SUMMARY OF THE LATEST NEWS ITEMS
Inquiry into Regulatory oversight of Housing Associations
You may be aware that the National Assembly for Wales is undertaking an Inquiry into Regulatory oversight of housing association.
This is being undertaken by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chaired by Nick Ramsay AM. The role of PAC is to ensure that proper and thorough scrutiny was given to Welsh Government expenditure. Click here to read full article
Office Items to sell
Due to the office closure on 31st March 2017, we have many office items that we need to sell. If you would like to visit the office to see all the items contact Sharon or Click here for the items to sell flyer Dec 2016
Celebrating the Right to Adequate Housing
Friday the 16th December 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) which came into force 10 years later on the 3rd January 1976. Click to read full article
100 days to closure
Recently, the Welsh Government decided it will no longer continue to provide core funding to the independent representative voice for tenants, Welsh Tenants. Funding will cease in 100 work days, on the 31st March 2017. Although we had an opportunity to bid for project funding, we were unsuccessful. Click to read full article
Governance Arrangements in Wales
Welsh Tenants are due to present themselves for questioning to the National Assembly for Wales Public Accounts Committee regarding regulation of the registered social landlord sector (housing associations and Large Scale voluntary transfer LSVTs) the following questions. This is not as a analytical survey, purely to ensure that we have your views on regulatory issues in mind when preparing our response. Click here to take the survey
CIH Cymru Housing Awards 2016
We would just like to say a big thank you for the invitation to the CIH Awards by HouseMark Cymru, always a pleasure to support HouseMark Ltd in their role supporting tenants. Click to read full article
Understanding CO Risk in Vulnerable Households
Request for support: This research is investigating carbon monoxide risk in households. NEA have put together an information guide for tenants. Click to read full article.
Letting agency / Landlord fees
As from today, 24th November 2016, any landlord or letting agency that isn’t licensed is breaking the law – yes acting illegally. Their failure to be licenced mean they may incur a fixed penalty notice (£150 – £250), have rent stopping orders imposed on them, rent repayment orders, unable to serve a valid section 21 notice, or/and criminal prosecutions and fines. In the full article is extract from a tenancy agree including their fees. Click to read full article
A positive autumn statement for renters?
In a low key, ultra-cautious budget, the chancellor presented a dramatic picture with the government still in the red! The news that the UK government will continue with their austerity programme impacting on millions after 6 years is depressing. Click to read full article
Time to reflect – ‘Cathy Come Home’
November 1966. 50 years on is a time to reflect on one of the most iconic moments in social history with the launch of what became known as the docudrama, the depiction of real life events through the medium of TV drama. That monochrome film was Cathy Come Home that reached an estimated audience of 1 in 5 of the UK population. Click to view full article
The bedroom tax and two important rulings by the Supreme Court
In 2012 the Government through the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) introduced changes to Housing benefit though the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 “Removal of the spare room subsidy”. The Supreme Court has ruled on a number of cases. Click to read full article
Jonny’s blog on our Not just bricks & Mortar conference
I’ve decided to write this blog, which is about Welsh Tenants’ (WT) Not Just Bricks & Mortar conference, from a private rented sector (PRS) tenant’s perspective; allowing me to comment from a service user’s point of view and not as a staff member of WT/ Tenantiaid Cymru (TC), making this blog more open and relatable to others. Click to read full article
The power of community-led housing
Join DTA Wales on 14th September in Newport, Torfaen. This See you Yourself Visit is entitled “Creatively tackling urban and rural housing shortage in Wales” Click to read full article
Pro’s & Con’s of Future Gazing on Data Use
Information technology (IT) has progressed significantly in recent years, so much so, there are now huge emerging opportunities for social landlords to provide beneficial value for money services that enhance the rental experience for their tenants/leaseholders. Click to read full article
Calling for letting fees to be abolished in Wales
Much is made of self-regulation but a recent report on the private letting agencies in Wales highlights concern at the ability of the letting agency industry to regulate itself and comply with the law. Click to view full story
Cross-Sector Challenges after Brexit
While we do not know what challenges we face after Brexit, for the industry, housing or individual lives. Jonathan has prepared a short blog on his thoughts after Brexit. Click to view
Cathy Come Home
Jonny’s blog on the film Cathy Come Home back in 1966 about homeless, poverty, un-employment, child services, squatting and more. Have we progressed in 2016. Click to view
Housing Camp Cymru Un-conference
Welsh Tenants were pleased to support the Housing Camp Cymru ‘un-conference’ event this year. Here Jonathan Howells provides an outline of the day and some of the sessions he attended. Click to view
Universal Challenge
A highly critical Universal Credit report was launched recently by the think tank, The Resolution Foundation, Universal Challenge – Making a success of Universal Credit. Click to read full article
Homes for Wales – Our case for building a stronger Wales!
