Defending secure tenancies and opposing means testing

Attacks on the unique 'secure' tenancies that council tenants won in 1979 after a determined campaign are never far away. Those who are opposed in principle to high quality public services available to all and who want everyone forced into the hands of the private market are determined to weaken the position of council tenants, stigmatising council housing as 'housing of last resort', and trying to take away our 'secure' tenancies or impose means testing or time limits.

Latest attack on council housing principles

The new government has launched a savage attack on tenants' rights, threatening in the Localism Bill to time-limit secure tenancies to just two years. This makes a lie of their pre-election promises to respect tenants’ rights. It follows savage cuts to Housing Benefit announced in the June budget, and threats to slash spending on public services.
For more information see the DCH Sep 2010 briefing on security of tenure and briefing on HB cuts.

We can stop these attacks. Use the DCH open statement to collect signatures against the cuts and attacks, and go to the Housing Emergency page >> for more up-to-date information.
For the history of these attacks on tenants’ rights, see below.

A short history of attacks we have seen off

In July 2006 the Smith Institute published a pamphlet Rethinking Social Housing which argued all social housing encouraged dependancy and so tenants should be forced into the private market by introducing means testing and time limits on secure tenancies.

On 13 Feb 2007 Secretary of State Ruth Kelly followed up with a Fabian 'The Future of Housing Policy' Lecture talking about 'helping' tenants into home ownership by giving us "10% stakes". (Defend Council Housing slams Ruth Kelly's speech). The speech was deliberately timed a week before Professor John Hills was due to publish the results of his 'Review of Social Housing'.
On 20 February 2007 Professor John Hills published his report on the ‘Role of Social Housing’. To his credit he refused to recommend an end to 'secure' tenancies. See DCH's response to the Hills report.

In November 2007 Ministers were forced to retract a proposed means-testing clause in the Housing and Regeneration Bill.

In February 2008, Housing Minister Caroline Flint gave a Fabian Lecture calling for tenants to sign up to 'commitment contracts' ( Council tenants condemn Flint's statement).

The next attack on 'secure' tenancies came from the Chartered Institute of Housing. Their Rethinking housing report (Oct 2008) argued that when tenants' circumstances improve they should either move into the private sector (private renting or home ownership) or pay market rents. See key extract. The CIH was so shocked that tenants and others objected that they issued an immediate 'open letter'. See DCH initial response, follow up and Beckett dismisses tenancy for life speculation.

A report by the New Local Government Network recommended market rents, the end of secure tenancies, forcing elderly tenants to leave their family homes once their children grow up, and intrusive ‘advice sessions’ for tenants designed to bully them into the private sector. (Tenant Empowerment: What the new regulatory regime must deliver, Oct 2008).

In response to all this, Government said it was planning a new Housing Reform Green Paper for December 2008 - but later denied there were any such plans.

In December 2008 Iain Duncan Smith’s Centre for Social Justice argued for end of any obligation to provide council housing, to encourage private landlordism. This was followed by a report 'Principles for Social Housing Reform', from Localis, coauthored by Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, recommending councils should “exploit [the] huge reserve of capital value” in their houses and the land by selling it off and charging “market terms”.

The Tenant Services Authority published draft standards trying to water down security of tenure in June 2009; after protests it backed off these threats – saying that landlords “must offer and issue the most secure form of tenure” and deleting the offending line (Nov 2009).

Read the evidence

Most of these attacks are based on false claims about council housing which don't stand up to scrutiny. For more detailed arguments and evidence, download DCH paper.

