Temporary Accommodation Crisis Discussed at NHC Member Event

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In June the NHC brought members together to discuss the increasing temporary accommodation crisis in the North of England. The session was organised in response to member feedback highlighting rising homelessness and greater reliance on often inadequate temporary accommodation. In bringing together the NHC’s registered provider and local authority members, the session underlined both the organisational and human impact of the issue. Offering hope, the afternoon also highlighted the new thinking and opportunities for collaboration that was helping areas across the North to reduce the use of temporary accommodation, and where it was necessary ensure stays were as safe and short as possible.

Data from the latest edition of the Northern Housing Monitor provided context for the meeting. High housing costs and a lack of genuinely affordable housing has created across the northern regions a distinct form of housing poverty.  With many northern households shut out from housing affordability and therefore housing security, this housing poverty manifested in households having to squeeze already limited spending and being particularly vulnerable welfare benefit reductions and interest rate spikes.

A lack of affordability in private tenures continues to be a key driver of homelessness and housing waiting lists have continued to expand. Unsurprisingly, the use of temporary accommodation is increasing sharply and is becoming a huge financial strain. There were 12,660 northern households in temporary accommodation by mid-2024, within these households were 14,210 children.

Attendees were clear that reductions in funding for homeless services had created substantial challenges for local authorities and partners. A lack of capacity and resource had created a process reliant on temporary accommodation. The reality for many was a well-meaning but ultimately reactive service that created new inefficiencies. With Local Authorities needing to prioritise urgent need, little resource was available for preventative measures, better management of accommodation, or move-on planning.

Despite this, the day showed the efforts NHC members were making to improve services and outcomes for households. Liverpool City Council described how they were undertaking a significant transformation programme designed to shift from a crisis driven response to a prevention focussed service. Although already underway, this work has been supported by the Government’s public service reform agenda. Here, the local authority has received support from the Government to undertake a ‘test and learn pilot’ aimed at reducing rising costs and inefficiencies in how temporary housing is provided. The pilot is proving valuable in providing capacity to get to grips with data, providing a framework to monitor and improve services week-on-week, and instilling a team effort mentality that drew in wider teams and stakeholders.

Leeds City Council were undertaking a similar process. A value placed on critical self-reflection had supported officers to ‘not stand still’ and instead look to continuously adapt to context. This had led to a reorganisation of team resource and a renewed approach to performance management. The outcome was an improved customer pathway built around face-to-face contact in neighbourhood settings, a more appropriate use of digital services, and early advice. Seeking to maximise housing options, the local authority had also invested in outreach to the Private Rented and social housing sectors. Initiatives included a Rent Guarantee Scheme, an expanded Landlord Support Team, and a responsive re-housing scheme with registered providers.

This kind of innovative approach to collaboration was also exemplified by Bury Council and Irwell Valley Housing Association. Using funding to reduce the use of B&B’s, a partnership had been created whereby previously void properties were refurbished and let to homeless families on a minimum 5yr lease. Entering on starter tenancy agreements, the option was available for the household to ultimately remain in the property. If they chose not to, the property remained ring-fenced for temporary accommodation. With collaboration between the local authority and registered provider extending to clear agreements around wraparound support, the initiative was seen as long-term solution with housing evolving from temporary to long term housing.

The session was an opportunity to hear about promising good practice but also reflect on issues which need further attention. Attendees agreed that investment was needed in supported housing to ensure those with complex needs are appropriately helped. Partnerships of the type between Irwell Valley and Bury Council were still needed to avoid registered providers facing additional mental health or community safety issues without support. Finally, without action on Local Housing Allowance rates, many households would continue to face the risk of homelessness.

Temporary Accommodation Crisis in the North was held in partnership with Campbell Tickell and Devonshires as part of the national Temporary Accommodation Network.

