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So far CWAG has created 94 blog entries.

Use of receipts from RTB Sales: Government response to the Consultation – March 2021

The consultation on use of receipts from Right to Buy Sales was published alongside the Social Housing Green Paper in August 2018. The consultation considered the case for offering local authorities greater flexibilities in how they use Right to Buy receipts to deliver replacement homes.

Although the consultation closed in October 2018, the government response wasn’t published until March 2021, nearly two and a half years after the consultation closed.

This included the following measures:

  • Extension of the timeframe available to local authorities to spend new and existing Right to Buy receipts from 3 years to 5 years, applicable from 1 April 2021. There will also be a change to annual rather than quarterly returns and accounting. These measures will allow councils to plan more effectively and use receipts on larger more complex projects with longer lead in times.
  • An increase in the cap on the percentage cost of new homes that councils can fund from Right to Buy receipts from 30% to 40% per home. This aims to make it easier for local authorities to fund replacement homes, particularly those for social rent.
  • Allowing receipts to be used for shared ownership and First Homes as well as affordable and social housing for rent.
  • The introduction of a cap on the use of Right to Buy receipts for acquisitions. This measure is intended to ensure that RTB receipts are used to deliver new housing supply rather than for the purchase of existing stock or properties built by developers. Councils will still be able to use the first 20 units of delivery each year for existing acquisitions and will not be prevented from acquiring further existing properties above the cap using other resources.

The government also pushed back on other proposals in the consultation, for example, deciding not to make any changes to rules around interest payments on unused receipts. A proposal to allow councils to transfer receipts to ALMOs or other council housing companies to fund development was also rejected.

Use of receipts from RTB Sales: Government response to the Consultation – March 20212023-05-02T09:59:01+00:00

Changes to the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Regulations for Social Housing

Following approval by Parliament, the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations have become law, introducing new requirements on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in the social rented sector. The regulations come into force on 1st October 2022 and there is an expectation that landlords will be fully compliant from this date.

DLUHC has published a guidance document with advice for landlords and tenants on the regulations.

Changes to the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Regulations for Social Housing2023-04-28T14:26:33+00:00

White Paper – ‘A fairer private rented sector’ – June 2022

DLUHC White Paper setting out government policy for the private rented sector (PRS) as part of the wider levelling up agenda. This includes plans for a Renters Reform Bill which will include the following:

  • Abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and introduction of a simpler tenancy structure
  • Application of the Decent Homes Standard to the PRS for the first time
  • Introduction of a new Property Portal to help landlords understand their obligations
  • Introduction of a housing ombudsman covering all PRS landlords

The White Paper sets out a 12-point action plan which includes measures to strengthen local councils’ enforcement powers as well as proposals to make it illegal for landlords to have blanket bans on renting to families with children or those in receipt of benefits.

The White Paper signals a plan for major reform of tenancy law, moving all tenants onto a system of periodic tenancies, meaning that a tenancy will only end if a tenant ends it or a landlord has a valid reason (defined in law) for obtaining possession. Notice periods for rent increases will be increased and tenants will have stronger powers to challenge these.

It will also be easier for tenants to have pets, a right which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse.

White Paper – ‘A fairer private rented sector’ – June 20222023-04-28T14:32:58+00:00

Retrofit Credits

A new scheme developed by the Housing Association Charitable Trust (HACT) in partnership with Arctica Partners may be of interest to councils putting together funding packages for energy efficiency and decarbonisation works.

Retrofit credits is a UK based carbon credits scheme that enables organisations to offset their carbon emissions by investing in social housing. The scheme involves using a tested methodology to measure both the carbon savings and social value created through retrofit activity. To ensure the environmental integrity of the issued credits, this has been developed under the Verified Carbon Standard, the world’s leading certification programme for emission reduction projects.

It is anticipated that the scheme has the potential to generate significant funding for retrofit schemes in social housing. The scheme is currently being piloted but will be formally launched in 2023.

Retrofit Credits2023-05-02T09:59:25+00:00

Presentation Slides from joint ARCH/ CWAG/ NFA Webinar – Meeting Net Zero Carbon Targets in Council Housing – 21st September 2022

This joint webinar included the following:

  • Update from BEIS on current policy and funding
  • Discussion of retrofit work and issues so far…
  • Case study – Six Towns Housing
  • Research Project Lewes and Eastbourne Councils
Presentation Slides from joint ARCH/ CWAG/ NFA Webinar – Meeting Net Zero Carbon Targets in Council Housing – 21st September 20222023-05-02T09:59:33+00:00

Papers from CWAG Decarbonisation Meeting – March 2021

This meeting was an opportunity to take stock of the decarbonisation challenge facing councils and catch up on some of the current initiatives in this area. The two case studies from CWAG members (Nottingham CC and Manchester CC) covered different scheme types and funding routes and set out some of the challenges involved in delivering retrofit programmes in existing stock.

John Kiely from Savills set out the key question facing council – What standard are we aiming for? Is it achieving net zero by a particular date? or improving energy efficiency and focussing on EPC ratings to address fuel poverty?

Every landlord’s housing stock is different, and the decarbonisation response will depend on dwelling types, construction and age.  Council stock is already aging and the investment requirements around decarbonisation require a 60 – 70 year payback period. Landlords will therefore need to actively categorise their stock as some properties will not be worth investing in.

Current estimates suggest that the total bill for the social sector (4.3 million homes) is around £100 billion, to achieve an average 80% reduction in CO2. This is based on an average cost per dwelling of between £25k and £30k, although costs vary widely between individual properties. A flexible approach will be required with more limited investment in some older stock to achieve some level of decarbonisation at a reasonable cost for a more limited life.

In terms of funding, aside from the £3.8 bn Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) over the next 10 years, there is little extra money available. After taking this and existing business planning resources into account there will be a funding gap. A range of funding models and initiatives are being considered but these have limitations and will not achieve the level of investment required.

In summary councils currently need to:

  • Choose the most effective decarbonisation measures and focus investment on the right stock.
  • Understand the funding gap within the stock and be prepared to apply different solutions to different stock.
  • Pilot different approaches and funding routes (and apply for funding initiatives when available).
  • As a sector engage with government around access to a workable future funding model.
  • Ensure joined up delivery and procurement strategies so investment is not wasted.
  • Work to address current limitations in contracting capacity and supply chains in this sector.

Presentations from this event are available below.

Papers from CWAG Decarbonisation Meeting – March 20212023-05-02T09:59:40+00:00

Review of Decent Homes Standard

The 2020 Social Housing White Paper included a commitment to review the  Decent Homes Standard (DHS) to determine whether changes are required to the current Standard, which dates back to 2006.

In February 2021, the Government launched its review, establishing a Sounding Board made up of representatives from across social housing to provide support and advice. Part 1 of the review concluded that the standard remains effective but may require updates to become more beneficial.

In February 2022, the Government published the Levelling Up White Paper which included the ambition to apply the DHS to the Private Rented Sector (PRS) and reduce the number of non-decent rented homes by 50% by 2030.

Phase 2 of the review therefore focused on the development of a new Standard to operate across both social housing and the PRS. However, in July 2022 the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) released an update on the Decent Homes Review, stating that more time is needed to create a more measured approach to developing the policy.

Review of Decent Homes Standard2023-04-28T14:32:33+00:00

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