Welcome to HQN and The Housing Quality Network

   

Rent policy, rent restructuring and service charges

• Supporting or evicting – the best way to manage arrears in the current economic climate

  6 May 2009

  Network briefing by Sheila Stubbins looks at the potential effects of the current economic climate on social housing arrears

• Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS): Treatment of service charges for residential property

  20 April 2009

  This guidance is for leaseholders and tenants paying service charges but will also be of interest to landlords, managing agents, resident management companies and others charged with the collection of service charge monies

• Draft amending HRA Subsidy Determination relating to administration of rent reduction

  20 April 2009

  Complimentary hf:expert technical briefing by Hilary Vaughan following the latest clarification from CLG which came out the day before the Easter break

• Beckett cuts planned council rent increases in half

  9 March 2009

  Housing Minister Margaret Beckett has announced new support to help councils cut their planned rent increases for tenants in the current economic climate

• Reminder issued on guideline limit for rent increases

  29 January 2009

  In 2001 the Housing Corporation introduced its rent influencing regime effective from 1 April 2002, and on 1 December 2008 the regime was inherited by the Tenant Services Authority. One aspect of the rent influencing regime is a guideline limit for rent increases

• Implementation of tenant service charges

  18 December 2008

  Network briefing by Tony Huff

• Circular 04/08: Rents, rent differentials and service charges for housing associations

  31 October 2008

 

Homes and Communities Agency (HCA)

• HCA consults on proposals to directly recover grant linked to value

  15 December 2009

  The Homes and Communities Agency has launched a consultation around options for the recovery and recycling of grant funding

• HCA demonstrates strong delivery despite tough economic climate

  10 November 2009

  The Agency’s Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2008-09, set out the key achievements for the HCA and its predecessor bodies

 

Investment and option appraisal

• Further £500m boost for affordable homes

  24 February 2010

  Every region of the country is benefiting from this extra cash to build much-needed affordable homes for sale and rent

• HCA consults on proposals to directly recover grant linked to value

  15 December 2009

  The Homes and Communities Agency has launched a consultation around options for the recovery and recycling of grant funding

• Housing associations – financial challenges and prospects

  9 November 2009

  Network briefing paper by Paul Reeves

• Second wave of Kickstart funding announced

  16 October 2009

  Another £51m has been released by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) in the second wave of schemes to be unlocked through round one of the Kickstart Programme

• Proposed changes to the Growth Fund for 2010-11: Consultation

  2 October 2009

  The Growth Fund supports the provision of infrastructure for housing growth in the Growth Areas and Growth Points. Multi-year funding allocations have been announced. The allocations for 2010-11 are provisional and it is the government's policy only to change these in exceptional circumstances. This consultation is on the proposed changes to the Growth Fund in 2010-11. Consultation closes 13 November 2009

• Next round of low carbon projects confirmed

  26 August 2009

  Details of the successful schemes for the second round of funding from the Homes and Communities Agency’s (HCA) low carbon infrastructure initiative, totalling £8.80m, have been announced

• Eco-towns - allocations from the eco-towns fund

  18 August 2009

  CLG consultation paper sets out proposals for local authorities and their delivery team partners on how the £60m announced to support locations identified with the potential for an eco-town published in the PPS on 16 July 2009 over the 2009-11 period might be allocated. Consultation closes 25 September 2009

• Housing associations report £174m impairment charges

  12 August 2009

  Housing associations are thriving in the continuing difficult housing and credit market conditions, despite 92 associations reporting impairment charges totalling £174m for 2008/09 because the value of their homes and land has dropped, according to the Tenant Services Authority

• Building Britain's Future: Healey unveils further boost for housing

  17 July 2009

  Housing Minister John Healey has announced the release of funding to build 11,200 new homes, regenerate ten of the most deprived areas of the country and create 20,000 jobs in the building industry

• HCA welcomes new money and focuses on immediate delivery

  30 June 2009

  The HCA is ready to begin delivering a significantly enlarged programme of public house building immediately, the Agency’s chief executive has confirmed. The HCA, responsible for housing and regeneration delivery in England, will take responsibility for an additional £1.5bn channelled into affordable housing over the next two years, following the announcement on Building Britain’s Future by the Prime Minister

• Healey announces major plans for more homes and fairer lettings to meet local needs

  30 June 2009

  As part of the Government's Building Britain's Future plans, Housing Minister John Healey has said that construction of thousands of extra homes will begin in a matter of months, thanks to the £1.5 billion pound housing investment announced by the Prime Minister

• Appetite for new investment opportunity confirmed by expressions of interest

  12 June 2009

  A new initiative which could see hundreds of millions of pounds worth of new investment into the private rented housing sector has received 64 expressions of interest, the Homes and Communities Agency have announced

• Housing Private Finance Initiative: bidding guidance for Round 6

  22 July 2008

  The Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 allocated up to £1.87 billion of new Private Finance Initiative (PFI) credits for local authorities to regenerate neighbourhoods and increase the supply of affordable rented housing.

