Good afternoon,
Our main briefing this week is a guide to board effectiveness. Peter Walters has refreshed and updated his very popular guide. Please do share this with board members, councillors and governance leads. He will be running workshops on this in the new year – watch out for the dates.
Additionally, you'll find extensive updates from our Asset Management and Strategic Networks, and plenty of interesting content relevant to our Climate Change Hub.
Got some feedback for us? We love feedback, so please send it in. |
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Featured content of the week |
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Briefing of the week: A guide to board effectiveness
Peter Walters sets out how best to achieve good governance in the current era and regulatory changes.
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First Things First, episode 88 In the latest edition of FTF, HQN CE, Alistair McIntosh, ponders whether Lee Rowley will seize his second opportunity as housing minister, and what this might mean for boards and housing committees. | |
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Event of the week: Navigating the temporary accommodation crisis – 6 December The number of households (and children) in temporary accommodation is at record levels. Demand for TA spirals while private landlords are exiting the market. This event will look at what different organisations are doing, individually and collaboratively to address the crisis. |
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Training of the week: Communal area and block inspections – what you need to know – 10 January This training is for all staff involved in communal area inspections, and will highlight what to check and how to check to ensure compliance with legislation, especially around health and safety and fire safety. | |
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This week's big reports and announcements |
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Housing Ombudsman Complaint Handling Failure Orders report The Housing Ombudsman Service last week published its latest report on Complaint Handling Failure Orders (CHFOs). In a mixed bag of results, the service reported that it had issued its highest ever number of CHFOs in the quarter, but that the number not complied with had reduced from the previous quarter. |
| Podcast: What does the autumn statement mean for local authorities and housing? Jon Land is joined by HQN associates Roger Jarman, Emma Lindley and Tim Brown for a discussion about the implications of the autumn statement for local authorities and housing. |
| London Councils’ briefing on the 2023 autumn statement
London Councils has published its initial response to the Chancellor’s autumn statement, which saw Local Housing Allowance raised for the first time in a long time, and the Local Authority Housing Fund extended again to assist in the delivery of homes for Afghan refugees. |
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Click below for the latest... |
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This week's featured networks |
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Joint best practice group for Asset Management Network and Estate Services Hub members – 16 January
Members told us they had lots in common and wanted to have more joined up working so we’re holding our first joint best practice group for HQN’s Asset Management Network and Estate Services Hub. The session focuses on the green agenda exploring areas of joint interest, including waste disposal and recycling, the growth of electric and hybrid vehicles, and grounds maintenance. |
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Annual conference summary
Following on from the successful annual conference, Wayne Hughes, HQN Associate and Chair of the conference, summarises the key takeaways from the event. |
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Autumn statement
HQN's Jon Land sets out what the autumn statement means for housing and renters and suggests there may be a link to the fact that 2024 may see a general election. |
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Social housing decarbonisation fund
In this factsheet, we have set out the detail around the latest instalment of the £80M decarbonisation funding available from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. |
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Salary watch Here is our updated salary watch which tracks salaries advertised via various websites to give you a useful comparison tool.
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Voids event write-up
We’ve been running a series of workshops on empty properties covering both the lettings and the works processes. Kevin Bentley, HQN’s asset management expert, has been chairing and running them. He’s written a short piece summarising the key points. We’ll be planning a final overview session in the New Year to look at the practical ways of taking forward improvements. Watch out for the date! |
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Click below for the latest network... |
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| PRS update
In the latest edition of our regular Private Rented Sector update, we look at the Government decision to postpone the abolition of section 21 notices and the latest developments in respect of the Renters (Reform) Bill. |
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| Strategic thinking blog Want to know what systems thinking is? Then read Emma Lindley's blog! |
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| Allocations event write-up This write-up follows the recent masterclass, where Emma Lindley discussed how to review your allocations policy. |
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| Updated allocations checklist
Following on from the above, Emma and Tim Brown have produced an updated checklist that can help you challenge how far your organisation and its partners have gone on providing an excellent service. |
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| Podcast: The temporary accommodation crisis
Jon Land is joined by Keith Cooper, housing and mental health journalist, and Michael Farbrace, housing manager for homelessness charity Porchlight, to discuss the growing temporary accommodation crisis. |
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| DLUHC update Tim Brown summarises the latest DLUHC consultations and calls for evidence. |
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| Housing in NW Europe In the latest Strategic Network blog, we look at a number of issues facing housing in North West Europe.
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| Status of national policies update
In a further update, Tim Brown has neatly summarised the current state of play on a number of national policies. |
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| Research roundup
It must be nearly Xmas. Our kind associates have provided a further roundup, this time focussing on relevant recent research. |
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Click below for the latest network... |
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Best practice group – 7 December
In our upcoming conversation session, free to members of the Climate Change Hub, Jon Daley will be facilitating a discussion around "green considerations for the prevention of damp and mould". |
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Winter benefits
In this useful blog, we set out some of the initiatives available to support tenants around fuel poverty. |
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Resident engagement considerations technical factsheet
In this factsheet we present a list of things to consider when engaging with residents around retrofit projects. |
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Stonewater launches Greenoak Centre of Excellence
HQN member, Stonewater, has brought together key voices from across the UK housing sector to discuss sustainability in the industry and how providers can work together to share best practice for the good of the environment and residents. You can read their press release here. |
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American Bully XL dog breed With XL bullys being added to the Dangerous Dogs Act does anyone have any protocols if a tenant already has one from before the ban was in place?
If you have a document you’d like to share, please forward to members@hqnetwork.co.uk |
| Lettable standards
Do you have any data on lettable standards across your network? A member is undertaking a piece of work to try to see what they provide compared to others and would be grateful for any insights.
If you have a document you’d like to share, please forward to members@hqnetwork.co.uk |
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If you’d like to ask the members a question, see our video guide on how to do this here. |
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We're delighted to welcome Watmos Community Homes who have joined the Network, and Bristol City Council who as well as joining the Network have also joined the Leasehold Network. Thank you for joining – we're looking forward to working with you.
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| Interested in our networks or events?
Email us or call the team on +44 (0)1904 557150 |
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Our mailing address is: Rockingham House, St Maurice's Road, York YO31 7JA |
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