New book: advanced notice of publication.

Finance for Housing: An Introduction. Cath Davis. Policy Press.

This much-needed text by an experienced author with a policy background is due to be published on 17 July 2013.

Current housing finance issues (and their history) are linked with broader social policy and political themes. It covers the finance of building and refurbishment; managing and maintaining property for all the different tenures (owner occupation, council housing, housing association and private renting), and discusses whether current arrangements are sustainable. Written for housing, social policy and politics students and staff, it is also accessible to anyone concerned about housing in Britain today.

Contents:

Part One:Overview chapters;

• Political choices and housing finance:
• The global financial crisis and the UK government's role

Part Two: Tenure based chapters

• Local authority general housing services and building work;
• Owner occupation;
• The changing fortunes of council housing;
• Housing associations;
• The private rented sector;

Part Three: Issues with housing costs

• 'Marginal' owner occupation;
• A variety of rents;
• Paying for housing with help from housing benefits
• Discussion: Is our housing system sustainable?

Communities and Local Government Select Committee intend to take evidence from the Chair of the independent Regulation Committee of the HCA

The Committee intends to take oral evidence from the Chair of the independent Regulation Committee of the Homes and Communities Agency. The Committee invites submissions from interested parties, including academics, housing associations, financial institutions, local authorities, builders and tenants, on the economic regulation and consumer regulation carried out by the Regulation Committee. For further details click here

Draft Scottish Planning Policy for Consultation

The SPP is a statement of Scottish Government policy on how nationally important land use planning matters should be addressed across the country. A review of the SPP was announced in September 2012. The SPP Consultation Draft has been informed by a period of pre-draft engagement from October 2012 to early January 2013. For further information click here.
The purpose of the SPP is to set out national planning policies which reflect Scottish Ministers’ priorities for the development and use of land. It directly relates to:

• the preparation of development plans;
• the design of development, from initial concept through to delivery ; and
• the determination of planning applications and appeals.

The SPP promotes consistency in the application of policy across Scotland whilst allowing sufficient flexibility to reflect local circumstances. It does not restate the policy and guidance set out elsewhere.

Welsh Government - Renting Homes White Paper

The White Paper sets out, for public consultation, the Welsh Government's proposals to improve the arrangements for renting a home in Wales.It explains the evidence for change and the improvements that will result for tenants and landlords alike. It then describes proposals for new legislation that are intended to be brought forward.
It is published for public consultation. It seeks the views of people who currently rent their homes, people who may rent a home in future, landlords, and organisations working in and around the field of housing.

News from Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research

NEW OUTPUTS
Intended and unintended consequences? A case study survey of housing associations and welfare reform
With the Welfare Reform Act 2012 heralding the introduction of some of the most significant changes to the administration and distribution of benefits in recent times, the National Housing Federation has commissioned Ipsos MORI and Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research to assess how these changes impact across the housing association sector in England. The baseline report was published in late 2012 and this case report builds on that with the results of 15 in depth case study housing associations. For further details and to download the report click here

Building Social Capital through Community Timebanking: an interim evaluation of the Cambridgeshire timebanking project
This research is evaluating the development of a timebanking project in Cambridgeshire for Cambridgeshire County Council and the CHS Group. Timebanking is a community scheme which enables local people to exchange skills and support in a structured way around the swapping of units of their time. It can help to build social capital in local communities, but may also have the potential to generate cost savings. The interim report suggests that the time banks are developing successfully, with increasing numbers of members and exchanges. There is evidence of a range of benefits to the members who are involved and evidence of positive soft outcomes. The challenge for the time bank coordinators is to grow the time banks and consider how they may become sustainable long term. Click here to download the interim report.

Analysis of the potential value for money to the public purse of the Lincolnshire Home Improvement Agency Housing Options Advice service
This report analyses the potential savings to the public purse of the Lincolnshire Home Improvement Agency (LHIA) housing options advice service. The methodology builds on research conducted for the large scale evaluation of the national FirstStop service conducted by the University of Cambridge.
The analysis shows that the service has the potential to not only improve the quality of life, health, wellbeing and social isolation of individuals who use the housing options service, but to also generate savings to the public purse by preventing homelessness, unwanted or early entry into residential care, falls in the home, health deterioration as a result of unsuitable housing and can reduce under-occupation and free up much needed family housing, whilst helping older people to remain healthy and independent in the most suitable housing for their needs. Click here to download the final report.

NEW PROJECTS
An economic and spatial analysis of the future development of Wisbech in Cambridgeshire
This work aims to assess the:

• current economic profile of Wisbech;
• likely future economic role of Wisbech under different scenarios;
• sectors most likely to have potential for future employment growth; and to
• Make broad recommendations for future economic and spatial strategies to 2020.

Attracting institutional investment in Australia's affordable rental housing

Reports from an Investigative Panel on facilitating institutional investment in Australia’s rental housing were published in March 2013. Click here for further details.

Funded by the Australian Housing & Urban Research Institute (AHURI) and convened by UNSW City Futures Associate Professor Vivienne Milligan, the Panel brought together experts from the financial sector, the housing industry and community agencies. Its brief was to advise government on how to encourage financial institutions (e.g. pension funds) to invest in rental housing development, especially at the affordable end of the market.

The Panel found that with strong government leadership and long-term commitment large scale institutional financing in rental housing is both desirable and feasible. A detailed strategy for the development of a new residential asset class was recommended.

In addressing the widely acknowledged need to diversify sources of rental investment finance beyond ‘mum and dad investors’, the Panel’s reports lie close to the cutting edge of current housing policy debates, both in Australia and internationally. Reflecting this, an international comparative paper drawing on the investigative panel report was presented by Hal Pawson and Vivienne Milligan at the recent Housing Studies Association conference. Click here to download the report. City Futures is also contributing to a follow-up RMIT university-led study on social housing guarantees also being funded by AHURI Ltd.
 

Link to the HACT blog

HSA member Jim Vine has recently joined HACT as Director of Innovation and Business Development. Jim invites HSA members to view the HACT blog at http://www.hact.org.uk/blog/2013/05/24/week-1-hact-networks-innovation-evidence-blogs-and-twitter 

Comparing payment by results across public services and in housing-related support

Sitra, the national membership organisation that champions excellence in housing support and care, has published a short report that compares payment be results across public services. This outcomes-based way to commission services is being promoted by government as an important plank in their programme for public service reform and greater efficiencies in funding services. This report summarises how payment by results is being used across public services and in housing support services, looking at the similarities and differences in their purpose, who is delivering the services, their reward systems and the approach taken to outcomes. Download the report at Sitra

Housing Studies Association / European Network for Housing Research - Memorandum of Agreement

The HSA and the ENHR have established a Memorandum of Agreement which will develop and enhance collaboration and cooperation between both organisations. This involves the joint promotion of conferences; the exchange of information and reciprocal links on our respective web sites; referring to each other as a 'partner organisation' and exploring possible future development opportunities and other activities that would bring reciprocal benefits to our members.
Formal recognition of the MoA will take place at the 2013 ENHR Conference in Tarragona, 19th to 22nd June. Further details of this year's ENHR conference can be found at http://www.enhr2013.com/

Evidence project on green issues and energy efficiency

The first issue of Evidence newsletter, on green issues and energy efficiency, is now available. The project is a collaboration between HQN and the University of Sheffield with support from the Housing Studies Association and ESRC. The monthly newsletter brings details of recent academic research to housing professionals who can use it to improve their services to tenants. Forthcoming issues will focus on homelessness (June) and an ageing society (July). Download the newsletter from the Housing Quality Network