For further information or to discuss your own work in relation to any of the themes above, contact Liam Gregson, Senior Engagement Manager (Devolution and Place Lead) – liam.gregson@nhc.org.uk

 

 

 

NHC upcoming events

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Dealing with Disrepair: Ensuring Compliance and Tackling Claims

Coming into effect October 2025, Awaab’s Law seeks to ensure social landlords investigate and fix dangerous damp and mould in set time periods and repair all emergency hazards within 24 hours. Alongside the already existing duty to keep homes fit for human habitation, and the ongoing review of the Decent Homes Standard, registered providers are working to evolving and far reaching requirements.

Against this backdrop, Ward Hadaway and the Northern Housing Consortium are bringing the sector together for this full day conference.

The day will see leading practitioners and legal experts share good practice across proactive and innovative disrepair management, as well as equip attendees with confidence and knowledge to challenge the actions of spurious claims farmers.

The session will cover:

Managing Disrepair

  • Preparing for Awaab’s Law, including developing the right organisational culture.
  • Surveying, identifying, and dealing with hazards including damp and mould.
  • Demonstrating compliance and improving both the officer and customer journey using technology and data.
  • Decent homes; getting procurement right.

Standing up to Claims Farmers:

  • Awaab’s Law, the requirements contained within the Act and what the implementation of these provisions mean for the sector from a legal standpoint.
  • Dealing and responding effectively to disrepair claims.
  • Gaining access to properties.
  • Getting assertive with issued claims.

We will be joined by:

  • Chris Machin, Park Square Barristers – ranked as a Leading Junior for Social Housing in The Legal 500 (2025)
  • Lucy Hancock, Head of Redress, Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government
  • Andrea Malcolm, Deputy Group Chief Executive, Bernicia Homes
  • Darren Ibell, Assistant Director – Asset Management & Development, Broxtowe Borough Council
  • Simon Thirtle, Partner, Ward Hadaway
  • Alex Bagnall, Technical Manager, Total Legal Solutions
  • Drew Frame, Head of Procurement, NHC Procurement

Additional speakers and a full agenda to be announced.  You can sign up for the session here – https://www.mynhc.org.uk/event/general?id=Dealing_with_Disrepair_Ensuring_Compliance_and_Tackling_Claims2423813339

 

 

Temporary Accommodation Crisis in the North

A lack of secure, affordable housing is leading to increasing levels of homelessness and a greater reliance on Temporary Accommodation across the North. In addition to the human impact of housing people in often inadequate accommodation, addressing this crisis places a huge financial burden on Local Authorities and takes capacity away from strategic housing and regeneration ambitions. Meeting demand through housing growth or the development of new Temporary Accommodation will take time before having a major impact and the housing sector is having to find different ways of providing support now.

Being held following the Government’s Spending Review, the NHC, Campbell Tickell, and Devonshires are bringing together the housing sector and key stakeholders to discuss how to best address the Temporary Accommodation challenge across the northern regions.  Together, attendees will contribute to efforts to ensure any use of Temporary Accommodation is both suitable and cost effective, with clear routes to settled housing.

Join us to:

  • Explore the post-Spending Review landscape for homelessness and Temporary Accommodation.
  • Establish the particular challenges associated with Temporary Accommodation provision for Local Authorities and housing providers in the North.
  • Share and learn from innovative good practice; from making best use of funds and resource to partnership working.
  • Generate new solutions and insights, opening pathways for further collaboration.

A full agenda will be confirmed in due course. 

A Campbell Tickell – Devonshires Temporary Accommodation Network event in collaboration with the Northern Housing Consortium.

You can sign up for the session here – https://www.mynhc.org.uk/event/general?id=Temporary_Accommodation_Crisis_in_the_North4033134864

 

NHC attend roundtable with DESNZ Minister

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Last week, the Northern Housing Consortium’s (NHC) Executive Director of Policy and External Relations, Patrick Murray, attended a roundtable with the Minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh.  

The roundtable brought together representatives from the NHC, the National Housing Federation (NHF), Chartered Institute of Housing, Local Government Association (LGA), the National Federation of Almos (NFA) and affordable housing providers to help inform the government’s Warm Homes Plan.  

