New to the job is a feature where we meet people from across the sector who have taken on a new role. If you want to take part email ben.black@bronafon.org.uk What is your name? Stacey Anastasi Where do you work and what… Read more »
Social housing
Plan to boost council house building
CIH Cymru is partnering with Welsh Government to increase the scale of council house building. The plan follows a key recommendation of the independent affordable housing supply in Wales focused on the need to support local authorities in directly delivering… Read more »
Minister reveals thinking on rents
The rent settlement for social housing in Wales could come with strings attached, according to housing and local government minister Julie James. In an interview with WHQ, the minister cited value for money for tenants, support for the tenant voice,… Read more »
Review backs improved rent policy
A review of rent policy for Welsh Government concludes that the current system is meeting its objectives, is accepted by a range of stakeholders and should be retained. Emerging findings from a team led by Heriot-Watt University say there is… Read more »
Where next for social rent?
Tamsin Stirling reflects on the issues involved in setting rents that are genuinely affordable for different groups of people. The Bevan Foundation and Shelter Cymru held a seminar earlier this month examining the issue of affordability of social rent and… Read more »
Draft Budget safeguards housing support
Funding for housing-related support will be ring-fenced for the rest of this Assembly term under Draft Budget plans proposed by finance secretary Mark Drakeford. Welsh Government had planned to combine ten government grants, including Supporting People, into one ‘super-grant’ for Early… Read more »
A partial debate about the housing crisis
Media narratives about the housing crisis concentrate too much on home ownership and not enough on social housing and homelessness, says Matt Dicks. Many of you may have watched the BBC Wales The Hour programme last month, a debate programme which… Read more »
What does the Welsh public think of social housing?
An opinion poll asking Welsh voters what they think of social housing finds strong support for its role but also some worrying public perceptions. Homelessness and housing was ranked fifth in importance as a political issue in an opinion poll for… Read more »
Do we really want to play a blame game?
Making sure that residents are safe is the most important thing after the Grenfell Tower fire, not playing a blame game, says Sharon Morden. More than nine months after the tragic events at Grenfell it’s plain to see why the… Read more »
LHA cap scrapped for supported and social housing
There were sighs of relief across Wales and the UK after the Westminster government decided it will not go ahead with plans to impose a local housing allowance (LHA) cap on supported and social housing. Theresa May revealed the decision… Read more »