Latest news with #socialhousing
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Regulator finds 'failings' in Suffolk councils' housing services
Failings have been identified during inspections of two separate councils' housing services. The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH), a government watchdog, inspected East Suffolk Council and Ipswich Borough Council in their role as landlords and said both had "serious failings".Issues were raised around the standard of homes and interactions with tenants, although RSH said both authorities were engaging with it to make improvements. In response, both councils said they recognised the issues and had steps in place to address them. According to the RSH report, East Suffolk Council owns and manages about 4,300 social and affordable-rent the regulator found hazards including damp and mould were not fully tracked "due to the absence of policies and processes". The council had also identified that about half of its homes did not meet the decent home standard - government criteria to ensure social housing meets an acceptable level of RSH said East Suffolk Council was bringing in new procedures for managing housing Beavan, an Independent councillor who is cabinet member for housing, said the authority was "incredibly disappointed" but was "entirely committed to addressing" the issues raised."Over the last few months, we have been able to appoint additional capacity to key roles, with further recruitment planned over the coming weeks," he added. "We are committed to improving the services and quality of homes we deliver to tenants." In its inspection of Ipswich Borough Council, the RSH identified "serious failings" in the council's understanding of the "diverse needs" of also said the council was "unable to evidence" which of its homes were free of serious hazards."We observed some respectful approaches to tenants during our inspection, but also some use of language which raised concerns that Ipswich BC was not fostering a strong culture of courtesy and respect throughout its organisation," the report RSH noted the council provided "effective, efficient and timely" repairs and dealt with anti-social behaviour and hate incidents "effectively".Alasdair Ross, a Labour councillor who is the portfolio holder for housing, said Ipswich Borough Council was "committed to providing safe, decent homes".He added: "Although the regulator has acknowledged areas of good practice and high satisfaction among tenants, we recognise there is more to do."We have already taken action in several key areas and will continue to make progress with pace and transparency." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
ABC News
3 days ago
- Science
- ABC News
Largest modular social housing build in NSW opens in South Grafton
Residents have moved into the largest modular social housing development in New South Wales, which academics say could be the future of affordable housing in Australia. Twenty-four modular homes were built on the central coast and taken to South Grafton for assembly and installation, as part of the $9 million project. NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson said the process took less than six months, which was less than half the time it took for a traditional build. "We're building homes the traditional way as well, but this particular way of delivering housing is appealing because it's so quick," Ms Jackson said. "We need homes as quickly as we can. We have thousands and thousands of people who are desperately looking for that roof over their heads." Using modular construction, also called pre-fabricated construction, a house is built in individual modules off-site from where it will ultimately be located. The South Grafton site comprises of 12 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom units. Ehsan Noroozinejad, who is a senior researcher at the Urban Transformation Research Centre at Western Sydney University, said governments should use modular housing more widely to address the housing crisis. "Compared to the current traditional housing, I think this is much cheaper, this is much faster," Dr Noroozinejad said. Dr Noroozinejad said many people were unaware of how high quality modular housing could be. "The basic idea is that the whole structure will be manufactured in a high-quality factory setting using robotic technology," he said. "Then they'll be transported to the construction site and assembled together like Lego." Ms Jackson said modular housing would play an increasingly large role in social housing, particularly in regional areas. "We have 90 in the pipeline for the next year, but my view is that it's only going to get larger," Ms Jackson said. "In coming years, thousands of homes will be delivered using these methods." Lee Haworth, who spent six years on a social housing waiting list, said she could not speak highly enough of the initiative that had given her a home. "I couldn't believe it when I got the keys," she said. "I had to pinch myself because I've been waiting for so long. "If I want to paint, I can paint. If I want to sing, I can sing. Despite technological evolutions such as 3D printing and robotics, Australia has a comparatively small modular construction market compared to other countries. "It's about 5 per cent overall," Dr Noroozinejad said. "For example, in Sweden, it's over 84 per cent being built with modular." He said part of that low take-up was due to community stigma, with people believing the houses were low-quality temporary structures like post-WW2 "dongas" or Nissen huts. "But everything has changed regarding the technology and the optimisation we are using to produce these modules," Dr Noroozinejad said. "Modular and prefab are much better in terms of flexibility for the architect and they're much more energy efficient." State and federal governments are trialling modular housing, with the latest federal government budget investing $54 million to support the industry. NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania have invested in pre-fabrication for social housing. So far, NSW has rolled out modular social housing in South Grafton and Wollongong, with builds in Lake Macquarie and Shellharbour expected to be delivered by the end of the year.