• Second round of the Housing Corporation's Regular Market Engagement process

  3 July 2008

  Flexibilities for the second round of the Housing Corporation's Regular Market Engagement (RME) process have been announced, moving towards the shortening of timescales for the next round and a subsequent move to a more continuous bidding process

• The Growth Fund 2008-2011 – Consultation

  14 May 2008

  This consultation document has been published to seek views on proposals for the Growth Fund, which is the new mechanism by which funding for places pursuing growth will be provided for the period 2008-2011. Consultation closes 7 July 2008

• Regional investment statements and scheme listings - April 2008

  8 May 2008

  The following Regional Investment Statements detail the outcomes from the first bid round of the 2008-11 National Affordable Housing Programme. This is the first tranche of new investment for the programme

 

Funding rent income and HB

• Research shows improving picture on landlords tackling unpaid rent

  8 March 2010

  New research shows an improving picture on how housing associations deal with social housing tenants in arrears

• Lower rents increase for council tenants

  4 February 2010

  Guideline rent increases will be halved for 2010-11

• Testing Times

  22 December 2009

  Audit Commission report on how the recession has affected benefits services. The report describes key issues and some of the strategies councils are using to lessen the impact of the downturn

• £120m capital funding to deliver on schools, hospitals and housing for Wales

  20 October 2009

  The Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery, Andrew Davies, has announced almost £120m capital investment for 2010/11 to build new homes, provide better schools and hospitals and safeguard jobs

• When it comes to the crunch

  12 August 2009

  This report is the second in a series of Audit Commission reports looking at how local authorities are responding to the 2008/09 recession

• John Healey announces radical dismantling of council housing finance

  3 July 2009

  Councils will be able to keep all their rental income and gain the freedom to manage their housing to meet local need under plans unveiled by John Healey

• Don't get caught in the regulation funding loop

  29 May 2009

  For assistance with board appraisal and training, governance, performance improvement, inspection, business planning, options appraisals and funding solutions HQN is available to help at all stops

• HCA unveils housing package details

  8 May 2009

  The HCA has published on-line guidance of how developers and local authorities can bid for two elements of the additional £635m housing funding package announced in April’s Budget

• Housing association sector turnover exceeds £10 billion for the first time

  19 March 2009

  The housing association sector turnover exceeded £10 billion for the first time in 2008, according to the Tenant Services Authority's Global Accounts

• Welfare reform summary

  29 January 2009

  Network briefing by Andy Selman is a summary of the government’s White Paper on welfare reform

• Welfare reform

  27 January 2009

  Network briefing by Jamie Ewing examines the ideas set out in the Green Paper on welfare reform published last year

• Healey confirms every council guaranteed grant increase despite downturn

  21 January 2009

  £73.1 billion for English councils next year guaranteeing a 4.2% funding increase, despite the economic downturn, demonstrates the government's commitment to vital council services Local Government Minister John Healey has announced

• The harder test – the Audit Commission’s fresh approach to benefits inspection

  13 January 2009

  Network briefing by Jeannie Swales and Claire Turner is based on a presentation at HQN’s Your benefit service – the harder test event by Tim Savill, Benefit Policy Lead at the Audit Commission

• Getting ahead of the game, preparing for inspection – what do you need to do? A guide for Housing Benefit staff

  13 January 2009

  Network briefing by Jeannie Swales and Claire Turner covers all elements of Housing Benefit Inspections, including; Understanding what the Audit Commission are looking for, self assessment and generally on how to prepare for a Housing Benefit Inspection

• Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2007-08 final outturn

  28 November 2008

  The latest national statistics on the final outturn of local authority revenue expenditure and financing for 2007-08

• Learning from pilot benefit inspections – web tool

  29 September 2008

  Through the AC inspections they have identified a variety of approaches to delivering benefit services, and have produced a web tool with case studies to share their findings and to encourage innovation and improvement across local government

• Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2008-09 Budget

  6 June 2008

  The latest national statistics on the budget estimates of local authority revenue expenditure and financing for 2008-09 were released on 5 June 2008 under arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority

• Discretionary Housing Payments Best Practice Guide

  8 April 2008

  This best practice guide for local authorities covers the discretionary housing payments scheme, which provides claimants with further financial assistance when a local authority considers that help with housing costs is needed

• Housing Benefit Direct Newsletter

  8 April 2008

  This page links to 2008 issues of the Housing Benefit Direct Newsletter for housing benefit and council tax benefit staff in local authorities

• Housing association sector turnover up 9.4% to £9.1 billion, according to Global Accounts

  27 March 2008

  The sector grew faster than in the previous year, with turnover up by 9.4%, the value of housing association properties up 10% to £77.4 billion and surplus before tax grew 8.4% to £270 million despite the challenges faced

 

Development

• Housing associations – financial challenges and prospects

  9 November 2009

  Network briefing paper by Paul Reeves

• £450m to get workers back on stalled housing sites

  29 October 2009

  Housing Minister John Healey has finalised a £450m funding package to kickstart work on over 150 stalled housing developments, getting work back on track and builders back on site

• Government help for housebuilding hits £1 billion since June

  14 October 2009

  Government help for housebuilding has hit £1 billion as Housing Minister John Healey released £443m for over 8,000 new homes, helping tackle the shortage of affordable homes, support the construction industry through the recession and create jobs and apprenticeships

• Proposed changes to the Growth Fund for 2010-11: Consultation

  2 October 2009

  The Growth Fund supports the provision of infrastructure for housing growth in the Growth Areas and Growth Points. Multi-year funding allocations have been announced. The allocations for 2010-11 are provisional and it is the government's policy only to change these in exceptional circumstances. This consultation is on the proposed changes to the Growth Fund in 2010-11. Consultation closes 13 November 2009

• HCA unlocks 750 homes through Kickstart's first £10m

  15 September 2009

  A 141-home scheme in Redcar is the largest development to get Kickstart funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) in the first batch of successful bidders which have now been announced