The Homes for Wales campaign brings together those who believe everyone has a right to a decent affordable home to call their own. We ask that the next Welsh Government publishes an ambitious plan for housing as part of the new Programme for Government that sets out how they will end the housing crisis in Wales. Click here for our response Homes-for-Wales-Leaflet1.pdf (4359 downloads)
A brief guide for leaseholder
Since the Right to Buy was initiated tens of thousands of tenants have exercised the right to purchase a lease on their tenanted flat. However, during this period, many were poorly advised and failed to understand their full responsibilities as a leaseholder. Click to read full article
Make your home safer in 2016
Electrical safety is something we feel strongly about at Welsh Tenants. Our association with Electrical Safety First (ESF) dates back to 2013 when mutual concerns were expressed for the rise in vulnerable people having to access the largely unregulated private rented sector. Click to read full article
Rent uplift for 2016 – 2017
Earlier this year the UK government in the July budget announced that social landlords in England were to introduce a 1% cut in social housing rents producing savings of around £1.5bn annually, what’s going to happen in Wales? Click to read full article
Reform of the Private Rented Sector began 23rd Nov 15
A landmark scheme commenced in Wales on 23rd Nov, as all landlords and letting agents will be required to register as providers with Rent Smart Wales. Click here to read full article
Consultation on refreshing the Financial Inclusion Strategy for Wales 2016
The Welsh Government is currently revising its Financial Inclusion Strategy, with a new Strategy to be published in 2016, deadline for consultation responses is 4th January 2016. Click here to read full article
Affordable homes target set to be exceeded
Welsh Government has announced that it is set to exceed the targets for 10,000 affordable homes before the end of this Assembly term (May 2017). Read full article
DWP has provided details of the UC roll out
The DWP has confirmed the details of the areas to which universal credit will roll-out between September 2015 and April 2016. Click here to read full article
Response to the Public Accounts Committee
The Public Accounts Committee undertook an inquiry to consider how the changes to Housing Benefit introduced by the UK Government’s welfare-reform programme are impacting on Welsh councils and housing associations. Click here to read full article
Welsh housing sector missing out on nuggets of gold that can improve services according to tenants
The results were published of the national survey of tenants in April. The survey commissioned by CH Cymru with support from the Welsh Government has helped regulators and other stakeholders to profile a picture of tenant satisfaction across Wales’ housing association sector. Click here to read full article
Boost deliver WHQS
A significant £108 million investment in Wales’ social housing stock has today been announced by Communities and Tackling Poverty Minister, Lesley Griffiths.
The funding will be used by LA and RSL’s to improve people’s homes and ensure they are safe, secure and meet the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS). Click here to read full article
To Buy or Not To Buy. This is the question!
In recent weeks the minister for The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty has consulted on modifying or removing right to buy & right to acquire. The Welsh Tenants held two events in to discuss the white paper proposals along with support from TPAS Cymru. Click here to read full article
Homes for Wales Bulletin
This Homes for Wales Bulletin is the latest in a series of action by the Welsh Government to improving housing, people’s lives and communities. Health, well-being, education, jobs and local communities are all aspects of life that are affected by the homes in which people live. It is vital that everyone has a decent place to live. In partnership with many other organisations, the Welsh Government is taking action to make a difference to people’s lives. Click here to view bulletin
Renting Homes (Wales) Bill gets tenant scrutiny
The National Assembly, Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee chair Christine Chapman AM whose committee will scrutinize the bill, organised a series of round table discussions with tenants from all the primary markets impacted by the Renting (Homes) Wales bill. Read full article
Exemptions to the Council Tax premium on Long-Term Empty Homes in Wales
The Housing (Wales) Act 2014 which received Royal Assent on 17 Sept 2014 gives Local Authorities the discretion to charge Council Tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes in Wales. Read full article
Call for 5 year Electrical Safety Check
Welsh Tenants were pleased to be a partner in the calls for better electrical safety in rented homes in Wales, with an introduction of a 5 year electrical safety test. Read full article
Carbon Monoxide alarms to be fitted to PRS homes in England – should Wales follow
Welsh Tenants welcomes the news by the Gas Industry Safety Group (GISG) (11 March 2015) that Communities Minister Penny Mordaunt announced that it is now mandatory for private landlords to install smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in rented properties in England. Read full article
Welsh Government – Direct Payment Report
Welsh Government task and finish group published its report today Direct payments of Housing Benefit in the social Rented Sector and Sustainable Tenancies that looked into how the sector can better support people and to mitigate the impacts of welfare reform. Read full article
Attempts to curb unreasonable use of Section 21
Attempts to curb unreasonable use of section 21 Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather made a valiant attempt to introduce a private members bill that sought to provide a defence for tenants who are victims of retaliatory evictions. Read full article…
Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre Wales
The Renewable Heat Incentive is a scheme that pays participants to heat their homes with renewables. Did you know that on average 75% of household energy bills are as a result of heating & hot water. Read full article
Welsh Housing Quality Standards – Focus On Delivery Charter
The charter is aimed at social landlords seeking to involve their tenants in monitoring not just the bricks and mortar of WHGS planning and delivery but also services.
A helpful tool has been developed with the support of Caerphilly Tenants Information Exchange, Caerphilly CBC and APA Ltd together with the Welsh Tenants and funded by the Tenant Empowerment Grant scheme: click here to download charter
