As homelessness numbers soar and rent prices are ever-increasing, the importance of social housing is more apparent than ever. Currently, almost one-fifth (17%) of households in England live in social housing; that’s four million households. However, a further 1.2 million are still on the waiting list.

New laws point to better living conditions for people in social housing, but how will advancements in the quality – and potentially quantity – of these properties create more jobs, increase social mobility, and have a positive impact on our economy?

Changes for the better

Developments in recent months have seen the Social Housing (Regulation) Act – which aims to support tenants living in unsafe homes and hold inadequate landlords accountable for such conditions – became an enforceable law. This will greatly improve the quality of life for many social housing residents, as new powers have been given to the Regulator of Social Housing and the Housing Ombudsman; landlords may now be issued unlimited fines, strict time limits can be set to address unsafe living environments, and social housing managers have new qualification requirements.

Aside from the obvious benefits of improving quality of life and safety, these new regulations will also bring economic advantages, due to the increased level of management now required for these homes. In fact, housing associations and local authorities’ management of properties in England already adds around 12.7 billion to the economy and supports over 200,000 jobs; this figure will likely rise as a result of the more stringent requirements.

Social housing can reduce unemployment  

People in social housing may be facing challenging personal or financial situations, which can act as barriers to employment. But social housing providers can offer valuable services such as support with job hunting, access to training, skills development and funding. Reducing unemployment can bolster economic growth, due to a decrease in benefits payments, among other secondary economic pressures that come from high levels of unemployment.

Increased social housing construction offers ample job opportunities for construction workers. Between 2016-2023, an impressive 140,000 construction jobs were created as a result of a record number of new affordable housing in London. However, the ratio of new social housing in comparison to other builds is decreasing.

Job opportunities within social housing

Social housing generates a variety of job opportunities within communities. Besides construction workers, here are some other positions required in the social housing industry:

• Housing officers oversee properties on behalf of housing associations and local authorities. Responsibilities include assessing the needs of housing applicants and inspecting properties.
• Property upkeep roles – such as damp and mould surveyor, fire prevention, retrofit, and backlog maintenance – as homes need to be kept in working order and free of hazards.
• Countless other jobs, including tenant advice, income recovery, leasehold officer, and project worker.

Future social housing growth is uncertain

With the general election approaching in just over a year’s time, the outlook for social housing growth is still up in the air, as social housing policies vary heavily between political parties. One thing for certain is that increasing social housing would have a positive impact on our economy, something that is more important than ever as the nation battles turbulent waters and shoulders the strain of the cost-of-living crisis.

Hays is working in partnership with Band of Builders to support the wellbeing and mental health of construction workers. We’re also proud work with The Retrofit Academy, supporting their mission of driving retrofit skills and knowledge.

Recruiting for your team or organisation? Then register your vacancy with us today.

New consumer standards for social housing in England: a brave new world, or business as usual? The truth, as so often, lies probably somewhere inbetween.

The Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 will drive some considerable change in regulation from April 2024, but it isn’t wholesale change.

Let’s start by being clear: there’s very little change as far as economic regulation goes. The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) remains concerned to ensure that registered providers (RPs) comply with the governance and financial viability, value for money and rent standards (where applicable) and will continue to regulate against these standards in much the same way as at present. We’ll see some changes to what it can do if RPs don’t comply, such as the ability to require performance improvement plans, and an enhanced ability to issue fines – but for the most part, we anticipate that economic regulation is going to feel pretty similar to what’s gone before.

It’s a different story when it comes to consumer regulation. The origins of the Act lie, after all, in an understanding that legislating for a somewhat hands-off approach to regulating the quality of homes and services may have played a part in failing to prevent the tragedies at Grenfell Tower and in Rochdale, where Awaab Ishak died. So it’s unsurprising that there is to be a whole new approach to consumer regulation, including the advent of inspections – which it seems will be closely modelled on the approach to In-Depth Assessments (IDAs), but will now cover consumer regulation and extend to local authorities and ALMOs for the first time.

New-style consumer regulation will be underpinned by a new set of regulatory standards, on which consultation closed earlier this month. There are undoubtedly some important changes to these: the introduction of distinct requirements in relation to domestic abuse, for example; raised expectations about how data about homes and tenants should be used to inform investment and service delivery; and more emphasis on diversity than previously.

In our own response to the consumer standards consultation, we welcomed the changes. We drew attention, too, to areas where we thought the drafting could potentially have gone further, reaching for more substantial change: for example, in relation to sustainability and environmental considerations; to safeguarding; and to tenant involvement. We questioned why there should be no specific expectations in relation to fairness and respect, given their pivotal significance, and we suggested that the standards are rather quiet about the problems caused to tenants by nuisance where it stops short of posing a safety risk, but nonetheless impacts significantly on quality of life.

But we know that the consumer standards represent a set of high-level outcomes which can’t possibly cover everything, and are intended to represent fundamental, baseline expectations of what a social housing provider should deliver. And while understanding of what represents good practice moves on over time, the outcomes social housing is intended to achieve arguably haven’t changed that much. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that for the most part, the content of the new standards is familiar, drawing heavily on the previous set, albeit the bar has been raised where this was felt uncontrovertibly to be needed.

But in any case, if reshaping of regulation is going to drive changes in the sector in the way that politicians have intended, it probably isn’t going to be through the standards themselves (although the changes will doubtlessly focus attention in a helpful way). Rather it is the removal of the serious detriment bar (which prevented the RSH getting much involved unless there was a serious risk to tenants), the introduction of inspection and the advent of a grading for consumer standard compliance which are likely to make RPs sit up and take notice – and the associated depth and rigour with which providers will be expected to assure themselves – and the regulator – that they comply with, and even go beyond, the standards.

