East, and both local authorities and housing associations shared their experiences, latest research and recommendations around tackling homelessness at an event organised by the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) in Leeds on the 25th November. Access to housing is a fundamental part of solving homelessness. There are now 84,740 households, […]
Lessons from the Early Adopters Group – Building Safety roundtables
|Blog |by dellwoodThe Grenfell Tower tragedy raised the issue of building safety in tall buildings across the country and with 18 high-rise blocks, Salix Homes, based in Salford, Greater Manchester, has been at the forefront of identifying a new approach for the industry. As one of three housing providers who are part of the Government’s Early Adopters […]
MyNHC will launch at the Northern Housing Summit next week
|Blog |by dellwoodLook out for our new online portal ‘MyNHC’ launching at the Northern Housing Summit (but available to everyone!) from the 5th November. MyNHC will give members: better oversight of how your organisation works with us the ability to book events, pay online and manage event bookings access documentation view procurement information and much more. If […]
Meet the Northern Housing Summit Sponsors & Exhibitors!
|Blog |by dellwoodWe’re excited to bring you our Sponsor and Exhibitor Showcase for the Northern Housing Summit 2019 which takes place on the 5th November in the Renaissance Hotel, Manchester. All food and drinks will be served in the exhibition area which will be open throughout the event. Come and join us and our other exhibitors in […]
Our Executive Director Brian Robson gives evidence at the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee.
|Blog |by dellwoodThe evening of Monday 21st October saw our Executive Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Brian Robson, give evidence at the second session of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee regarding the long-term delivery of social and affordable rented housing (View the call for evidence here). The Northern Housing Consortium was invited to […]
Impact of Universal Credit – Resource Research Launched
|Blog |by dellwoodIt has become apparent during our conversations with members in our regular roundtable events that housing providers and local authorities are increasingly having to take up the slack and are investing increasing resources to ensure the smooth running of the Universal Credit system for the benefits of claimants and to maintain sustainable tenancies. As promised […]
Workers waste 30 days per year on email
|Blog |by dellwoodUnproductive Brits ‘waste’ the equivalent of 30 WORKING DAYS per year on their office email, it has emerged. Office workers typically spend around two hours each day browsing their inbox, according to research. However, the survey found around half of this time is wasted by accidentally re-reading messages, needlessly checking for updates and sending emails […]
Mediaworks Announced as NHC Supporter Member
|Blog |by dellwoodMediaworks has recently partnered with the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC). As NHC’s Supporter member The partnership between NHC and Mediaworks will see Mediaworks provide digital advice and marketing expertise within the housing market. Mediaworks will provide sponsorship at trade shows, as well as offering member-relevant advice and insights. The partnership will ensure that members of […]
Guest blog: New Housing Related Support system launched
|Blog |by dellwoodLocata is ready to roll out its new Housing Related Support (HRS) system across the country. The new launch was created in partnership with housing practitioners from Cheshire East who wanted a way to link applicants directly to support services. The system went live in Cheshire East four weeks ago and acts as a referral […]
Member Engagement Dinner with Martin Hilditch – Editor of Inside Housing
|Blog |by dellwoodThursday 19th September 2019 – York Members were joined by Editor of Inside Housing magazine Martin Hilditch in York on Thursday 19th September as part of a series of member engagement sessions organised by the Northern Housing Consortium. We run a range of senior member engagement sessions, and all full member organisations are invited to at […]
Policy Proposals from Party Conference Season So Far
|Blog |by dellwoodConference season is well under way and with a possible General Election looming the three main political parties have been setting out the direction of their housing policy. Below is a summary of what has so far been proposed: The Conservative Party Though the Conservative Party conference is yet to begin, Esther McVey gave […]
A community-led housing plan that’s fit for the future
|Blog |by dellwoodBritain’s housing system is not delivering the homes that the country needs or that people can afford. The evidence set out in our bold new Greater Manchester Housing Strategy makes it clear that our broken housing market is directly impacting the lives of many of us in this city-region. The housing crisis takes many forms, […]
Guest Blog – Text Help – Are you supporting Neurodiversity in the Workplace?