• Housing associations report £174m impairment charges

  12 August 2009

  Housing associations are thriving in the continuing difficult housing and credit market conditions, despite 92 associations reporting impairment charges totalling £174m for 2008/09 because the value of their homes and land has dropped, according to the Tenant Services Authority

• Mayor of London and HCA invest £16m to 'kick start' development

  7 May 2009

  The HCA London Board, chaired by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has agreed to invest over £16m in the latest two projects from its programme to ‘kick start’ developments in London that have been affected by the economic downturn

• £605m for Local Authorities with plans for housing growth

  10 December 2008

  Housing Minister Margaret Beckett has today announced a £605 million allocation to 163 local authorities with long-term plans to increase house building to meet the needs of their communities

• History made as Corporation signs first ever funding agreement with an ALMO

  26 November 2008

  For the first time in the Housing Corporation's history, a social housing funding agreement has been signed between an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) and the Corporation. Stockport Homes has received £1.02m from the Corporation to fund 17 new homes

• Milestone as Housing Corporation signs last funding agreements

  26 November 2008

  The Housing Corporation has added a further six partners to its list of delivery partners who are now able to proceed with delivering much needed affordable homes. The Corporation has signed over £25m in funding agreements with private sector and other new partners to deliver over 600 homes, as part of the Corporation's £8.4 billion 2008-11 investment programme

• Fourth affordable homes developers report – November 2008

  26 November 2008

  From January 2008 the Housing Corporation initiated a regular survey of around 100 of the largest developers, seeking to ascertain views on funding and housing markets. The report from the Corporation's fourth survey, undertaken in October 2008, is now available

• Housing and Planning Delivery Grant

  11 November 2008

  Speech by The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP, Minister for Housing

• Over £100m to help councils unlock their housing market

  11 November 2008

  Margaret Beckett has announced that Councils will get over a hundred million pounds to help maintain the building of the family and first-time buyer homes still desperately needed

 

Efficiency and VfM

• Putting the Frontline First: Meeting local government challenges

  3 March 2010

  Putting the Frontline First Taskforce report. See below for HQN event examining the key issues in more detail and looking at the solutions being developed

  Additional files:

  • Click here: Maximum impact from reduced housing resources

• Value for money toolkit - 2010 edition

  2 March 2010

  Network toolkit updated by Steve Wood and Robin Tebbutt

• Housing associations outperform the wider property sector in credit crunch

  25 February 2010

  According to TSA’s new study 'The impact of the credit crunch on housing associations'

• The recession checklist: things social landlords and strategic housing authorities need to keep under review

  23 February 2010

  Network briefing by Charlie Hughes

• Public will be intolerant of councils who fail to take tough decisions to be efficient

  27 January 2010

  Council taxpayers will be intolerant if told front lines services are being cut back when their local authority hasn't made every effort to be as efficient as possible, Communities Secretary John Denham has warned

• The TSA's proposed value for money standard

  21 January 2010

  Network briefing by Steve Wood

• New task force to drive value for money for councils

  12 January 2010

  A new local government task force will drive value for money efficiencies and protect frontline services

• Smarter government driving council savings into billions

  10 December 2009

  Communities Secretary John Denham has announced that more than £3 billion of taxpayers' money is being freed up for front line services as a result of the government's drive to make local government more efficient

• What does excellence look like? Value for money

  3 December 2009

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon

• Total Place programme

  18 November 2009

  Total Place is an ambitious approach to considering how a "whole area" approach to public services can lead to better services for the customer at less cost

• Value for money issues and the evaluation of the housing market renewal pathfinder programme

  23 October 2009

  This paper considers the conceptual and practical problems in assessing value for money of the HMR programme by looking at a number of case studies

• New action to support value for money in local government

  23 October 2009

  Local Government Minister Rosie Winterton has announced further new measures to help ensure value for money on council salaries and services

• Measuring and Reporting Value for Money Gains

  14 October 2009

  A Guide to Compiling the Data for National Indicator 179

• CLG announces Total Place initiative

  30 July 2009

  Communities Secretary John Denham announces a new project to cut red tape and improve local services. Thirteen pilots are examining all the spending going into an area, cutting bureaucracy and making money work harder. The themes chosen for scrutinising spending include housing, regeneration, tackling alcohol and drug abuse, children's health and well being, mental health services, and tackling crime

• Efficiency in development and regeneration

  16 July 2009

  Network briefing paper by Clare Harrigan sets out an overview of progression and delivery of development and regeneration, but in the context of economic pressures and specifically highlights key areas where efficiency gains can be made

• Measuring and reporting value for money gains: a guide to compiling the data for National Indicator 179

  3 July 2009

  All councils are required to report the total value for money (VfM) gains they have achieved through National Indicator 179. This guidance sets out the basic principles and requirements for measuring and reporting VfM gains, along with information on the efficiency agenda for the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review period

• Efficiency in asset management

  28 April 2009

  Network briefing by Rob McNaughton looks at how organisations can achieve efficiency when dealing with existing housing stock

• Workforce development plan

  31 March 2009

  Network briefing by Bill Fullen and Jennifer Aston looks in detail at the fundamental issues, which are key to the development of successful workforce planning

• Is a not-for-profit home credit business feasible?

  30 March 2009

  Commercial home credit is long established, with large numbers of customers on low incomes. Customers value many of its features highly, but the cost is high. This study tested the commercial feasibility of a not-for-profit home credit service

• Audit Commission announces £3.3m refund

  6 February 2009

  The Audit Commission is to use savings from its efficiency programme to help councils, primary care trusts and other local bodies with the cost of moving to the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS), a new way of presenting their accounts to be introduced in 2010

• Crunch time for councils?

