housing news

Housing

Image of a tenancy agreement with a pen and a set of keys on top

Renters to get greater protection in Manchester

Manchester has become the first city to introduce a Good Landlord Charter designed to protect renters from rogue landlords

housing

Plans to clampdown on rogue social landlords

The government has unveiled plans to force social landlords to deal with dangerous hazards quickly, following the death of two-year-old Awaab from Rochdale who lost his life as a result of a respiratory condition caused by extensive mould in his home.

A hand tilting a wooden block with a red down arrow and a green up arrow next to a block with a percentage sign to represent the interest rate announcement

housing

Interest rates held at 15-year high

It’s been announced that interest rates are to remain at 5.25%. Find out what to do if your housing costs are spiralling out of control due to 15-year high rates.

Illustrated image of three houses sitting on top of piles of coins

bills

Mortgage lending to fall further in 2024

Homeowners face another year of lending woes. Find out what support is available if you can't afford your repayments

An excited couple move into their first home

housing

Children of homeowners twice as likely to get a foot on the housing ladder

People aged 25-39 whose parents are homeowners are twice as likely as their peers with parents who rent to have a foot on the housing ladder, new research has revealed.

A homeowner working out what his mortgage costs will be

housing

Average monthly mortgage payments for 5 million households set to soar by £240

The Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee has said that around half a million households will struggle to make their mortgage payments.

A person wearing a big jumper and fingerless mittens warms themselves over an electric heater

bills

‘Shameful decision to scrap energy efficiency plans makes situation for renters increasingly bleak’

The London Mayor has criticised the decision to scrap plans to force landlords to improve the energy efficiency of rental properties, saying it will increase bills for tenants living in sub-standard housing in the capital by over £300 a year on average.

Image of a block of apartments with a 'to let' sign outside

housing

Renters looking for smaller homes

Families are being forced to rent smaller homes because of rising living costs

A worried elderly renter goes through her bills

housing

Social housing shortage affecting older renters ‘in devastating ways’

New research has revealed two in five private renters over the age of 55 are regularly struggling to afford basics such as food and heating.

A homeless man sits on the street outside a shop with a Merry Christmas sign in the window

housing

Homeless households to be told there is ‘no room at the inn’ this Christmas

The Salvation Army is calling for a change in homelessness laws so that no one is forced to sleep on the streets, after carrying out research that estimates 5,500 households will be turned away by their local council in the run up to Christmas.