|Blog |by dellwoodNeurodiversity is not just about ‘doing the right thing’ anymore. GCHQ, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Direct Line Group and JPMorgan Chase are actively getting it ‘right’ and supporting neurodiverse employees throughout their employment – benefiting both the employee AND the organisation. Neurodiverse employees with Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Dyscalculia, Autistic Spectrum, Tourette Syndrome and more, […]
Preparing for Hackitt 2019
|Blog |by dellwoodSteve Douglas CBE, Group Chief Executive, Altair I’m delighted to chair the annual NHC/Altair Asset Management Seminar once again. It is so important that northern housing providers have as much access to the policy debates on building safety, compliance and regulation, as London and the south providers do. This year’s seminar focusses on trying to […]
Building your brand and developing an Employee Value Proposition
|Blog |by dellwoodFinding and keeping the talent your organisation needs to succeed has always been a challenge. A recent CBI survey said that 56% of organisations cannot fill the jobs that they currently have available, and 80% of CEOs said that “Talent” was their single biggest issue, more important than concerns about the economy or their […]
NCH Resident Involvement Conference – 19th June 2019
|Blog |by dellwoodBlog by officers attending from Sheffield City Council Intro John Three of us from Sheffield City Council had a day out at this conference in June. We are Shahid Khan, Engagement & Development Officer, Waleed Al-Gulaidi, Community Engagement Apprentice, and John Loveless, Manager of the Community Engagement Team. We met Barbara Spicer, Chief Executive of […]
Marking the centenary of the ‘Addison Act’
|Blog |by dellwoodToday marks the centenary of the Housing Act 1919. The ‘Addison Act’, as it was commonly known, paved the way for large-scale council housing and was driven by Health Minister at the time, Christopher Addison. We were excited to see what our members are doing to mark the occasion, including activity from Sheffield City Council […]
Meet the NHC team at CIH Housing 2019!
|Blog |by chendersonFind out more about our Digital Innovation Seminar
|Blog |by dellwoodOur Director of Member Engagement, Kate Maughan talks us through the Digital Innovation in Housing Seminar taking place next month. Our digital innovation seminar is taking place on 18th July in Leeds – book your place here. Digital innovation is now recognised as key to an organisation’s success. Whether it’s bringing in new technology, making […]
Crisis communications: what health and safety teams need to know
|Blog |by dellwoodDawn McGuigan, Head of Brand and Communications at Gentoo talks through how health and safety teams can work with communications teams in a crisis. I recently spoke at Northern Housing Consortium’s Health and Safety 2019 conference about how communications and health and safety teams can work together to protect the reputation of their organisation during […]
Meet our new executive team
|Blog |by dellwoodIt’s been an exciting time for the NHC! Earlier this month, our Deputy Chief Executive, Tracy Harrison was appointed to the role of Chief Executive, and we welcomed a new Executive Director (Policy & Public Affairs), Brian Robson who joined us from Homes England. The new executive team also includes Executive Director, Catherine Wilmot, who […]
Greater Manchester Housing Providers’ (GMHP) Ambition to Deliver – a “huge step in the right direction”
|Blog |by dellwoodThe NHC hosted an event last week which saw Greater Manchester Housing Providers come together with local authorities to discuss how they tackle some of the key housing challenges facing Greater Manchester. Launched last year by GMHP, the Ambition to Deliver is a manifesto setting out how the 26 housing providers can work together with […]
Jo Boaden CBE is given great send off
|Blog |by dellwoodEarlier this month we marked the retirement of our Chief Executive, Jo Boaden CBE, with a very special reception at the House of Lords. The event was hosted by Lord Best and guests heard from NHC Chair, Tom Miskell OBE who championed Jo’s great work in building the NHC into the organisation that it is […]
Johnnie Johnson Housing and “The Armed Forces Covenant”…
|Blog |by dellwood…but just what, exactly, is The Armed Forces Covenant? Hi, I’m Yvonne Castle, CEO of Johnnie Johnson Housing and a Board Member of our wonderful Northern Housing Consortium. I’d love to hear if you’ve signed the Covenant and what success stories you have! A bit about Johnnie – Johnnie Johnson was a real person. He […]