Discussions focused on how the housing sector can rapidly scale up the number of homes receiving energy efficiency improvements in the coming years, the need for long-term retrofit funding and how devolution and an area-based approach can best support the delivery of large scale retrofit programmes, amongst other topics. 

The roundtable also included conversations on the need for regeneration to play a part in the government’s plans to improve both the quality and energy efficiency of existing homes and communities, in line with the NHC’s Spending Review submission submitted to government earlier this year.  

The NHC published a report last year, Warm Homes, Green Jobs, focusing on how long term, consistent retrofit funding and wider government policy can support the scale up of retrofit supply chains and support the creation of thousands of new jobs.  

Patrick Murray, NHC’s Executive Director (Policy and External Relations) said: 

“It was great to talk to the Minister about how we can tackle fuel poverty and cut carbon emissions through investment in more energy efficient homes, and in particular explore the role of devolution in delivery of funding and the wider links to regeneration.” 

Devolution and collaboration on the NHC agenda with conference slots  

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Our Executive Director (Policy & External Relations) Patrick Murray spoke at UKREiiF, the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum, which took place in Leeds.

He joined the panel for L&Q’s session on ‘Perfect Partners: how housing associations and councils can work together to build the homes we need’. It looked at how housing associations can be the strategic partners of choice for local and combined authorities and help the Government meet its ambitious housing targets. As part of this Patrick outlined how Housing Partnerships are leading a new wave of collaboration. He also stressed the need for the right framework to support collaboration through devolution, and funding that supported regeneration as well as new supply.

Patrick also spoke at the Social Housing Finance conference, as part of a session on
‘National challenges, regional solutions: housing and the role of strategic authorities’ where he spoke about how North is leading the way with devolution.  

He shared what this means for housing in the North – including increased collaboration through Housing Partnerships. He also looked at how more local control of funding can make investment go further and better meet the needs of communities.
 

NHC writes to Ministers to highlight urgent need for housing-led regeneration in the North

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We’ve written to Ministers, northern MPs and Mayors, ahead of the Government’s Spending Review to highlight the urgent need for action to support housing-led regeneration across communities in the North.

The Northern Housing Monitor, our state of the region report, found that 1.2 million homes don’t meet Decent Homes Standards in the North – a disproportionally high 33.8% of England’s total. The problem is most acute in the private rented sector where around 27% of homes do not meet the minimum standard. Almost 25% of the lowest income households are housed in the private rented sector, compared to 18% nationally – suggesting those on the lowest incomes are being forced into substandard homes.

Alongside this our recent research found that 126,000 social homes across the North are reaching the end of their life, and are in need of regeneration. Social housing regulation means social housing providers must prioritise maintenance of existing homes, so finite resources are available for building replacement homes.

The North also has 90,000 long term empty homes. Lower land values in the North mean regeneration schemes are more reliant on grant funding as it is harder to fund schemes based on land value capture or market sale.

Northern Housing Consortium Chief Executive, Tracy Harrison, said: “At the moment, there is no major Government funding to replace ageing homes and revitalise places. This needs to change as housing-led regeneration is essential if we want to address the problems, such as health inequalities, northern communities face due to being disproportionately affected by poor quality homes and places.

“We’re pleased the government has committed to building more new homes, but this must sit alongside replacing homes that are no longer fit to live in. The last Labour Government’s Housing Market Renewal programme provided funding to replace homes and revitalise places – we need to see something similar now.”

The NHC Spending Review submission, which was backed by housing partnerships across the North, called for:

  1. The next Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) to continue to support regeneration by permitting up to 30% of the fund to be used for the replacement, refurbishment and acquisition of homes on regeneration schemes. Flexibilities were introduced in the current AHP to allow Homes England to fund ‘replacement’ homes as long as there is an overall increase in the number of units on the site.
  2.  A new place-based housing regeneration fund of £1.37bn over 5 years, devolved to Mayors to support:
  • selective demolition, replacement or remodelling of properties that are no longer fit for purpose, including on sites that cannot deliver an increase in homes
  • property refurbishment and improvements to increase the quality and energy efficiency of properties
  • physical improvements to the area including improving connectivity and the overall attractiveness of a place
  • activity that will enable regeneration such as acquiring parcels of land or properties sold through the Right to Buy.

