Our pick of the best Housing Today opinion pieces from the past 12 months

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Throughout 2024, Housing Today brought you opinion and commentary from some of housing’s biggest names.

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Below is our pick of the best op-eds from the past 12 months. 

11. Housing associations are uniquely placed to help New Towns become thriving communities

Published in September

mel barrett

Keir Starmer’s plan can only be achieved with housing associations’ scale and expertise, writes new Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing boss Mel Barrett in his first article for Housing Today 

Read the full comment here

 

10. Considerate communication with residents is key

Published in July

Nicole Smith_Eastlight Community Homes (003)

Nicole Smith has returned to Eastlight Community Homes’ housing team for the first time in eight years and is staggered at how things have got more pressurised. Despite this, social landlords must not forget the importance of effective communication, Smith argues.

Read the full comment here. 

 

9. Why housebuilders are increasingly looking to set up for-profit registered providers of social housing

Published in June 

matt cowen and colette mckormack

Colette McCormack and Matt Cowen explain why the affordable housing development landscape is changing.

Read the full comment here.

 

8. After the Labour landslide, it’s time to rebuild

Published in July

kate smith connexus

The housing sector must now work with Keir Starmer’s ministers to make its voice heard and get the economic lifeblood of our communities flowing again, writes Kate Smith.

Read the full comment here.

 

7. Why housing associations need to make healthy surpluses

Published in July 

fiona fletcher-smith index

Those who tell stories about the sector ‘raking in’ surpluses fundamentally misunderstand the nature of our strained social housing financial model, writes Fiona Fletcher-Smith.

Read the full comment here.

 

6. How standardised stock condition surveys and better use of data can help us improve stock maintenance

Published in February

elly hoult new

Maintaining homes is more complicated than many people think and requires intricate solutions, writes Elly Hoult.

Read the full comment here.

 

5. I hear you Angela Rayner, and I raise you this: What the new government must do to fix the housing crisis

Published in August

anthony okereke 2

The new Labour administration must give councils the freedom to build on a much bigger scale, writes Anthony Okereke.

Read the full comment here.

 

 4. Ministers must help the social housing sector rebuild financial capacity over the long term

Published in November 

Ian McDermott headshot

The Budget showed positive signs of intent but social landlords need more than one-off funding boosts. Their approach must include the reintroduction of rent convergence, argues Ian McDermott.

Read the full comment here.

 

3. Let’s not nationalise social housing by mistake: why Burnham’s call for mandatory councillors on HA boards is mistaken

Published in October 

james tickell

The Mayor of Greater Manchester has called for the return of local authority representation to housing association boards. James Tickell explains why this is not the best way of improving governance.

Read the full comment here.

 

2. The housing crisis and its zombie myths that won’t go away

Published in March

Paul Smith CROP

Interest rates driving house prices and landbanking by housebuilders are myths that persist, despite being debunked several times over, writes Paul Smith.

Read the full comment here.

 

1. Many housing associations’ earnings aren’t enough to cover costs - it’s grave news for housing delivery

Published in February

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As interest cover falls to record lows, ministers must help registered providers rebuild their financial capacity, argues Paul Hackett.

Read the full comment here.