Digital Transformation in the Public Sector: The Magic Trio for Success
|Blog |by dellwoodBy Chris Bartlett, Business Unit Director – Public Sector, SoftwareONE Consumer expectations of how services should be delivered today are high. Increasingly, we have come to see online, convenient access to public services – whether paying council tax, reporting a pothole, or applying for a school space – as the norm. In April 2016, the […]
Stepping into Housing Leadership
|Blog |by dellwoodWith the NHC set to launch a training programme for new and aspiring housing leaders, Glynis Osbourne discusses the importance of investing in first-time managers. Here are our top 10 reasons to invest in first level management The Northern Housing Consortium and Thinking Success UK will soon be launching their Stepping into Housing Leadership Programme. […]
End of ‘no-fault’ evictions in the Private Rented Sector
|Blog |by dellwoodIn what is described as ‘a generational change’ to the lettings sector, Section 21 evictions, known as no fault evictions, will be abolished under plans to be put out to consultation. The announcement came with no warning and despite considerable pressure from landlord organisations following last year’s consultation on longer tenancies who said that the […]
Northern Housing Consortium to help your staff Step into Housing Leadership
|Blog |by chendersonHousing Affordability in the North: Problems and solutions
|Blog |by chendersonDesign Council Spark: The Home Innovation Challenge
|Blog |by chendersonWard Hadaway Guest Blog – Direction on the Rent Standard 2019
|Blog |by dellwoodTV Licensing – Community Relations Team
|Blog |by dellwoodThe TV Licensing Community Relations team was set up to better interact with organisations that play a big part in their local communities. We are committed to making our information accessible to everyone in the community, and we work with a range of organisations such as housing, caring, money advice and multilingual groups to achieve […]
NHC Training Series with Abode
|Blog |by lgregsonBuilding on the leadership and management training opportunities running over the course of the year, the NHC continues to partner with Abode – the home of education and training for the housing and community sectors, to offer three courses designed specifically for those on the frontline of housing management. Here, Abode training consultants Gill Bramfitt and Claire Harvey talk […]
Could tackling the empty homes epidemic help solve the housing crisis?
|Blog |by dellwoodLee Sugden, Chief Executive, Salix Homes and NHC Board member At the last count, there were over 600,000 empty homes in England – that equates to two years’ worth of the Government’s targets for new home completions. Of those, more than 200,000 are classed as long-term empty, in that they’ve stood empty for more than […]
Government safety guidance on tall buildings
|Blog |by dellwoodAdvice was published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) on 18 December last year on ‘external wall systems that do not incorporate Aluminium Composite Material’ – in other words, buildings where the type of cladding used on the Grenfell Tower is not present. Despite this, MHCLG has advised that there are […]
Thirteen Launching County Durham Employment Routeways for Young People
|Blog |by dellwoodThirteen’s employability service has launched a new scheme to support young people aged 16-24 from County Durham into work (funded by DurhamWorks as part of the Youth Employment Initiative). Over recent years Thirteen has extended its employability portfolio, delivering services for both tenants and the wider public. Our support progressing individuals into work has provided […]
Focus on…. Housing Health and Safety Rating System
|Blog |by dellwoodLandlords have a legal requirement to ensure that a property is safe before letting it to a new tenant and local authorities have a statutory duty to keep the housing conditions in their area under review. It is now almost thirteen years since the introduction of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Introduced […]
Independent Affordable Housing Commission
|Blog |by dellwoodThe new independent Affordable Housing Commission (AHC) is chaired by Lord Best and includes housing experts and parliamentarian commissioners. The Smith Institute will act as secretariat to the commission and the NHC will be supporting the commission by holding an event on 1 March 2019 (this event focuses on the North East and Yorkshire and […]
All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Housing in the North looks further at impact of housing on health