Press Articles

Royal Borough of Kensington to reintroduce lifetime tenancies

24Housing

03/03/20

9 in 10 social housing tenants say they are portrayed negatively by media

24dash.co.uk

28/02/18

Council proposes £1,000 fines for homeless sleeping in tents

Guardian

24/11/17

U-turn on housing benefit cap for mentally ill and elderly

Observer

23/10/17

Universal Credit returning my city to days of 'Cathy come home'

Guardian

19/10/17

Claimants speak out

Socialist Worker

18/10/17

Town halls offer one-wqy tickets to homeless

Morning Star

18/10/17

Suicidal despair: Chaos at heart of Universal Credit system

Independent

13/10/17

I work for DWP as Universal Credit case manager and what I've seen is shocking

Independent

13/10/17

Posh locals contempt for survivors of Grenfell fire

Morning Star

23/06/17

Smoking ban for social tenants would reinforce class divides

Inside Housing

08/05/17

Withdraw compulsory affordability assessment

Keep our council homes

21/03/17

Birmingham changes expexted to remove 4,000 from waiting list

Inside Housing

14/02/17

Birmingham wantsd more 'realistic' waiting list

24dash.com

06/02/17

Government reveals councils on fixed term tenancies working group

Inside Housing

12/01/17

Government working with councils on fixed term tenancies

Inside Housing

06/12/16

End of life-time tenancies will damage family life

Observer

10/04/16

Fear and fury of tenants who say 'pay to stay' punishes them

Observer

14/02/16

Pay to Stay: Council tenants' rents cover cost of homes

Observer

14/02/16

Tory Housing Bill threat to moderate earners

Morning Star

11/02/16

A STEEL-TOOTHED POVERTY TRAP - 3 tenants on misery of 'pay to stay'

Guardian

06/01/16

Are you a council tenant? Then you must be punished.

Observer

13/12/15

End of life tenancies a costly mistake

Guardian

11/12/15

Council tenants lose 'lifetime' right to live in property

Guardian

10/12/15

The dream of social housing is being chiselled away

Guardian

10/12/15

Council hits out at Pay to Stay scheme

24dash.com

24/11/15

'Pay to stay' response

ARCH newsletter

30/10/15

Review of 'lifetime' tenancies

ARCH newsletter

30/10/15

Government plans to scrap 'lifetime' tenancies

Inside Housing

29/10/15

Tory policy encourages people to work less hard or lose home

Guardian

27/10/15

Social housing is not a marker of personal failure

Guardian

10/07/15

Will rent rises for higher earners discourage work?

Guardian

08/07/15

'Pay to stay' measure slammed by landlords

Inside Housing

08/07/15

The Tories' message on social housing

Guardian

06/07/15

London council U-turn on fining £1,000 for being homeless

Vice Media

18/06/15

Council spending £140,000 on spiked fence around Aylesbury Estate

24dash.com

01/04/15

Southwark U-turn over ban on social tenants

Morning Star

09/02/15

Clinton told to donate to foodbanks

Morning Star

09/12/14

Shop withdraws deeply offensive council estate Xmas card

24dash.com

08/12/14

Bedroom Tax sees Liverpool homes stand empty

Liverpool Echo

08/11/14

At yacht parties in Cannes, Councils have been selling our homes from under us

Guardian

14/10/14

IDS scoffs at bedroom tax disabled figures

24dash.com

14/08/14

Shelter: 4000 households risk losing homes each week

Guardian

22/05/14

Speak against stream of hate - #councilhomeschat

Inside Housing

30/04/14

Food bank donations soar 1,000% after Mail on Sunday attack

24dash.com

22/04/14

Lies, damned lies and statistics

24dash.com

18/03/14

Should 'bad' tenants pay more rent?

Guardian

10/03/14

Mobilising prejudice against council housing

Wordpress

25/09/13

Drinkers lose housing benefit help

Telegraph

25/08/13

'High earning' tenants to be forced to declare income

Inside Housing

29/07/13

Tenants to lobby Haringey over time-limited tenancies

24dash.com

13/07/13

To Lord Freud, food bank is an excuse for a free lunch

Guardian

04/07/13

Heart attack victim left in tears by bedroom tax chase

Morning Star

02/07/13

Social landlord requires 'aspiration agreement'

