Housing

As 2022 draws to a close, what mentality must we adopt to achieve success as we fearlessly transition into the New Year? Housing Association Magazine's Joe Bradbury discusses:

A Suffolk village community are coming together to find innovative solutions for the affordable housing crisis facing local people priced out of their communities. East Bergholt Community Land Trust  (EBCLT) has just held its second AGM and is celebrating achieving some significant milestones.

Established following a recommendation in the village Neighbourhood Plan, the EBCLT has been set up as a not-for-profit company with support from Babergh DC and EC Community Housing (formally CLT East). Following an accommodation needs survey, a community consultation and a land audit, demand has been established from those with strong local connections for affordable housing suited to young people and families as well as older people needing specially adapted homes and supported living. However, rather than just building traditional properties EBCLT is considering building more radical future-proofed smart housing that adapts to our changing needs as we age.

Taking an holistic approach to the changing seasons

Joe Bradbury of Housing Association Magazine discusses the importance of protecting tenants from the extremities of our climate.

Last week saw the hottest day on record. As Britain (and most of Europe) was steeped in sun, temperatures rose to as high as 38.1C (100.6F) in parts of the country.
Whilst most of us saw that as a chance to don a pair of shorts and sit outside, it cannot be dismissed that extreme weather in either direction can spell disaster for vulnerable people.

Leading cold rollforming manufacturers, Hadley Group, will be bringing its expertise in light gauge steel solutions to stand C1 at the OFFSITE EXPO this year, as well as being a gold sponsor of the dynamic event.

Taking place on 24th – 25th September at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, Hadley Group will showcase its high-performance light gauge cold rolled steel framing solutions for low rise residential buildings. Suitable for stick built or pre-panelised construction, the company can complete load bearing stand-alone structures including roofs, walls, floors, door and window openings, bracing and external finishes.

Components of the steel framing systems are designed, detailed and manufactured at the company’s advanced production facility then delivered to site, which is ideal for housing schemes with high volume requirements and for projects where space is limited on site. Offering a lighter and easier to erect alternative to steel or concrete primary frames, this fast track, lightweight steel housing system will significantly improve build turnaround times.

Putting residents at the heart of housing regeneration has resulted in overwhelming support for proposals to revamp the Brookhill Close estate in Greenwich, demonstrating the critical importance of early and continual engagement with communities.

Residents were balloted in February to ask whether or not they wanted plans to go ahead. Of the 99 eligible voters, 87% voted, with 86% in favour of regeneration.

Hyde is planning to demolish 80 homes, replacing them with 272 new flats and houses, as well as improving the layout of the estate. There will be 76 social rented homes for existing residents and London Affordable Rent homes for new tenants. There will also be 64 homes for shared ownership and a further 132 for private sale, which will help fund regeneration.

South Tyneside Housing Ventures Trust is seeking 10 empty homes to transform and bring back into use.

The independent, not-for-profit housing company has already bought and renovated more than 50 properties to be rented out as affordable homes across the Borough.

It is now seeking a further 10 properties after securing additional funding from Homes England.

As the Tenant Fees Act came into force on June 1, a property expert has warned the legislation could be “throwing the baby out with the bathwater” and will put extra strain on already over-burdened councils and housing associations.

The new Act prevents landlords from charging deposits worth over five weeks’ rent, while letting fees are banned. Charges for damages will not be allowed, unless there is ample evidence of costs produced.