|Blog |by dellwoodThe cross-party forum for parliamentarians to discuss and advance northern specific housing challenges, the APPG Housing in the North, met again this week to explore further how housing can play a central role in supporting personal health. The group, made up of MP’s and Lords of all political persuasions, heard from a range of speakers […]
Focus On – Housing Health and Safety Rating System
|Blog |by dellwoodLandlords have a legal requirement to ensure that a property is safe before letting it to a new tenant and local authorities have a statutory duty to keep the housing conditions in their area under review. It is now almost thirteen years since the introduction of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Introduced […]
Ward Hadaway Guest Blog – Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018
|Blog |by dellwoodOn 20 March 2019, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (The Act) comes into force in England and Wales amending sections 8 to 10 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. The Act creates an obligation on landlords to make sure dwellings provided are fit for human habitation from the start of their […]
Plus Dane and Refugee Resettlement
|Blog |by dellwoodIn 2016, Plus Dane, in partnership with SHAP, was awarded the Refugee Resettlement Contract for Halton Borough Council; Halton are a great Council to work with and there was a coalition of the willing. The contract fitted well with the social and moral purpose of our organisation. And so began a new strand of […]
Guest Blog: The Housing Association Digital Forum wants new members
|Blog |by dellwoodKarl Dickman, Product Manager at Home Group, explains why he set up the Housing Association Digital Forum and how already it’s been a great success. I started the Housing Association Digital Forum in September 2018 with the first participants invited from the North East, and Yorkshire and Humber. I set it up, primarily, because I […]
Our continuing support for social housing staff
|Blog |by dellwoodLiam Gregson, Member Engagement Officer, Northern Housing Consortium With austerity swelling social housing’s role as an ‘ambulance service’ for vulnerable groups, it is unsurprising that the mental health problems faced by residents has come increasingly into focus. Research by the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute has suggested that one in three people living in […]
Guest Blog: ‘A vision for social housing’: report by Social Housing Commission on tenants’ rights
|Blog |by dellwoodThe Social Housing Commission (the Commission) is an independent cross-party body which was set up by housing charity Shelter. On 08 January 2019 the Commission returned a year’s worth of findings in the form of a report entitled ‘Building for our future: A vision for social housing’ which aims to bolster tenants’ rights in the […]
Good practice on how residents and landlords work together to keep their home and building safe
|Blog |by dellwoodThe Social Housing Green Paper published last year included a specific question around how residents can be supported by their landlords to ensure their homes are safe. A Call for Evidence – available here – has been issued to understand what safety issues are most important, the extent to which current engagement works and what […]
Guest Blog – Homes England Community Housing Fund
|Blog |by dellwoodOver the summer Homes England launched the Community Housing Fund (CHF) (£163m). Both phase 1 revenue support and phase 2 capital funds are now open for bids. At Homes England we are supporting community led housing activity and we know through enquiries and actual bids that communities are developing projects throughout the region. An element […]
Mortar or modular? The future of construction of social housing
|Blog |by dellwoodIn this article, Ward Hadaway discusses the renewed focus on modular (formerly known as ‘prefab’) housebuilding, particularly in light of the latest Affordable Housing Supply figures, published on 22 November 2018. The recent statistics The Affordable Housing Supply 2017-2018 figures, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, show a staggering 78% reduction […]
A Christmas message from NHC Chief Executive Jo Boaden
|Blog |by chendersonAs 2018 draws to a close, this will be my last Christmas message as Chief Executive of the NHC, as I will be retiring next spring and handing the reins over to our Deputy Chief Executive, Tracy Harrison. I look forward to seeing her take the organisation from strength to strength. In the years I’ve […]
Liz Haworth, Chief Operations & Transformation Officer (Designate), Torus reflects on the potential benefits of amalgamation and some of the lessons learned
