Grenfell inquiry hears of questionable behaviours

The public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire has continued to reveal a series of questionable behaviours by key participants in the refurbishment project which ultimately resulted in 72 people losing their lives. Actions by a number of staff at... View Article

Cladding removal work could take until 2029

Dangerous combustible cladding panels which exposes residents to unacceptable fire risks is being replaced so slowly that it could take until 2029 before all affected buildings are fixed. The claim is being made by the Labour Party. According to official... View Article

Bill for homeless accommodation soars to £1.2 billion

The Government has released figures showing that local councils in England spent £1.2 billion on temporary accommodation for homeless households in 2019/20, with most of the money going to private landlords. According to analysis carried out by the campaigning charity... View Article

Bailiffs ordered to halt evictions in lockdown areas

Court approved evictions will not be taking place in large parts of England after bailiffs were told to not enter residential properties in areas covered by COVID-19 restrictions. Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland has written to the High Court Enforcement Officers... View Article

Court reform is vital before Section 21 is axed

One of the most controversial grounds for private landlords to recover possession of their rental properties is under threat from planned Government reforms, but landlords are demanding compensatory safeguards. The Lettings Industry Council is saying that Section 21 should not... View Article

Landlords confidence levels falling during Covid pandemic

Almost two thirds of private landlords in England and Wales expect their rental business to be negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic according to new research. The latest survey of just over 2,000 members of the National Residential Landlords Association... View Article

Clarion reports flat operating surplus in spite of pandemic

Britain’s largest housing association has reported a marginal increase in its operating surplus during the first six months of 2020/21 despite the disruption caused by the coronavirus health crisis. Clarion Housing Group has 350,000 tenants living in its 125,000 homes.... View Article

Taking fenestration design to new heights

Multi-story developments are a common sight in most major towns and cities across the UK, fuelled by the demand for affordable residential housing, high-quality student accommodation and versatile office space. As fenestration design is one of the most important elements... View Article

A new tradition

A new home in a secluded corner of Hampshire combines a highly contemporary form with traditional vernacular touches. James Parker speaks to one of the two architectural practices involved who managed to provide a design that worked for client and... View Article

Will Jenrick’s reforms succeed where others have failed?

HMM news editor and housing consultant Patrick Mooney bemoans the recent ‘revolving door’ of Housing Ministers, and speculates on Robert Jenrick’s chances of success. Every Housing Secretary or Minister that I can remember promises two things – to overhaul the... View Article

The Green Homes Grant – explained

Stewart Thompson of Global Energy Systems looks into the Green Homes Grant, and how small builders can reap the benefits of an increase in energy efficient projects. Following on from the Government’s commitment for the UK to be carbon neutral... View Article

Joining the fight for increased diversity

Brian Berry explores how a different kind of diversity – housing diversification – is vital to meeting housing targets, and why the FMB has co-founded a new action group. The Government cannot meet its ambition of building 300,000 new homes... View Article

Patience is a virtue

By astutely saving up for over a decade, Chris and Linda Anderson had the time and money to re-configure their 1930s London semi to be exactly how they wanted, including a dramatic blend of indoor and outdoor TEXT KAREN WILSON... View Article