Good afternoon
And welcome to the latest HQN update. This week we have a briefing on the RSH's proposed new enforcement powers, a very special housing regulation quiz and a pair of recent HQN podcasts.
You'll also find big updates from the HQN Rent Income Excellence and Leasehold networks, and all the latest details from our Estate Services Hub and Complaints Hub, the latter celebrating its first anniversary with highlights from the last 12 months.
As always, if you've any feedback for us, we'd love to hear it. |
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Featured content of the week |
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Briefing of the week: The RSH's new powers
On 7 November the Regulator of Social Housing published a consultation paper on its proposed enforcement powers as amended under the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023. Roger Jarman summarises the RSH's plans for enforcing consumer and economic standards in social housing. |
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Housing regulation quiz time
Who doesn’t look forward to a housing regulation quiz at this time of year? And we have one for you that gradually gets harder to really test hardcore regulation fans! If you don’t get 100%, perhaps you need to go on one of Roger Jarman’s training sessions? | |
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Event of the week: Shared ownership We need to talk about shared ownership. Is it a viable solution to the housing crisis? Our event will consider the current situation and the options for the future. |
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Training of the week: S.20 consultation
Our course will provide you with an understanding of how different activities carried out by different parts of the business can impact on an organisation’s ability to fully recover 'eligible' costs from both leaseholders and tenants. | |
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This week's big reports and announcements |
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Podcast: Accommodation Crisis Keith Cooper, housing and mental health journalist, and Michael Farbrace, housing manager for homelessness charity Porchlight, discuss the growing temporary accommodation crisis. |
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Council to pay compensation
The Housing Ombudsman has made six findings of severe maladministration against a local authority across three different cases, over the time taken to remedy outstanding repairs. |
| Data protection and housing The Information Commissioner's Office has issued guidance on how data protection law can prevent harm in the housing sector. |
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Podcast: The autumn statement HQN associates Roger Jarman, Emma Lindley and Tim Brown discuss the implications of the autumn statement for local authorities and housing. |
| Nottingham issues s114
Nottingham City Council has become the latest LA to issue a section 114 notice, advising that it isn’t able to deliver a balanced budget, and has published the full details on its website. |
| Accommodation ruling The Supreme Court has judged that the London Borough of Croydon's lack of funding is no excuse for failing to provide suitable accommodation for residents. |
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Click below for the latest... |
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This week's featured networks |
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Briefing: Leasehold capital works
This briefing looks at the subject of capital works carried out on buildings containing leaseholders and what landlords must consider when deciding if they should carry certain works out and what they need to do to recover the cost of works from leaseholders. |
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Leasehold Network Problem Corner
The network's next Problem Corner is scheduled for 23 January. Hosted by Jackie Dickins, the sessions are free to members and are a fantastic opportunity to ask questions and hear about what’s happening in the sector and network with fellow housing professionals. |
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Leasehold Legal: November 2023
This month's update covers a case related to the cost of works required under the Building Safety Act 2022, a case concerning the validity of offer notices relating to the right of first refusal, and news of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill's implications for leasehold. |
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Ombudsman’s focuses on service charges in new report
The Housing Ombudsman has focused on service charges in its latest Insight report, which provides updated guidance and jurisdiction. According to the ombudsman, service charges contain many grey areas that confuse and frustrate both residents and landlords, which often results in broken down relationships. |
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Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill
Click here to read detailed explanatory notes for the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill, prepared by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Click below for a comprehensive guide to the bill from the government. |
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Leasehold bill to pass before general election?
Housing secretary Michael Gove says he believes the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill will be passed before the next general election, following its introduction to parliament last week. |
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Modern leasehold: Restricting ground rent for existing leases
This consultation from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities seeks views on capping the maximum ground rent that residential leaseholders can be required to pay in England and Wales. |
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Resident info on fire safety and remediation of buildings
The government has created a resource bringing together information leaseholders and other residents should be aware of on fire safety, and remediation of historic building safety defects, including who's responsible for paying for remediation works. |
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Click below for the latest network... |
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| Cost of living toolkit
This toolkit is intended to help you to identify how your organisation can support residents to cope with the continuing cost of living crisis, to maximise their incomes from local and national benefits and other available support and to sustain their tenancies. |
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| Best practice group
The network's next best practice group is scheduled for 14 February and will be, as ever, free for members. The topic is yet to be confirmed but will be a great opportunity to converse with sector colleagues and share information. |
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| Welfare reform news and policy update – December 2023
Breakout stories this month include a breakdown of the autumn statement, a coroner tells the DWP to act on universal credit safety after claimant’s suicide, Child Poverty Action Group's analysis of DWP data, and older private renters have difficulty meeting the cost of essentials. |
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| Autumn statement 2023
Issued by chancellor Jeremy Hunt, this year's autumn budget may be the current government's last. Jon Land delves into the depths of the mini-budget statement, unpicking the fiscal complexities, outlining what it all means for housing, and looking at reactions from across the sector. |
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| Cost of living government assistance 2023-2024
The next instalment of the cost of living payments from the government are being paid out over the winter to eight million people. Our guide outlines the assistance currently available. |
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| Welsh government reveals social rent uplift cap
The Welsh government has revealed a new maximum social rent uplift cap of 6.7%, from April 2024, to "to provide additional support to our social housing tenants as they faced pressures from the rising costs of food, energy and other household goods". |
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Click below for the latest network... |
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Best practice group roundup: Fly tipping
The hub's latest best practice group covered the challenges caused by fly-tipping for landlords and estate services teams, as well as the approaches and potential solutions some teams are implementing to tackle the problem. You can read all about the session in our write-up.
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Joint best practice group
On 16 January, the HQN Asset Management Network is holding a special joint best practice group with the Estate Services Hub, focused on the green agenda and exploring areas of joint interest, including waste disposal and recycling, the growth of electric and hybrid vehicles, and grounds maintenance. The session is free to members so book your place now.
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| Council left resident with leaky roof for over three years,
The Housing Ombudsman has found severe maladministration for how a London local authority failed to satisfactorily resolve a reoccurring roof leak for over three years, leaving the resident with mildewy and musty odours, high humidity and furniture mould. |
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| Housing Ombudsman Service report
The Housing Ombudsman Service has 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. |
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Neighbourhood agreements
A member is reviewing their neighbourhood agreement and policy on the back of the Ombudsman Spotlight report – and they would be grateful of some inspiration. If you have a document you’d like to share, please forward it to members@hqnetwork.co.uk |
| Service charge systems
Can anyone advise of any service charge systems/solutions they use that sit outside their housing management systems?
If you can help, please respond to this post directly. |
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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 Brighton and Hove City Council as the latest members of our Health and Safety Network, Magna Housing Limited as the latest members of our Housing Management Network, and Rykneld Homes as the latest members of the Housing Quality Network. Thank you, all, 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:
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