|Blog |by chendersonThe appetite for mergers, group structures and amalgamations within the housing sector does not appear to be slowing, fuelled by the need to realise efficiencies, increase financial resilience and to create the capacity to increase the supply of much needed new homes. As Torus, a north-west based group comprising Golden Gates Housing Trust and Helena […]
Budget 2018 – a look behind the headlines
|Blog |by dellwoodTracy Harrison, Deputy Chief Executive, Northern Housing Consortium Last month’s Budget delivered some welcome certainties and a shift in sentiment from government towards working with the social housing sector as part of the solution. The one clear certainty was the commitment to the national supply target of 300,000 new builds a year, this was despite […]
Guest Blog – Cloud – it isn’t how big it is, it’s what you do with it that counts
|Blog |by dellwoodOur lives today are dominated by technology, from smartphones, to social networks, to the IoT, all of which we are now using daily in our places of work – and housing providers are no exception to this trend. As a result, hardly a day goes by without a mention of the need to transform digitally […]
Guest Blog – Growing older is a gift
|Blog |by dellwoodYvonne Castle, new NHC Board member and Chief Executive of Johnnie Johnson Housing When we talk about our pending crisis of an increasing population in the UK due to ageing we think about: pressure on the NHS; woeful Residential Care (at Southern Cross, winterbourne view and more recently Allied Healthcare), the scale of dementia issues, […]
Guest Blog – Flood Action Campaign 2018/19
|Blog |by dellwoodPlease help the Environment Agency by supporting their Flood Action Campaign which will launch between now and the end of the year in their next ‘torrential rain window’. The aim of the campaign is to target and educate 18-30 year olds about flooding and what they can do to minimise damage and any related emotional […]
NHC Summit 2018 – Beyond Supply
|Blog |by chendersonCOMPAREX Guest Blog – Building modern workplaces for modern housing providers.
|Blog |by dellwoodThe way we work has changed drastically in recent years. All organisations, regardless of sector, are now dependent on technology to some degree – unsurprising, given how much digital technologies have impacted our lives both in and out of work. Housing providers in particular are among those beginning to employ digital transformation strategies, looking to […]
Mental Health & Housing Summary
|Blog |by dellwoodWith NHS Mental Health Trusts facing unprecedented levels of pressure it’s unsurprising that many in the field are looking for new ways to respond to the challenges they face. In this environment, it is becoming increasingly clear that housing is a key issue for their service users and that by integrating housing services and expertise […]
Rents for Social Housing from 2020-21
|Blog |by dellwoodThe government has published a consultation on its social housing rent policy from 2020. The document reflects the government announcement in October 2017 of the intention to permit registered providers to increase their rents by up to CPI+1% each year, for a period of at least 5 years. For the first time, the government intends […]
Have you considered pre-owned licences for your organisation?
|Blog |by chendersonValueLicensing are pre-owned Microsoft licencing specialists based in the UK. We support both the Private and Public Sector to save up to 70% on their licensing requirements. For over nine years, 3,300 businesses throughout the UK and Europe have benefited from purchasing pre-owned licences from ValueLicensing, representing a total saving in excess of £20 Million. […]
NHC consults with members on the social housing green paper
|Blog |by lgregsonAlong with the rest of the sector the Northern Housing Consortium had been anticipating the publication of a Social Housing Green Paper for some time. So, when the document was finally released on 14th August, it was important for the NHC to bring members together and take full advantage of the opportunity to give detailed […]
Rural Housing for an Ageing Population Write-up
|Blog |by lgregsonThe Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) was delighted to join Lord Best and a variety of stakeholders in delivering the recent Rural Housing for an Ageing Population Conference. Alongside ADASS, Housing LIN, and the LGA, the NHC welcomed over one hundred delegates to the Harrogate Convention Centre to explore the opportunities and challenges of providing fit-for-purpose […]
Social Housing Green Paper’s proposals on neighbourhood management and anti-social behaviour.