  30 January 2009

  Network briefing by Sheila Camp summarises the Audit Commission's report

• Value for Money in strategic housing

  2 December 2008

  We’ve worked with 21 local authorities over the last 18 months to prove that you can understand how much your strategic and retained housing services cost, and what you are getting for your money. With a number of other authorities beginning the process, this work is gaining momentum, increasing opportunities to share information and practice

• Need to squeeze out excellent value for money during these challenging times?

  3 November 2008

  There’s no time like now to reinvigorate your strategies for achieving greater efficiency and value. Whether you’re at the start of your journey and need to get to grips with the whole agenda, whether you have undertaken reviews and need to understand your priorities, or whether you’re ready to make the move from ‘good’ to ‘excellent’, HQN have a team of housing finance and performance management specialists who can bring their expertise to your benefit in taking VfM forward

• Back to front

  8 October 2008

  Audit commission report on the efficiency of back office functions in local government

• Annual Efficiency Statements - 2007-08 Backward Look

  1 October 2008

  As part of the local government efficiency agenda, during the 2004 Spending Review period (2005-06 to 2007-08), all councils in England have been required to submit Annual Efficiency Statements to Communities and Local Government

• Hand drill or PDA? A compendium of tools for managing value for money

  5 August 2008

  Network briefing by Dylan Chipp has brought together the various measures and checklists that HQN has produced to assist asset management practitioners who are seeking to develop, embed and review their approach to VfM

  Additional files:

  • Word version for completion purposes

• Associations have secured significant efficiency gains says the Housing Corporation as it launches Operating Cost Index Results for 2007

  25 June 2008

  Housing associations have delivered around £360m in operating efficiency gains during 2005-07 says the Housing Corporation as it publishes the 2007 Operating Cost Index (OCI) results for the largest housing associations in England. Published for the fourth year, the OCI allows the comparison of costs between associations

• Healey urges councils to spend tax as efficiently as they collect it

  18 June 2008

  Local Government Minister John Healey today praised councils on improving the amount of council tax collected for the eighth successive year

• Efficiency is key to riding out credit crunch says Housing Corporation Deputy Chief Executive in Harrogate speech

  18 June 2008

• Healey unveils overhaul of efficiency and improvement support for councils

  19 March 2008

  Local Government Minister John Healey has confirmed the first step in an overhaul of improvement support for councils, as they work to increase efficiency and improve services to release £5 billion, which can be used to reduce pressure on council tax bills or invest in local services

 

Others/general

• Audit services

  29 December 2009

  Network briefing by HQN’s Financial Director, Steve Wood (ACA)

• Town hall chiefs to face public pay scrutiny

  18 December 2009

  New rules to compel local authorities to fully disclose the pay and perks of top posts and name those earning more than £150,000 have now been set in law

• Local authority capital expenditure and receipts, England: 2008-09 final outturn

  29 October 2009

  The latest national statistics on the final outturn figures of local authority capital expenditure and receipts in the financial year April 2008 to March 2009

• Local authority capital expenditure and receipts, England: 2009-10 capital forecast

  3 July 2009

  The latest national statistics on the forecast figures of local authority capital expenditure and receipts in the financial year April 2009 to March 2010 has now been released

• Sustainable Communities Act 2007: Local Spending Report England 2006-07

  29 April 2009

  The Sustainable Communities Act 2007 places a requirement on the Secretary of State to make arrangements for the production of local spending reports. On 20 February 2009 CLG launched a consultation on the first arrangements. This is the first report which has been developed with regard to responses to the consultation

• Is a not-for-profit home credit business feasible?

  30 March 2009

  Commercial home credit is long established, with large numbers of customers on low incomes. Customers value many of its features highly, but the cost is high. This study tested the commercial feasibility of a not-for-profit home credit service

• The Empowerment Fund: Prospectus

  31 October 2008

  The Empowerment Fund will provide strategic, stable and sector funding for organisations with charitable, philanthropic or benevolent purposes. The result is intended to achieve a stronger relationship across the sector by working closely with 20-25 organisations on helping the department achieve its goals around key themes on the empowerment agenda

• Annual viability reviews of housing associations set to get underway

  25 September 2008

  The Housing Corporation’s 2008 assessment of the financial viability of housing associations will be overseen by a panel made up of senior Housing Corporation regulation staff and external consultants

• Participatory Budgeting: a draft national strategy: Consultation - Summary of responses

  22 September 2008

  In March 2008, Communities and Local Government published a consultation seeking views on the draft Participatory Budgeting National Strategy. Specifically, the document sought views on the strategy as a plan to achieve the government's ambition for participatory budgeting to be used in all local authority areas by 2012. This report sets out the common views expressed and the government's response to them

• Cash for councils that lead by example

  8 July 2008

  Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, last night announced extra funding to encourage local government to spread their good practice and work - from affordable housing to anti-social behaviour

• Credit crunch checklist

  22 May 2008

  The current economic climate is affecting all business sectors, including the housing sector. The checklist can be used to test key elements of your organisation, be it a housing association, ALMO or local authority

• Financial inclusion

  15 April 2008

  Network briefing by Chloe Fletcher outlines good practice and explores the issues raised by financial inclusion

 

Business planning for LAs

• HRA business planning

  29 January 2010

  Support from HQN

• State of the Nation 2009: A reality check

  15 December 2009

  Network briefing by Kate Murray

• Pre-budget report

  9 December 2009

  Pre Budget report states that average Council rent increase in England will be 3.1%. Draft HRA Subsidy determination in England finally issued

