Housing Today Focus - key issues in the housing sector

In Focus

The big social media question: should housing associations leave X (Twitter)?

Some social landlords describe X as “toxic” but for others it is still a “shop window” and remains an effective route to communicate with residents. As the platform sheds users, Alex Funk looks at how individual landlords are responding

‘Because the spaces work for children, they work for everyone’ - how Camden’s Whittington estate fosters a community for all ages

Mary Richardson talks to two architects who have made a film about the child-friendly estate where they live, to find out what’s so special about its design

Site safety, housing market renewal and the £60k house - A look back at John Prescott’s contribution to the sector

The former deputy prime minister, whose death was announced this morning, forced construction to realise that things couldn’t go on as they were

‘I never feel like I’ve done enough’… High-flying Elly Hoult talks about her career so far and her plans as CIH president

The Peabody deputy chief executive shares her journey from leaving school at 16, how her experiences shaped her and why she wants more people to ‘choose housing’

How worried should the sector be about Vistry?

Housebuilding industry poster-child Vistry has been charting an aggressive growth course despite a tricky market over the last two years. Joey Gardiner asks why it has now lost half its value after two profit warnings in two months

The strain of temporary accommodation: are local authorities’ innovative solutions enough?

With council spending on temporary accommodation reaching more than £2bn last year and still climbing, some local authorities are tackling the issue head-on. But will there efforts be enough? OIivia Barber reports

Housing association financial statements 2023/24: key trends and library of reports

The reporting season has come to an end, here are all our reports from housing association balance sheets for 2023/24

‘Being the only girl doesn’t bother me’: My work as a heating and plumbing apprentice at Progress Housing Group

In the latest in our Frontline Stories series, the 21-year-old speaks to Alex Funk about being a young female in a male-dominated industry, finding out she has dyslexia and ADHD, and getting her driver’s license

Grey belt, green belt and the curious case of Labour’s benchmark land value

The new government’s plans to allow more development on parts of the green belt have been hailed as a potential game-changer for housing supply. However, there are growing fears that the ‘golden rules’ governing the release of sites may simply make sites unviable

A crisis hiding in plain sight: is the UK’s built environment failing children and young people?

While housing supply and affordability dominate public debate, the prevalence of safe, accessible spaces for children and adolescents is a critical yet overlooked issue. Nora Redmond takes a closer look at whether the built environment is leaving young people underserved

Why are councils getting low consumer regulation gradings?

Almost all the low ‘C3’ grades given by the Regulator of Social Housing since the new regime came into force in April are for local authorities as opposed to housing associations. Carl Brown finds out why

‘Communication is the golden thread’: my work as an operations manager at Sovereign Network Group

Sophie Meilack works to drive improvements in the responsive repairs team at Sovereign Network Group. In the latest in our Frontline Stories series, she speaks to Olivia Barber about her role.