|Blog |by lgregsonOne area of interest contained in the recently published Social Housing Green Paper was the renewed focus on neighbourhood management and addressing anti-social behaviour as a core component of the ‘new deal’ between tenants and landlords. This work has always been vital and respected as such by social housing providers, yet it was notable to […]
Social Housing Green Paper – A New Deal for Social Housing
|Blog |by chendersonThe long awaited, much trailed Social Housing Green Paper announced by the former Secretary of State for Housing as a “wide-ranging, top-to-bottom review of the issues facing the sector” and by the current Secretary of State as “a landmark opportunity for major reform” was finally published on 14 August. It was published alongside: A Review […]
Building Information Modelling; Why social landlords need it – and why it needs social landlords
|Guest Blogs |by chendersonUnderstanding Water Damage
|Guest Blogs |by chendersonHomes England Guest Blog
|Guest Blogs |by dellwoodRemember that there are increasing opportunities for affordable housing through the remaining unallocated funding within the SOAHP – Shared Ownership Affordable Housing Programme. Partners are therefore encouraged to speak to Homes England Contract and Relationship Managers at the earliest possible opportunity to discuss project requirements and grant needs to be taken through continuous market engagement […]
Another Successful Resident Involvement Conference
|Blog |by chendersonOver the past year Government policy has understandably turned to focus on the social housing sector and particularly the needs of residents. Against this backdrop, a strong attendance of over 100 tenants and housing staff attended the National Resident Involvement Conference in York to make sense of the recent changes in housing policy as well […]
Improving the industry’s approach to managing safety, security and reputation
|Guest Blogs |by chendersonHomes England’s Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme
|Guest Blogs |by dellwoodThe Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme is open for bidding – funding is available for a range of tenures. We offer increased flexibility in 18/19 and beyond – using our land, working in collaboration and encouraging new entrants into the programme. Talk to your Homes England Contract Manger or email Victoria.Keen@homesengland.gov.uk for more details. […]
Breaking through – understanding and collaborating with the NHS
|Guest Blogs |by chendersonIn the year that we celebrate the 70th birthday of the NHS, we often forget that the man credited with its creation, Nye Bevan, was not just the Minister for Health, but also for Housing. His vision for the creation of the NHS was equally matched by a vision of a country living in new […]
Visit the Flood Resilient Repair House at the ‘Maintaining Social Housing Safety, Security & Reputation’ event in September — Watford
|Blog |by chendersonMHCLG Tour in the North West
|Blog |by chendersonAPPG Housing in the North discusses housing for older people
|Blog |by lgregsonChief Executives from the NHC membership were present at the last meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group Housing in North (APPG HiN) to hear how innovative approaches were being used to support older people to live independent lives. APPG HiN Chair Ian Mearns MP also welcomed Lord Best, who updated attendees on the APPG […]
Guest Blog: Homes England thank Registered Providers
|Blog, Guest Blogs |by dellwoodThe Homes England NEYTH team would like to say a huge thank you for all your hard work to achieve such a fantastic result for 17/18. From a position of being significantly under programmed in September 17, working closely with our RP partners, we ended up in a position where we could have exceeded our […]
Safety in Neighbourhoods Network
|Blog |by lgregsonFor over 18 years the Northern Housing Consortium’s Anti-Social Behaviour Study Group has provided an invaluable forum for stakeholders to meet, discuss, and develop the services they provide. Group members, taken from the NHC membership and beyond, have heard from expert speakers outlining the changes and challenges brought about by government policies. These have included […]
The North West Housing Forum – Event Write-Up
|Blog |by chendersonDespite the terrible weather conditions that blighted the final week of February, a strong group of intrepid adventurers braved the elements on the 27th to attend the North West Housing Forum’s Debate on Regeneration. The Forum, which is supported by the NHC, brings together the housing officers, Board Members, and Elected Members of the North […]
CIH Rethinking Social Housing Project Update
|Blog |by chendersonMelanie Rees, CIH CIH’s Rethinking Social Housing project is now in full swing. Formally launched in January, we wanted to get a national debate going about the role and purpose of social housing – and we’ve been blown away by the response we’ve had! We developed a toolkit to help people to hold their own […]
Is planned maintenance value for money?