• Local Authority Revenue Expenditure and Financing England

  3 December 2009

  2008-09 Final outturn

• £120m capital funding to deliver on schools, hospitals and housing for Wales

  20 October 2009

  The Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery, Andrew Davies, has announced almost £120m capital investment for 2010/11 to build new homes, provide better schools and hospitals and safeguard jobs

• Over £180m further investment for more council housing

  29 September 2009

  Housing Minister John Healey has launched the second phase of the biggest council house building programme for almost two decades. He also stated that councils must include details of how they will create new apprenticeship schemes if they expect to get a slice of government cash

• Local Government must spend £42 billion better

  29 September 2009

  Local Government must use its £42 billion buying power to innovate and shape markets, said Communities Secretary John Denham

• Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2008-09 provisional outturn

  3 September 2009

  The latest national statistics on the provisional outturn estimates of local authority revenue expenditure and financing for 2008-09 have now been released

• Eco-towns - allocations from the eco-towns fund

  18 August 2009

  CLG consultation paper sets out proposals for local authorities and their delivery team partners on how the £60m announced to support locations identified with the potential for an eco-town published in the PPS on 16 July 2009 over the 2009-11 period might be allocated. Consultation closes 25 September 2009

• When it comes to the crunch

  12 August 2009

  This report is the second in a series of Audit Commission reports looking at how local authorities are responding to the 2008/09 recession

• John Healey announces radical dismantling of council housing finance

  3 July 2009

  Councils will be able to keep all their rental income and gain the freedom to manage their housing to meet local need under plans unveiled by John Healey

• HCA unveils housing package details

  8 May 2009

  The HCA has published on-line guidance of how developers and local authorities can bid for two elements of the additional £635m housing funding package announced in April’s Budget

• Social housing, the financial crisis and government housing initiatives

  3 February 2009

  Network briefing paper by Colin Armstrong considers the impact the crisis has had on social housing providers in England and the implications of interventions made by the UK government in response to the crisis

• Crunch time for councils?

  30 January 2009

  Network briefing by Sheila Camp summarises the Audit Commission's report

• Healey confirms every council guaranteed grant increase despite downturn

  21 January 2009

  £73.1 billion for English councils next year guaranteeing a 4.2% funding increase, despite the economic downturn, demonstrates the government's commitment to vital council services Local Government Minister John Healey has announced

• Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2007-08 final outturn

  28 November 2008

  The latest national statistics on the final outturn of local authority revenue expenditure and financing for 2007-08

• Ensuring a fair housing market for all - Latest housing market package

  10 September 2008

  Network briefing by Gwyneth Taylor, gives an overview of the latest housing market package, recently announced by CLG

• Participatory Budgeting: A Draft National Strategy - Giving more people a say in local spending

  19 March 2008

  CLG consultation which seeks views on the draft Participatory Budgeting Strategy. Specifically, the document seeks views on the strategy as a plan to achieve the Government's ambition for participatory budgeting to be used in all local authority areas by 2012

 

Business planning for HAs

• State of the Nation 2009: A reality check

  15 December 2009

  Network briefing by Kate Murray

• Pre-budget report

  9 December 2009

  Pre Budget report states that average Council rent increase in England will be 3.1%. Draft HRA Subsidy determination in England finally issued

• Housing associations report £174m impairment charges

  12 August 2009

  Housing associations are thriving in the continuing difficult housing and credit market conditions, despite 92 associations reporting impairment charges totalling £174m for 2008/09 because the value of their homes and land has dropped, according to the Tenant Services Authority

• Housing association sector turnover exceeds £10 billion for the first time

  19 March 2009

  The housing association sector turnover exceeded £10 billion for the first time in 2008, according to the Tenant Services Authority's Global Accounts

• Social housing, the financial crisis and government housing initiatives

  3 February 2009

  Network briefing paper by Colin Armstrong considers the impact the crisis has had on social housing providers in England and the implications of interventions made by the UK government in response to the crisis

• Tenant Services Authority in confident message to bond investors

  29 January 2009

  The Tenant Services Authority earlier this week addressed institutional fund managers in the City of London about the new regulator’s role in ensuring the financial position of housing associations and encouraging investment in new homes

• Ensuring a fair housing market for all - Latest housing market package

  10 September 2008

  Network briefing by Gwyneth Taylor, gives an overview of the latest housing market package, recently announced by CLG

 

Accounting and technical

• Exclusion of new council housing from the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy System and Pooling

  26 August 2009

  Guidance for local authorities

• Changes to the revenue and capital rules for new council housing consultation on excluding new council housing from Housing Revenue Account Subsidy and Pooling

  26 August 2009

  Summary of responses

• Housing association sector turnover exceeds £10 billion for the first time

  19 March 2009

  The housing association sector turnover exceeded £10 billion for the first time in 2008, according to the Tenant Services Authority's Global Accounts

• Crunch time for councils?

