Inside Housing – Insight – The Week in Housing: Britain’s housing stock makes national headlines and shared ownership needs ‘urgent reform’

Residents of a block have sought clarity from the government following delays to remediation works as the landlord and developer are competent to complete an inspection.

In a letter seen by Inside Housing, to a Southern Housing resident of Norfolk House in Deptford, south-east London, the Department for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) said that developer Galliard is obliged to carry out the work. This is because the firm has signed the government’s developer remediation contract.

However, Southern has accused Galliard of having “not proactively engaged” with it in recent years on cladding issues and failing to provide a “tangible solution” for residents.

At the same time, residents of a block in Belfast who were forced to leave over safety fears are to be refunded nearly five years of rate payments, following a minister’s intervention in their compensation case.

Another association reiterated its commitment to allowing its tenants to return home as soon as possible after they criticized the association’s response to a block fire that injured five people.

Orbit cited “unforeseeable delays” for the 60 households currently in temporary accommodation following a fire at Sun Court in Erith.

Around 70 firefighters tackled the blaze on March 16 at a flat on the second floor, which was destroyed by the fire.

In February, England’s largest local authority confirmed that it was “raising the option” of closing the waiting list to new applicants as it struggled to process a backlog of tens of thousands of applications for social homes.

But Birmingham City Council has now said it recognizes “how important it is for citizens to be able to apply for a home”, adding that “we will do all we can” to keep the waiting list open.

Marking a major policy shake-up north of Hadrian’s Wall, the Scottish government has published its new Housing Bill with homelessness prevention duties for landlords and long-term private rent controls.

Inside Housing is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. As part of a bumper issue this month, the editorial team has taken a look back at the biggest sector stories from the past four decades.

You can start with the 1980s and work your way forward from there.

Have a good weekend.

Stephen Delahunty, news editor, Inside Housing

Say hello: [email protected]

@StephenD_