|Blog |by David HetheringtonNow there’s a question to get the brain cells working. For many, to even question the assertion that planned maintenance delivers value for money is heresy. But is it? Given that the vast majority of social housing has been modernised in the last 15 years and most have “reasonably modern” facilities, is continuing with component […]
Fourth Annual Social Value Conference round-up
|Blog |by David HetheringtonGuestblog: Ward Hadaway – Housing Sector Forecast 2018
|Blog, Guest Blogs |by David HetheringtonIn its guest blogs, NHC Supporter Ward Hadaway offers the legal perspective and some guidance on some of the social housing sector’s most pressing issues. In this edition: a look at what’s in store for the housing sector in 2018. On entering 2018, we reflect on the main outcomes of 2017 for the housing sector […]
Guestblog: IamYiam – If your body is a temple, how can you worship it every day?
|Blog, Guest Blogs |by David HetheringtonIamYiam is a health platform that creates personalised health and fitness activities and nutrition plans based on science, genetics and history. The company has written the following piece as an introduction to NHC members. If your body is a temple, how can you worship it every day? It’s a good question, and one that probably […]
7th Annual National Tenant Panels Conference round-up
|Blog |by chendersonIn November 2017, the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) welcomed more than 100 delegates to our 7th Annual National Tenant Panels Conference Focusing on the voice of our customers — Innovation, efficiency and effectiveness in partnership with Yvonne Davies at Tenant Advisor. The event was chaired by Tom Miskell, Chair of the NHC […]
A Christmas message from the Chief Executive
|Blog |by chendersonAs 2017 draws to a close, I am sure we can all agree this has been a very turbulent year for the housing sector; a year with many positives including more recognition of the importance of housing, but with the awful tragedy of Grenfell never far from our thoughts. We saw the Government focus on […]
Tackling and Preventing Homelessness: The Role of the Housing Sector
|Blog |by chendersonWe welcomed close to 70 delegates to Leeds for Tackling and Preventing Homelessness: The Role of the Housing Sector, delivered in partnership with Locata. With a mix of local authorities and housing providers in attendance and a great range of speakers, this event proved to be informative and insightful with lots […]
Protecting Consumers in the Letting and Managing Agent Market: Call for Evidence
|Blog |by David HetheringtonOn 1st October 2017, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, announced proposals to address the imbalance of power in the private rented market by regulating letting and managing agents. A call for evidence sought views on a new regulatory model and how best to protect and empower tenants and leaseholders. The Northern […]
Homelessness Code of Guidance – we want your views
|Blog |by chendersonThe Homelessness Reduction Act recently became law and is due to be enacted in April 2018. The Draft Homelessness Code of Guidance provides direction on how local authorities should meet the requirements of homelessness legislation and has been updated to include information on the Homelessness Reduction Act. The revised draft guidance is now open for consultation until […]
GuestBlog: Ward Hadaway brief — consultation on draft homelessness code of guidance
|Blog |by chendersonDCLG publishes consultation on draft homelessness code of guidance The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has published a draft statutory code of guidance which will accompany the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA), due to come into force in April 2018. The DCLG has now published a revised draft the Homelessness Code of Guidance (“Code”) […]
Guestblog: Support your digital transformation with centralised software procurement from COMPAREX
|Blog |by chendersonAs housing associations battle reduced government subsidies and increased regulatory requirements, they face an uphill struggle to increase productivity without a significant outlay. One way in which organisations are looking to increase output and reduce expenditure is through digital transformation. By updating processes related to IT and procurement, housing associations and housing groups in […]
Innovate North – the NHC Northern Housing Summit 2017 round-up
|Blog |by David HetheringtonGuestblog: Texthelp – Digital inclusion builds stronger foundations for housing associations and protects revenue
|Blog |by David HetheringtonMore services like Universal Credit are being transferred online – but at what cost to providers and end users? Mark McCusker, CEO of assistive technology specialists Texthelp highlights the importance of digital inclusion for housing associations and their residents. To describe the ongoing rollout of Universal Credit as an interesting challenge for UK housing associations […]
Guestblog: Ward Hadaway – Disrepair
|Blog, Guest Blogs |by wardhadawayIn its guest blogs, NHC Supporter Ward Hadaway offers the legal perspective and some guidance on some of the social housing sector’s most pressing issues. In this edition: disrepair. Asset management is a fundamental issue for Registered Providers – the quality and quantity of their housing stock have a direct impact upon their finances and […]
Guestblog: Abode – Back to Basics?