  30 January 2009

  Network briefing by Sheila Camp summarises the Audit Commission's report

• Tenant Services Authority in confident message to bond investors

  29 January 2009

  The Tenant Services Authority earlier this week addressed institutional fund managers in the City of London about the new regulator’s role in ensuring the financial position of housing associations and encouraging investment in new homes

• Local Government Finance Key Facts: England - November 2008

  6 November 2008

  This is a National Statistics publication released under the auspices of the UK Statistics Authority

• Housing and Planning Delivery Grant: Allocation Mechanism and Summary of Consultation Responses

  17 July 2008

  This document confirms the detail allocation mechanism for the next comprehensive spending review (2008/09 - 2010/11)

• Procedural changes for receiving RSL financial accounts

  17 July 2008

  Changes to the way the Housing Corporation collects financial accounts from Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) have been announced

• Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2008-09 Budget

  6 June 2008

  The latest national statistics on the budget estimates of local authority revenue expenditure and financing for 2008-09 were released on 5 June 2008 under arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority

 

HRA Subsidy

• Changes to the capital finance system consultation

  25 February 2010

  Summary of responses

• HRA Subsidy Determination 2010.11 Finalised

  4 February 2010

  Subsidy determination including Guideline Rent Increase finalised as per Draft Determination, subject to minor fluctuation for data changes

• The draft Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determination 2010-11 and the Item 8 Credit and Item 8 Debit (General) Determination 2010-11

  11 December 2009

  Consultation closing date 2010

• Local Authority Revenue Expenditure and Financing England

  3 December 2009

  2008-09 Final outturn

• The reform of council housing finance

  11 September 2009

  HQN's response to CLG's consultation paper. We are also running an event (13 October) to help you shape your own responses to the consultation - click on the green 'full listing' link in the events and training column on this page for further information

• Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2008-09 provisional outturn

  3 September 2009

  The latest national statistics on the provisional outturn estimates of local authority revenue expenditure and financing for 2008-09 have now been released

• Exclusion of new council housing from the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy System and Pooling

  26 August 2009

  Guidance for local authorities

• Changes to the revenue and capital rules for new council housing consultation on excluding new council housing from Housing Revenue Account Subsidy and Pooling

  26 August 2009

  Summary of responses

• Financial briefing note: Ministerial announcement on the outcome of the Review of Council Housing Finance

  3 July 2009

  Network briefing by Steve Partridge covering the announcement on 30 June by the Housing Minister John Healey

• Draft amending HRA Subsidy Determination relating to administration of rent reduction

  20 April 2009

  Complimentary hf:expert technical briefing by Hilary Vaughan following the latest clarification from CLG which came out the day before the Easter break

• The Draft Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determination 2009-2010 - Amending Determination 2009

  30 March 2009

  The Draft Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determination 2009-2010 - Amending Determination 2009, together with supporting documentation

• Review of Council Housing Finance: Summary of Findings from Tenant Engagement Work

  19 March 2009

  As part of the Review of Council Housing Finance, CLG have been seeking tenants' views on the key issues. This paper summarises those views, which will be crucial in informing the outcomes from the Review

• Building new council housing: CLG consultation paper: changes to the revenue and capital rules for new council housing

  17 February 2009

  Briefing by Hilary Vaughan and Steve Partridge

• Changes to the Revenue and Capital Rules for New Council Housing

  21 January 2009

  Consultation on excluding new council housing from Housing Revenue Account Subsidy and Pooling. Consultation closes 17 April 2009

• New freedoms to increase council house building

  21 January 2009

  Councils may soon have greater freedom to build more homes under plans which have gone out for consultation. Under the proposals announced by Housing Minister Margaret Beckett, councils would be able to keep all the rental income from any homes they build, as well as keep the receipts from any of those homes which are later sold through Right to Buy

• The Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determination 2009-2010 and the Item 8 Credit and Item 8 Debit (General) Determination 2009-2010

  19 December 2008

  The Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determination 2009-2010 and the Item 8 Credit and Item 8 Debit (General) Determination 2009-2010, together with supporting papers and explanatory notes

• Consultation - The Draft Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determination 2009-10

  29 October 2008

  The Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determination 2009-10, and the Item 8 Credit and Item 8 Debit (General) Determination 2009-10 together with supporting papers and explanatory notes. Closing date for consultation 9 December 2009

• The Private Finance Initiative for Housing Revenue Account Housing: The Pathfinder Schemes Baseline Report

  22 September 2008

  The Decent Homes (HRA) Housing PFI Pathfinder programme was initiated in 1999 as one of the investment options available to local authorities to deliver decent homes, estate and area improvements and more mixed communities. CLG study which provides an overview of baseline conditions on the initial pathfinder estates/areas, against which the longer-term achievements can be evaluated

• Housing Revenue Account subsidy review: can we learn from North Western Europe?

  2 September 2008

  Network briefing by Tim Brown looks at the role, nature and funding of the sector

• Handling of the HRA subsidy determination 2009-10 and 2010-11

  29 August 2008

  CLG consultation paper sets out the government's proposals on how the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determinations will be calculated and operate over the next two years in so far as they impact upon local authority housing rent levels and those aspects of the formulae which create volatility on an annual basis. Deadline for comments 10 October

• The joint Treasury/CLG review of council housing finance

  26 June 2008

  Network briefing by Chloe Fletcher summarises the review process and highlights the key issues that are emerging from the review for local authorities and ALMOs as well as housing associations

 

Freedoms and flexibilities

• Councils gain new powers to increase prosperity

  6 July 2009

  Councils have been given a real boost to help secure the long-term economic prosperity of their communities with the Royal Assent of the Business Rate Supplements Act. The Act provides county councils, unitary district councils and, in London, the Greater London Authority with a new discretionary power to raise a supplement on the business rate and retain those funds to support additional projects aimed at economic development

• Proposed changes to the delivery of local authorities' and FRAs' freedoms and flexibilities after the introduction of CAA

  7 May 2009

  This CLG consultation paper, aimed at English local authorities and fire and rescue authorities, their partners and stakeholders, includes proposals to reduce or simplify the requirement to create plans for central government on issues such as local transport, youth justice and air quality; extend the power to trade for profit to all English councils and fire and rescue authorities, enabling them to offer a broad range of services such as in building, highways and vehicle maintenance; and allow councils to spend any income from environmental fixed penalty notices as they see fit

• History made as Corporation signs first ever funding agreement with an ALMO

  26 November 2008

  For the first time in the Housing Corporation's history, a social housing funding agreement has been signed between an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) and the Corporation. Stockport Homes has received £1.02m from the Corporation to fund 17 new homes

• Housing Private Finance Initiative: bidding guidance for Round 6

  22 July 2008

  The Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 allocated up to £1.87 billion of new Private Finance Initiative (PFI) credits for local authorities to regenerate neighbourhoods and increase the supply of affordable rented housing.