This fund could work in tandem with the Government’s ‘Plan for Neighbourhoods’. This would be similar to the last Labour government’s twin-track approach to housing-led regeneration, where a funding programme for physical regeneration (Housing Market Renewal) was accompanied by funding for social infrastructure such as employment support and health initiatives (the New Deal for Communities).

You can find out further information about our Spending Review submission here.

The next Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) to continue to support regeneration by permitting up to 30% of the fund to be used for the replacement, refurbishment and acquisition of homes on regeneration schemes.

NHC gives evidence to Select Committee inquiry on land value capture

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Last week, the Northern Housing Consortium’s (NHC) Senior Policy and Research Manager, Tom Kennedy, gave oral evidence to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee, as part of their ongoing inquiry into ‘Delivering 1.5 million new homes: Land Value Capture’.

The inquiry is seeking to understand how land value capture mechanisms, such as Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), can play a role in delivering the government’s target of building 1.5 million new homes across this parliament. The inquiry is also seeking views on how mechanisms such as compulsory purchase can be utilised to support the government’s ‘new towns’ agenda.

The NHC had previously submitted written evidence to the Committee, which can be found here.

In both our written submission and the oral evidence provided to the Committee, the NHC was clear that:

  • Due to generally lower land values across the North of England, land value capture mechanisms, including both Section 106 and the CIL can and will inevitably play a smaller role than elsewhere. In the last 5 years, approximately 30% of new affordable homes in the North have been delivered through Section 106 agreements, compared to more than 50% outside of the North. To increase the supply of new affordable housing in the North, the next Affordable Homes Programme will need to provide a significant increase in the levels of grant funding available to providers.
  • The government can substantially improve the existing land value capture landscape, included through a new long-term rent policy and other incremental reforms, without introducing wholescale, disruptive changes that would negatively impact the new supply of affordable housing, at least in the short term.
  • Increasing local authority planning team resources would significantly improve current land value capture mechanisms, reducing issues such as delays in agreeing and signing Section 106 agreements, and opening up additional opportunities for local authorities to play a more active role in land assembly, including through making more use of compulsory purchase powers.

You can also watch the evidence session on Parliament TV here.

Visiting members’ sites across South Yorkshire with DESNZ

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This month we had a great day taking colleagues from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) around members’ sites across the South Yorkshire region – highlighting the fantastic work members are doing to install green home upgrades and meet the net zero challenge. DESNZ colleagues included Selvin Brown (Director for Net Zero Buildings, Domestic),  who is responsible for social housing energy efficiency funding programmes such as the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF) – previously the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).

The first visit of the day was in Sheffield where Sheffield City Council have used funding through the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) 2 government funding scheme to improve the energy efficiency of homes with a range of measures including air source heat pumps, solar panels, internal wall insulation and loft insulation.

Next up was Sanctuary‘s homes in Shiregreen. Sanctuary has heavily invested in the community and used government SHDF funding to install solar PV and other measures to retrofit all homes in the area that are below EPC C.

We then had the opportunity to visit the Let Zero show home in Tinsley – South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is leading on the experimental Let Zero project, which is funded by Innovate UK. The innovative project aims to create a One Stop Shop service model for retrofit tailored to the needs of the private rented sector, which can be replicated across the country.

Finally, we travelled to Maltby and East Herringthorpe to see the fantastic work Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is doing to meet net zero targets. In Maltby, we spoke to residents who had benefited from the Council’s large scale project to deliver green upgrades to homes across the area. The £4.4 million project has upgraded 130 homes and was part funded by the SHDF Wave 1.

In East Herringthorpe, we saw the Council’s ambitious new council homes project which have been built to high energy efficiency standards and meet the demand for accessible housing in the community.

It was great to speak to residents and see first-hand the work our members are doing to upgrade homes and meet net zero targets, while putting tenant engagement at the heart of projects. The visit illustrated to civil servants responsible for energy efficiency funding the scale of delivery and ambition of housing providers in the North.