|Blog, Guest Blogs |by David HetheringtonBuilding on the leadership and management training opportunities running over the next few months, the NHC has partnered with Abode – the home of education and training for the housing and community sectors, to offer three new courses designed specifically for those on the frontline of housing management. Here, Abode training consultants Gill Bramfitt and […]
Guestblog: Glynis Osborne – What starts when training stops?
|Blog |by glynisosborne“What if we train them and they leave?” “What if we don’t and they stay?” I love this quote as it says a lot about the way we approach training and development in our teams. I often hear of businesses reducing the amount of training they provide when the pressure is on. Whether it is […]
Guestblog: Ward Hadaway – Social housing risk profiling
|Blog |by wardhadawayIn its guest blogs, NHC Supporter Ward Hadaway offers the legal perspective and some guidance on some of the social housing sector’s most pressing issues. In this edition: social housing risk profiling. What are the main financial risks facing social housing providers? This is one of the things which the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) […]
Guestblog: Ward Hadaway – The DCLG Building Safety programme
|Blog |by wardhadawayIn its guest blogs, NHC Supporter Ward Hadaway offers the legal perspective and some guidance on some of the social housing sector’s most pressing issues. In this edition: the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Building Safety programme. The Grenfell Tower tragedy has focused attention on the quality and safety of high-rise buildings across […]
Guestblog: Savills – Helping housing providers build better businesses
|Blog |by savillsChange in the social and affordable housing sector is constant. The last two years have put paid to any notion otherwise. From the rent cut to the Housing and Planning Act 2016, from the reclassification decision by the Office of National Statistics to the deregulation of housing associations, and from two general elections with the […]
Preparing for the General Data Protection Regulation in Social Housing
|Blog |by David HetheringtonThe General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will change the way tenant data is dealt with. From 25th May 2018, all organisations will need to ensure they comply with the new data protection legislation. At this stage the social housing sector needs to be aware of the changes and should start reviewing documentation, and whether processes […]
The Return of Customer Profiling
|Blog |by Barry TurnbullCustomer profiling has climbed housing providers’ list of priorities again recently after an apparent lull. More than ever, finances are tight in our sector and providers must be sure that resources are targeted where they will make the greatest impact. Painting a detailed picture of customers can help do that. From a purely commercial perspective, […]
Member Showcase – YHN Goes Dutch in Newcastle
|Guest Blogs |by David HetheringtonThe challenge of providing housing for our ageing population is often talked about in our sector and we’re all too aware of the competing factors at play when trying to meet this need. When it comes to a deprived area in the middle of much-needed but not yet completed regeneration, the need for an innovative approach […]
Health and Safety Conference 2017 round-up
|Blog |by David HetheringtonData Blog – Shifting Tenure Patterns in the North
|Blog |by Barry TurnbullIn February’s Housing White Paper the Government moved away from its broad focus on encouraging home ownership, something that was front and centre of the David Cameron administration, in favour of helping to fix the housing market so that more people across the country can have the security of a decent place to live. We […]
Our Round-up of the Digital Innovation in Housing Conference
|Blog |by chendersonGuest blog: Campbell Tickell – Housing an ageing society
|Guest Blogs, News |by David HetheringtonWe live in a rapidly ageing society. A girl born today has a 50% chance of reaching 100. By 2024, one in four of us will be over 60 and 2m people will be over 85. Although many will start our ‘old age’ healthy and active, we will inevitably become frailer as the growth in […]
Estate Regeneration Funding Announced
|Blog |by Callum SmithMore than 40 housing estates across the North are set to benefit from a significant investment from the £32 million pound Estate Regeneration Fund to help kick-start their regeneration. The funding awards for northern registered providers, which account for 42% of all the bids, represent a significant investment in regeneration in the North of England […]