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Family who turned down six emergency accommodation offers lose court bid against Clare Co Council
A family who turned down six offers of houses by Clare Co Council have failed in their High Court bid to force the council to provide them with emergency accommodation. Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger ruled that Clare Co Council had lawfully discharged its statutory duties in relation to the provision of emergency accommodation to the family, including seven children. Advertisement The judge further stated that the family are not entitled to require the Council to offer them emergency accommodation from housing stock earmarked for social housing. Martina Sherlock Mongans and her seven children, who are members of the Travelling Community had brought proceedings against Clare Co Council, the Minister for Housing, Ireland and Attorney General asserting that they should be allocated emergency accommodation in a three bedroom house which is part of the Council's social housing stock. The family now live in a single room in a relative's house. 'Undoubtedly the situation in which they are currently living in one room in a relation's house is appalling. However, where I have found that the Council acted reasonably and lawfully in the six separate offers of emergency accommodation made to them, I cannot find their circumstances to be so exceptional as to merit a departure from the normal rules or an interference by this court in the exercise of the Council's discretion,' the judge said. Advertisement The family were evicted from their rented Council house in Lahinch, Co Clare in July 2024 and were deemed homeless by Clare Co Council with hotel accommodation arranged for a number of weeks from July 31st, 2024. The judge, setting out the background to the case said that since August 2024, six different own door accommodations have been offered as emergency accommodation and had been refused for various reasons including concerns about safety, suitability and distance from the children's schools. Ms Justice Bolger said it is surprising that this 'entirely unsatisfactory arrangement prevails in preference to the six houses offered to the family,' but she said perhaps this is indicative of how strongly the family feel about the conditions and location of each of the houses offered. The judge said the family had not established any cause of action or grounds for leave against the State parties. Advertisement Ms Justice Bolger said the family wanted accommodation in either Ennistymon or Lahinch, largely because of one of their children's educational needs. The judge said she was satisfied that Clare Co Council assessed the particular needs of the family in a manner that was reasonable, rational and lawful in offering them six of the accommodations. Ireland George Nkencho inquest to hear from up to 60 witne... Read More The judge said that in effect the family had asserted a right to emergency accommodation in a house that the Council has earmarked for social housing on the basis of exceptional circumstances in which they are currently living. The family's refusal of six separate offers of reasonable own door accommodation, even though they considered them to be unsuitable for their family's needs had the consequence that the family are no longer homeless within the meaning of the Housing Act, the judge noted. Advertisement The family the judge said are not entitled to require the Council to offer them emergency accommodation from housing stock earmarked for social housing "The family are living and extremely difficult circumstances and no one could be anything but sympathetic and concerned at that. However they do not have rights over and above what is provided for in legislation or any enhanced rights to determine subjectively what is or is not a reasonable accommodation for them,' the judge said.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Ettingshall flats to get new doors and windows in makeover
Plans have been approved for the makeover of three blocks of flats in Wolverhampton to improve their energy efficiency and Homes said the scheme, on Boydon Close, Ettingshall, would add external and cavity-wall insulation, plus new doors and homes will benefit from the improvements, partly funded by the government's Social Housing Decarbonisation of Wolverhampton planners said the scheme would "enhance the character and appearance of the buildings and area". Planning documents submitted for the scheme said that the buildings, off Ettingshall Road, dated back to the 1950s or the windows had been double-glazed with uPVC units at some point, it was unknown when and the windows were in need of replacement, they added. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Times of Oman
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Survey conducted on social housing programme services in Oman
Muscat: The National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, conducted a public opinion survey on social housing programme services in the Sultanate of Oman. The survey was conducted from 20-24 July 2025. This survey is part of the NCSI's efforts to support government entities with accurate and reliable data essential for decision-making. By conducting such surveys, policymakers can better understand the reality of services and citizens' aspirations, leading to improved, evidence-based government decisions. Mahfoudh Salim Al Musharfi, Director of the Public Opinion Measurement Department at the NCSI, affirmed that the survey aimed to evaluate the current status of social housing programs and measure citizens' satisfaction with construction quality, designs, and contractors. It also sought to assess the efficiency of public facilities and services within social housing projects. Furthermore, the survey aimed to identify challenges faced by citizens during the application and post-benefit stages, anticipate their future aspirations regarding location and area, link housing with essential services, and assess the suitability of eligibility and distribution criteria to their needs. He clarified that the survey targeted three categories of citizens across various governorates of Oman: those benefiting from the housing assistance program, those eligible for this program, and those benefiting from the housing units program. He noted that specific questionnaires were used for each targeted category.
