Researchers found that the vast majority of public sector tenants in Scotland wish to remain with their local authority.
Source: Ade Kearns and Alison Parkes, Public Opinion for Policy? Housing, Neighbourhoods and Communities in Scotland, CNR Paper 9, Centre for Neighbourhood Research (0141 330 5408)
Links: Paper (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
An audit report said that local authorities still have an important housing role to play after their stock has been transferred to housing associations. More consideration needs to be given to how councils meet their ongoing responsibilities, such as those for housing strategy and homelessness.
Source: Housing After Transfer: The local authority role, Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
A report said that social landlords have a key role to play in regeneration: but that effective intervention demands better partnerships with residents and other social suppliers to develop the local economy, social organisation and infrastructure.
Source: Tony Trott, Best Practice in Regeneration: Because it works, Policy Press for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Nov
A report said that the programme of council stock transfers (to registered social landlords or housing associations, following a ballot of tenants) has improved the living conditions of 1.5 million people, and raised investment in homes and neighbourhoods by 10.7 billion, since 1988.
Source: Action for Better Homes 14 years of stock transfer success, National Housing Federation (020 7278 6571)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release (pdf)
Date: 2002-Nov
A report summarised and drew lessons from Housing Corporation projects linked to regeneration, placing them in the context of current government policy and initiatives on regeneration and relating them to current relevant reports and research.
Source: ROOM, National Council for Housing and Planning, and RDHS Ltd, The bIGPicture: Regeneration and Housing Associations, Housing Corporation (020 7393 2000)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 4.6
Date: 2002-Oct
A report looked at the significance for the social rented sector and social landlords of changing demand, in particular the pattern of increasing turnover and voids. It said there is a need to identify processes operating at different levels: national, regional, sub-regional, local and neighbourhood.
Source: Alan Murie, The bIGPicture: Changing Demand, Housing Corporation (020 7393 2000)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
The National Housing Federation warned that the proposed abolition of the local authority social housing grant could endanger the number of new affordable homes completed by housing associations. (LASHG is a mechanism by which local authorities help support the provision of new social housing by loans to registered social landlords.)
Source: Press release 18.10.02, National Housing Federation (020 7278 6571)
Links: Press release (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
A report presented good practice ideas on how to meet the diverse needs of young people through housing management, strategic planning, community development and partnership working. The report presented the social and business case for housing associations to rise to the challenges of involving young people and delivering the range of services they need.
Source: The bIGpicture: Young People and Housing Associations, Housing Corporation (020 7393 2000)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 4.3
Date: 2002-Oct
A report called for a change in the way partial stock transfers are funded in order to maximise their impact on community regeneration.
Source: HACAS Chapman Hendy, Beyond Bricks and Mortar: Bringing Regeneration into Stock Transfer, Chartered Institute of Housing (024 7685 1752)
Links: Press release | Contents page
Date: 2002-Sep
A study found that mutual exchanges are an important source of movement within the social rented sector, and offer mobility to groups with relatively few other housing options. Lone parents in particular are more likely to move home through mutual exchange.
Source: Michael Jones and Frauke Sinclair, Doing it for Themselves: Mutual Exchanges and Tenant Mobility, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 431213)
Links: JRF Findings 942
Date: 2002-Sep
A research study assessed how the cost effectiveness of funding obtained by registered social landlords to support large-scale voluntary transfers might be improved or maintained.
Source: Sources of Finance for Housing Stock Transfers, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (01709 891318)
Links: Summary
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 4.3
Date: 2002-Sep
Researchers concluded that black and minority ethnic registered social landlords may be more at risk where rents fall as a consequence of the government's reforms to social rents.
Source: HACAS Chapman Hendy, Effects of Rent Reforms on Black and Minority Ethnic Registered Social Landlords, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (fax: 020 7944 4527)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report
Date: 2002-Sep
A study found most housing associations make relatively little use of the internet to improve services to tenants; this is because of lack of vision, lack of skilled staff and funding, and the need for organisational culture change.
Source: David Wilcox, Making the Net Work for Residents and their Landlords: A Guide to Using Information and Communication Technologies in Housing Associations, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 431213)
Links: JRF Findings 992
Date: 2002-Sep
The two separate housing inspectorates for social housing will be united into a new single Housing Inspectorate located at the Audit Commission from April 2003, the government announced.
Source: Press release 30.9.02, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
Researchers concluded that the policy objective of convergence of average rents between the local authority sector and other social housing appears likely to be achieved in most cases.
Source: School of Public Policy (University of Birmingham) and School for Policy Studies (University of Bristol), Modelling the Impact of Rent Restructuring: A Case Study Analysis, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (01709 891318)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Aug
Significant changes were announced to the Northern Ireland house sales scheme. In future applicants must be tenants for two years before they can apply to buy their homes; all joint purchasers must be living in the property at the time of application; and there will be a maximum discount ceiling of 34,000.
Source: Press release 12.8.02, Northern Ireland Housing Executive (028 9024 0588)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Aug
A report evaluated government plans to give tenants in social housing a share in the equity of their property.
Source: A Stake Worth Having? The Potential and Options for Tenant Equity Stakes, Chartered Institute of Housing (024 7685 1752) and Institute for Public Policy Research
Links: Contents
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122 (paragraph 4.4)
Date: 2002-Jun
A report made recommendations on the form of the government s review of social sector rent policy.
Source: Reviewing Rent Restructuring, Indepen, available from Chartered Institute of Housing (024 7685 1752)
Links: Contents
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 4.3)
Date: 2002-Jun
The government urged local councils to extend a limit on rent rises of 2 per week above inflation to a second year, to cap rent levels in high-value areas, and to limit increases in total charges payable by tenants.
Source: Press release 25.6.02, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: Press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 4.3)
Date: 2002-Jun
A study evaluated the effectiveness of services for tenants in ordinary tenancies who need additional support (such as setting up home, claiming welfare benefits, and accessing services).
Source: An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Tenancy Support Service, Housing Corporation (020 7393 2000) and New Leaf
Links: Study (pdf)
Date: 2002-Jun
A report said that housing associations and lenders should work together to reduce financial exclusion among tenants.
Source: Richard Newcombe, et al., Partnerships for Financial Inclusion: Housing Associations and Financial Institutions, Building Societies Association (020 7734 6416), Housing Corporation, and University of Cambridge
Links: Summary (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121 (paragraph 1.1)
Date: 2002-May