As the world grapples with the urgent need to address climate change, it is crucial for all sectors to play their part in transitioning to a sustainable future. Social housing providers have a unique opportunity to lead the way in reducing carbon emissions while also addressing the issues associated with social and economic inequalities in Britain. The Carbon Literacy Toolkit for Social Housing presents an invaluable resource to empower and educate stakeholders, enabling them to take meaningful action towards a greener, more sustainable future. As global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, there is an imperative for organisations and communities everywhere to take control of the emissions over which they have influence. Those of us without the political clout of public office or presence at international conferences might feel powerless to do anything about climate change. But we can choose a different path, we just need to know how.

The Carbon Literacy Project has been supporting workplaces in creating the time and space to talk about climate change and its solutions for over 10 years. Training materials are designed to frame climate change conversations through lenses that are relevant to the organisation and the local area; a collection of 17 housing associations across Greater Manchester realised that their materials might look rather similar. They jointly funded the development of a Carbon Literacy training programme that coordinated their training efforts and low-carbon actions. This was the precursor to the Carbon Literacy Toolkit for Social Housing.

The Social Housing Toolkit is a comprehensive and user-friendly resource designed to enhance the understanding of climate change, its impacts, and the measures required to mitigate its effects within the context of social housing. Developed with and for social housing providers, the Toolkit provides a systematic approach to building Carbon Literacy among staff and tenants, as well as other key stakeholders.

The Toolkit was shortlisted for the Unlock Net Zero Awards 2023. It was fantastic to see that so many of the winners this year are organisations that train their staff in Carbon Literacy to aid their low-carbon ambitions. One of the strengths of the Social Housing Toolkit is its ability to empower staff and tenants within the social housing sector. By equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to tackle climate change, the Toolkit fosters a sense of responsibility and encourages collective action. This, in turn, can lead to a range of benefits, including improved engagement, enhanced reputation, and reduced operational costs.

The Toolkit provides a wealth of educational resources, including training materials and case studies. Its interactive delivery style is designed to raise awareness and deepen understanding through learning with and from everyone in the room. By increasing Carbon Literacy, social housing providers can empower their employees to make more low-carbon choices in their roles within the organization and in their own lives too. Such knowledge can inspire innovative solutions and foster a culture of sustainability within the workplace. Whether at the beginning of your sustainability transition, or trying to put robust policy into action, the Carbon Literacy Toolkit is an impactful means to realise excellent results.

The adoption of sustainable practices is not only beneficial for the environment but carries with it a wealth of other benefits. The Social Housing Toolkit assists social housing providers in identifying energy-saving opportunities and implementing measures to reduce energy consumption and associated costs. By promoting energy efficiency and encouraging the use of renewable energy sources, providers can significantly reduce their carbon footprint while simultaneously lowering operational expenses. Better efficiency and lower bills allow householders to live comfortable, healthy lives in their homes.

In an era defined by the urgent need for climate action, social housing providers (and their supply chains) have an incredible opportunity to drive change and create a sustainable future. The Carbon Literacy Toolkit for Social Housing equips staff, tenants, and stakeholders with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions and take effective action towards a greener and more sustainable social housing sector that provides safe, decent, affordable homes now and into the future. Those that embrace this powerful resource can strive for a brighter, carbon-conscious world.

If you would like to use Carbon Literacy training to enhance your transition to net-zero carbon emissions, contact us via email at housing@carbonliteracy.com.

Law firm Ward Hadaway has appointed two new solicitors who have joined the firm’s growing Built Environment Team in Newcastle.

Based at the firm’s Quayside office in the city centre, the appointments of Philippa Jones and Victoria Chatterton, joining from their previous firms have further strengthened the construction and engineering team, supporting their growing client base across the North East and further afield.

Philippa joins as an Associate solicitor and will be responsible for a wide range of contentious and non-contentious construction and engineering matters. She joins from her previous firm where she worked as an Associate and has over five years working within construction law.

She particularly focuses on major infrastructure projects and will act for a wide variety of construction and engineering clients including contractors, developers, employers, subcontractors, consultants, procurement specialists and Local Authorities.

Commenting on her appointment, Philippa, said: “Ward Hadaway has a great reputation in the region with an impressive client roster and collegiate atmosphere. I’m looking forward to building my construction practice throughout the region by supporting local major infrastructure projects in addition to national clients. I am delighted to have joined this expanding team at such an exciting time.”

Victoria has also been appointed to the same team and joins the firm as a solicitor. She is acting for a variety of construction and engineering clients in drafting, reviewing and negotiating consultancy appointments, collateral warranties and standard contracts working from project inception.

Victoria is a member of the Women’s Lawyer Division and Women in Construction forums. Commenting on her appointment, she said: “I’m really enjoying my new role and it’s an exciting time to be joining this growing team. Ward Hadaway has a great reputation and is one of the leading law firms in the north so I am grateful to be able to apply my knowledge and experience with construction clients across the region.”

Paul Reekie, a Partner and Head the firm’s construction and engineering service, said: “This is a really exciting time as we continue to strengthen our Built Environment Team to support our growing client base. Our priority is to attract and recruit high-calibre solicitors to ensure we can provide an all-encompassing service for our clients across many specialisms.

“In the last three months alone, we have made six significant appointments within the team across all three of our regions and I’m confident Philippa and Victoria will complement and add value to our existing relationships with our clients. I’m looking forward to working with them both.”

New appointments: Solicitors Philippa Jones (left) and Victoria Chatterton have both joined Ward Hadaway’s growing Built Environment Team.