• The Growth Fund 2008-2011 – Consultation

  14 May 2008

  This consultation document has been published to seek views on proposals for the Growth Fund, which is the new mechanism by which funding for places pursuing growth will be provided for the period 2008-2011. Consultation closes 7 July 2008

• New consultation to give people greater say over local spending

  19 March 2008

  Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has set out a new draft strategy for consultation to give people in every local authority area a greater say on how public money is spent by 2012, including exploring for the first time using 'community kitties' for projects to fight crime and tackle obesity

• Participatory Budgeting: A Draft National Strategy - Giving more people a say in local spending

  19 March 2008

  CLG consultation which seeks views on the draft Participatory Budgeting Strategy. Specifically, the document seeks views on the strategy as a plan to achieve the Government's ambition for participatory budgeting to be used in all local authority areas by 2012

 

Housing finance training

• HQN finance services

  29 January 2010

• Need VfM training?

  18 November 2009

  HQN bespoke VfM course

 

Affordable homes

• Kickstart Round 2

  10 March 2010

  Over 5,000 new and affordable homes unlocked in first tranche

• Backing for first-time buyers and housebuilding jobs

  8 March 2010

  £83m to get building over 5,700 new and affordable homes stalled by the recession back on track

• Mayor of London's plans for affordable housing in the Capital

  1 March 2010

  Government response

• Further £500m boost for affordable homes

  24 February 2010

  Every region of the country is benefiting from this extra cash to build much-needed affordable homes for sale and rent

• Housing Affordability: A fuller picture

  16 February 2010

  NHPAU has developed three new affordability indicators to show the ability to access home ownership and the affordability of maintaining a mortgage or renting in the private sector

• Evaluating requirements for market and affordable housing

  16 February 2010

  NHPAU report examines some key issues in assessing affordability of house prices and private rents

• Welsh planners and developers urged to work together to deliver affordable housing

  25 November 2009

  Environment Minister Jane Davidson and Deputy Minister for Housing Jocelyn Davies, have called on local authorities and house builders in Wales to work together during the economic downturn to deliver affordable housing through the planning system

• Building a better future

  5 November 2009

  Speech by John Healey MP Minister for Housing and Planning

• Affordable homes to become renewable with £5m share of government grant

  2 November 2009

  An initiative aimed at increasing the use of renewable construction materials in affordable homes

• Community Land Trusts and affordable housing

  22 October 2009

  Network briefing by Vanessa Morton

• Local authority bids mark new stage in affordable house building says HCA

  11 September 2009

  The national housing and regeneration agency has given the go ahead to 47 local authorities in England to receive grant funding totalling £127m to build up to a total of just over 2,000 new homes

• Healey announces further quarter of a billion pound affordable housing boost

  11 September 2009

  Housing Minister John Healey has confirmed a further boost for affordable housing with almost £250m to provide 3,400 affordable homes and create around 5,000 jobs. Every region of the country will receive funding which is shared between 43 housing associations and other bodies operating across 97 local authority areas

• Community Land Trusts

  14 August 2009

  This publication is a summary of responses to the Community Land Trusts consultation document, which only covers England, sets out Government policies on the regulation of, financial support for and access to social rented and affordable housing provided with public subsidy

• Affordable housing in rural areas safeguarded for future generations

  12 August 2009

  Affordable rural homes in thousands of newly designated 'protected' areas will be safeguarded for future generations of first time buyers under new provisions announced by Housing Minister Ian Austin

• Joint working set out to achieve goal of affordable housing

  27 February 2009

  The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) have agreed their first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further strengthen joint working, setting out how the two organisations will work together to ensure sufficient good quality and well-managed affordable housing in sustainable communities

• Safe harbour in rocky seas – Social housing watchdog says investment in affordable homes for rent protected

  27 January 2009

  The Chief Executive of the Tenant Services Authority has told property professionals that ensuring the financial position of housing associations, encouraging the supply of new homes and promoting choice in affordable housing were top of the agenda for the new social housing regulator

• £18 million deal approved to buy further new homes for affordable housing

  8 January 2009

  An £18m deal to provide more affordable housing and help support industry has been announced, as part of the Government's programme of action to tackle current difficulties in the housing market

• Affordable Housing Supply, England, 2007-2008

  19 December 2008

  The latest statistics on gross affordable housing supply in England

• Measuring Housing Affordability: A Review of Data Sources

  15 December 2008

  The Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research has collated information on the sources of standard housing data that Planning Authorities can use to understand housing affordability in one accessible resource

• HCA acts to drive up supply of affordable homes

  12 December 2008

  The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has spelt out its offer to development partners to help drive forward housing supply. Registered Social Landlords and other partners, eligible for funding through the National Affordable Housing Programme, have been given a menu of options from the HCA to support them through the current volatile market

