Olivia Barber
NewsStonewater’s surplus decreases 43% as shared ownership staircasing sales dip
The 36,000-home housing association reports lower sales revenue and increased repair costs
NewsBrentwood council gives green light to 3,700-home garden village scheme
Dunton Hills site is a strategic housing allocation in the emerging local plan
NewsNottingham City Council issues section 114 notice over £23m black hole in budget
Nottingham also issued an s114 two years ago when it unlawfully used HRA funds to support council finances
NewsMore than 212,000 new homes built last year, annual housing supply figures show
Official figures show government still a long way off meeting 300,000-home manifesto pledge
NewsIncreased costs of new shared ownership model could hit viability, housing associations warn
Housing associations warn financial sustainability of shared ownership needs to be monitored following changes introduced by the government
NewsNearly half of older private renters worry about debt, says NHF
NHF boss calls for long-term investment in social housing, as older people are being left without affordable housing options
NewsRegulator of Social Housing issues six social landlords with viability downgrades
Increased investment in existing homes is weakening providers’ financial capacity, RSH warns
NewsS&P likely to raise Octavia’s credit rating if Abri merger goes ahead
S&P Global Ratings has indicated they could raise Octavia’s current ‘BBB’ rating due to ‘stronger creditworthiness’ of Abri
In FocusWhat happens to housing development plans when a council goes ‘bankrupt’?
When a section 114 ‘bankruptcy’ notice is put in place, a council’s non-statutory services are restricted and housebuilding ’goes to the back of the queue’. Yet the growing number of councils in this situation are finding ways to carry on building.
NewsInvestment firms Man Group and PATRIZIA launch £100m rental housing JV
£100m platform to invest in new-build single-family rental homes
NewsInland Homes’ for-profit RP Rosewood Housing breaches regulatory standard
RSH says social homes could be lost if sale of Rosewood is not completed
NewsSanctuary and Johnnie Johnson boards approve merger
Older people’s housing provider Johnnie Johnson Housing will become Sanctuary Housing subsidiary
NewsPlans for 70-home development in East Devon approved amid sewage concerns
The outline application, which was deferred last month to consult the Environment Agency and local water company, has been approved
NewsStory Homes submits plans for 187-home scheme near Warrington
Carlisle-based developer has put forward plans for 187-home scheme at site currently designated as green belt
NewsHousing assocations’ cash interest cover falls to record low
Regulator warns providers’ capacity to absorb risk has reduced
NewsGrainger reports record delivery of homes and 12% rise in rental income
Grainger has generated £128.4m in operating profit, and is set to deliver 1,640 homes in 2023
NewsAutumn statement: LHA rate increase welcomed amid ‘absence’ of housebuilding and decarbonisation measures
Housing sector figures say the Government needs to help “get builders building” and support housing providers with decarbonising stock
NewsChancellor raises Local Housing Allowance rates in autumn statement
Local Housing Allowance increased for the first time since 2020
NewsMcAlpine and Logik form JV to build 355-home build-to-rent scheme
The joint venture is seeking a funding partner to deliver the scheme, for which Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures will be the developer
NewsHousing Ombudsman issues ‘highest ever’ total of complaint handling failure orders
Ombudsman reports issuing 52 complaint handling failure orders to social landlords between July and September