 

 

 

 

New NHC appointments to support better homes and places across the North

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We’ve boosted our management team with a series of appointments. The new roles will be instrumental in the delivery of our corporate plan, which launched earlier this month.   The new three-year plan sets out how we will deliver our vision to support members to create better homes and places across the North.

James Ealey, who was previously Executive Director of NHC Procurement has been appointed as Deputy Chief Executive.  James will retain responsibility for the commercial aspects of the NHC but will also take a wider role in the delivery of the new plan, making sure resources are prioritised where they will make the greatest impact. His appointment reflects the success of NHC’s business model where surplus from NHC Procurement – £2.5 million over the past five years – is invested into the NHC’s influencing work. Insight from the membership and policy team is used to deliver customer-focused procurement solutions.

Satty Rai, who has been with the NHC for 17 years, has been appointed Head of Housing Partnerships and will lead our work to support housing partnerships across the North. This includes providing secretariat services and bringing Northern housing partnerships together to share learning and best practice.

 

Kay Wiseman has been promoted to Head of HR & Wellbeing and will develop our employment offer, as well as overseeing the Unlocking Success Bursary, the NHC’s scheme to support people in social housing to access training or employment. Kay started her career at the NHC 19 years ago as an administrative assistant before specialising in HR. Kay was instrumental in the NHC’s Gold Better Health at Work Award earlier this year, which recognised its commitment to colleague wellbeing.

Liam Gregson has been announced as Senior Engagement Manager (Devolution and Place Lead). This reflects Liam’s recent work to support Mayoral Combined Authorities across the North, as well as his long-standing role as the NHC’s lead on rebalancing and Pride in Place. Liam will lead work to further develop the NHC’s offer to local authorities, alongside management of key policy engagement projects.

Tom Kennedy has been promoted to Senior Policy and Research Manager (Net Zero Lead). Tom’s work over the past year saw him shortlisted for the Thinkhouse early career researcher award and has enabled the NHC to deliver multiple research projects in-house including Brownfield First and Warm Homes, Green Jobs. He will play a lead role in developing the NHC’s internal policy and research capacity, as well as leading the NHC’s Net Zero work.

Chief Executive Tracy Harrison said:

“These new appointments build on the fantastic work colleagues have done over the past year to help members navigate a changing political landscape and engage with the new government.

“They will help us embed our new corporate plan priorities of moving the dial on Northern policy; delivering a tailored offer to our cross-sector member base; and providing the best possible services for members by recruiting, retaining and developing a talented, diverse and committed team of colleagues. All this will be underpinned by creating value for members through and with NHC Procurement.

“I’m confident we have a fantastic team in place to bring together housing in the North to develop insight, influence and solutions to create better homes and places. We want to make sure everyone in the North has access to a safe, warm home that’s affordable to them in a place they’re proud of.”

Deputy Chief Executive James Ealey said:

“NHC Procurement has gone from strength to strength, a reflection of the team’s ambition, commitment, and expertise, and this is only the beginning. We now have an exciting three-year plan in place to deliver a best-in-class procurement route for our membership.

“I’m delighted to take up this new role of deputy chief executive of Northern Housing Consortium. Our talented team demonstrate an unwavering commitment to support our members and their tenants, working together for the greater good.

“I’m excited as I look ahead to the opportunity we have as an organisation, to make a real difference to the lives, homes, and communities of the people we serve.

“I look forward to working with my fellow senior leadership team, as well as our fantastic colleagues, to fulfil this ambition.”

The NHC’s new Corporate Plan sets out how we’ll support members over the next three years to help create better homes and places.

Created by the full staff team alongside our member-led Board, the corporate plan has been shaped by insight from member engagement activity, by member perceptions research and by looking ahead to future challenges.

This new plan has three key priorities:

  • we will move the dial on northern policy
  • we’re all about people (your people and our people)
  • we create value

Further information about the Northern Housing Consortium’s new corporate plan is available here.