The Winter issue of WHQ is published this week featuring health and housing, a new collaboration on affordable housing supply, the High Court ruling on electrical condition reports and much, much more.
Health and housing – inextricably linked since the birth of council housing in the late 19th and early 20th century – is our theme this time, with the connections between them are as close as ever.
Dr Laura Neilson kicks things off with a look at the impact of living in temporary accommodation on the lives, and deaths, of children. Michelle Morris, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, details her thematic report on housing disrepair and damp and mould. Joe Rees outlines the approach of Public Health Wales to advocating for healthier homes, while Carole-Anne Davies looks at the contribution that improving housing quality, affordability and accessibility can make to health outcomes.
Elsewhere in our health and housing feature we look at everything from keeping fit to hoarding, health inequalities to Housing First and care for elderly home owners to challenging behaviour in independent living schemes.
The Welsh housing sector is still digesting the implications of the High Court ruling in a test case brought by four housing associations over the provision of electrical condition reports. As Professor Dave Cowan explains, the ruling confirms that rent was not payable where reports were not issued to tenants but other key issues are still outstanding pending a possible appeal.
January saw the launch of Tai ar y Cyd, the collaboration of social landlords that aims to deliver off-site manufactured affordable homes to the highest standards. Steve Cranston and Catryn Sneade outline how, with backing from Welsh Government and working closely with architects and manufacturers, the project has produced a standardised pattern book and design guide.
Elsewhere, Lauren Caley reports on the cost of Wales’s reliance on temporary accommodation while Wendy Dearden shares the findings of new research into why the development of new social homes. John Griffiths MS, chair of the Local Government and Housing Committee, argues that Wales should learn from the past and set up a national development corporation.
The fall-out from the Draft Budget in Cardiff and Autumn Budget at Westminster continues to resonate. Katie Dalton welcomes new funding for housing support but warns that will be undermined without more help with increased employers’ National Insurance contributions. Cerys Clark says Welsh Government’s 20,000 social homes target is still at risk despite increased investment.
We have two articles on refugee housing, with Gareth Lynn Montes welcoming an interim extension of the move on period and Nicola Evans and Joy Kent calling for the housing sector to play its part in delivering a Nation of Sanctuary.
You can also read Keith Edwards on resident engagement in mergers and Elizabeth Taylor on what a new survey reveals about the challenges facing tenants. Leanne Davies introduces an art exhibition at the Senedd created by people with lived experience of homelessness.
All that plus all our regular updates, make for a packed first issue of the year. Some articles are free for everyone to view but most are accessible for subscribers. WHQ is published online in English and Welsh in online edition and PDF formats. To find out more about subscribing, go here.