• Pre-Budget (PBR) report

  5 December 2008

  The Housing Quality Networks Pre-Budget (PBR) report, from 24 November 2008, which covers the implications for the housing sector

• Tackling credit crunch first priority for Homes and Communities Agency

  2 December 2008

  The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), has outlined its commitment to address current market conditions. England’s new housing and regeneration agency will establish new ways of working in a bid to sustain development activity during the downturn

• Drive for affordable homes and improved rights for tenants steps up a gear

  2 December 2008

  The drive to deliver much needed affordable homes and safeguard higher housing standards for eight million social housing tenants has taken a massive step forward, as the new Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Tenant Services Authority (TSA) are officially launched by Housing Minister Margaret Beckett

• Milestone as Housing Corporation signs last funding agreements

  26 November 2008

  The Housing Corporation has added a further six partners to its list of delivery partners who are now able to proceed with delivering much needed affordable homes. The Corporation has signed over £25m in funding agreements with private sector and other new partners to deliver over 600 homes, as part of the Corporation's £8.4 billion 2008-11 investment programme

• In brief: Low Cost Home Ownership: affordability, risks and issues

  20 November 2008

  The Housing Corporation commissioned the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research (CCHPR) at the University of Cambridge to explore the impact of the credit crunch and housing market turbulence on Low Cost Home Ownership (LCHO)

• In brief: Achieving Building for Life

  20 November 2008

  This publication offers guidance for affordable housing providers on how to achieve the Building for Life standards

• Corporation and LGA call on Local Authorities and Housing Associations to work closely to boost affordable housing supply during the current economic downturn

  24 October 2008

  The Housing Corporation and the Local Government Association (LGA) have called on housing associations to continue their close working relationship with local authorities during the current economic downturn in order to help boost affordable housing supply

• Corporation supports strategic partnership to boost affordable housing supply

  20 October 2008

  The Housing Corporation’s National Clearing House has funded Bloor Homes and housing association Sanctuary Group to deliver 335 affordable homes with another potential 700 in the pipeline

• Tackling fuel poverty

  14 October 2008

  Network briefing by Chris Bowen, explores amongst other things, the extent of fuel poverty, government targets and what a housing organisation can do to help reduce fuel poverty

• Community Land Trusts: A consultation

  9 October 2008

  This CLG consultation document, which only covers England, sets out government policies on the regulation of, financial support for and access to social rented and affordable housing provided with public subsidy. Consultation closes 31.12.08

• Ensuring a fair housing market for all - Latest housing market package

  10 September 2008

  Network briefing by Gwyneth Taylor, gives an overview of the latest housing market package, recently announced by CLG

• Government announcements welcomed as Housing Corporation announces second round of regular market engagement

  2 September 2008

  Measures and reforms announced by the government in response to the current challenges faced by the housing market have been welcomed by the Housing Corporation. The Housing Corporation has also announced that £306.9m has been allocated to deliver 4,001 affordable homes for rent and 2,185 for sale (6,186 total) following the second round of its regular market engagement

• Living Working Countryside: The Taylor Review of Rural Economy and Affordable Housing

  24 July 2008

  Matthew Taylor, MP for Truro and St Austell has carried out a review on how land use and planning can better support rural business and deliver affordable housing

• Report calling for fundamental shake-up of planning and affordable housing policy in rural areas welcomed

  23 July 2008

  A report launched today calling for a fundamental shake-up of planning and affordable housing policy in rural areas has been published

• New revolution for house building

  22 July 2008

  A scheme to deliver more affordable homes for young families and first-time buyers has been set out by Housing Minister Iain Wright

• More support to deliver affordable housing, announces Caroline Flint

  3 July 2008

  New immediate measures designed to respond to the impact of the credit crunch on the housing market and maintain the delivery of new affordable housing, have been announced by Housing Minister Caroline Flint

• Recent Developments in the Communities and Local Government Affordability Model

  26 June 2008

  This report outlines the latest developments to the Departments' Affordability Model since the last publication in December 2005. In particular, the model not only can assess the impact of additional housing supply on affordability, but also how changes in affordability feed through to future levels of homeownership, vacant houses and demolitions

• Public sector must provide leadership to help the Government achieve affordable housing targets

  18 June 2008

  Housing Corporation Chief Executive says the public sector must provide leadership to help the Government achieve affordable housing targets

• Evaluation of Social HomeBuy Pilot Scheme for Affordable Housing: Final Report

  13 June 2008

  This report outlines the progress made to December 2007 in implementing Social HomeBuy. In particular it focuses on the motivations behind the involvement of participating landlords and their experience of barriers to the implementation of the scheme both from an organisational and a tenant perspective

• Affordable Housing Supply, England, 2006/2007

  13 June 2008

  This is a new Communities and Local Government statistical release

• Life in Affordable Housing

  5 June 2008

  Housing Corporation report which examines the kinds of affordable housing people want, the aspects of their homes they like and don’t like and the issues that need to be addressed to improve housing for tenants

• Affordable homes developers report - May 08

  14 May 2008

  From January 2008 the Housing Corporation has initiated a regular survey of the 100 largest developers, seeking to ascertain views on funding and housing markets
  
  The report from the Corporation's second survey, undertaken in April 2008, is now available

• Residents' views of new forms of high-density affordable living

  24 April 2008

  New forms of high-density, affordable housing are often advocated as a response to current policy concerns related to housing shortages, containing suburban sprawl, and the desire to promote an 'urban renaissance' in some cities. This JRHT study explores residents' views about living in new affordable higher density housing and how far residents' expectations of living in high-density developments have been met