24dash.com

25/04/13

Osborne defends bedroom tax

Inside Housing

02/04/13

Council - No tenant to be evicted over bedroom tax

24dash.com

18/03/13

Westminster adopts 5 year fixed tenancies and market rents

24dash.com

15/01/13

Minister urges councils to set fixed term tenancies

Inside Housing

12/01/13

Labour councils bin fixed term tenancies

Inside Housing

11/01/13

Council to remove 5,000 from waiting list

24dash.com

05/12/12

Councillors reject fixed term tenancies

Inside Housing

05/11/12

Stop the stereotyping

Inside Housing

15/10/12

Under 25s face further cuts to housing benefit

Inside Housing

08/10/12

Prisk praises Tory council for ripping up rulebook

24dash.com

02/10/12

Defending secure tenancies against the new Victorians

Wordpress

29/09/12

Secure tenancies for all tenants

Wordpress

24/09/12

Leeds City Council unites in benefits fight

Yorkshire Evening Post

07/09/12

Policy exchange social housing plans - cartoon

Guardian

21/08/12

Social housing and the curious case of public opinion

24dash.com

21/08/12

Tories plan ghettoes for council tenants

Morning Star

21/08/12

London council to trial two year tenancies

Inside Housing

01/08/12

Regulatory gap could hamper challenge to fixed term tenancies

24dash.com

31/07/12

Fixed term tenancies could be costly,warns Shelter

Inside Housing

31/07/12

We need more council housing, not means tested housing

Wordpress

30/07/12

Council to issue two year tenancies for under-25s

Inside Housing

12/07/12

Behind the spin on affordable homes programme

Wordpress

10/07/12

Cameron repeats housing benefit myth

New Statesman

25/06/12

Welfare cuts would increase homelessness

Inside Housing

25/06/12

'Pay to stay'

Wordpress

20/06/12

Council consults on secure tenancies

Inside Housing

19/06/12

Worrying impact of housing benefit cap

Guardian

18/06/12

Shapps and co want 'pay to stay' scheme for tenants

Morning Star

13/06/12

High earning tenants to pay 80% market rent

Inside Housing

13/06/12

Lord Freud:

24dash.com

11/06/12

Government to propose £60,000 'pay to stay' limit

Inside Housing

21/05/12

Why we should oppose fixed term tenancies

Wordpress

13/05/12

Westminster council criticised over affordable housing

Fitzrovia

13/05/12

Westminster council considers moving tenants to Derby

Guardian

24/04/12

America's public housing a mess - UK copying its model

Guardian

19/04/12

Livingstone manifesto for London

Inside Housing

11/04/12

Charity outraged by proposals to cut housing benefit from young people

10/04/12

Social Landlord fears £1.3million loss as homes declared 'under-occupied'

24dash.com

20/03/12

DWP to consult on social homes 'under-occupation'

Inside Housing

16/03/12

Labour MP calls on Government to cap rents

24dash.com

15/03/12

Benefits cap forcing pupils to quit London,says head

Observer

12/03/12

Welfare reforms become law

Inside Housing

08/03/12

London's homeless could be forced to move to Hull

Observer

19/02/12

Peers in new bid to exempt vulnerable from bedroom tax

24dash.com

14/02/12

Landlords to subdivide homes for displaced social housing tenants

24dash.com

08/02/12

NHF attacks unfair welfare reforms

Inside Housing

02/02/12

Bedroom tax could cripple me,says father

24dash.com

02/02/12

Wandsworth council abandons move to evict 'riot family'

24dash.com

20/01/12

Housing Benefits cuts will put 800,000 homes out of reach, according to study

Guardian

01/01/12

Subletting council houses could become criminal offence

Guardian

01/01/12

RTB - future tenants 'set for higher rents'

24dash.com

23/12/11

Government tax 'cruel nonsense'

24dash.com

15/12/11

Bedroom tax defeated in Lords

Inside Housing

15/12/11

Halt 'grossly unfair' spare bedrooms tax

24dash.com

12/12/11

Spare bedroom tax

24dash.com

09/12/11

Victorian values?

Inside Housing

28/11/11

Death of social housing?

Guardian

22/11/11

Homeless: it's now a crisis in middle England

Guardian on line

14/11/11

Protestors to hit council over housing allocation

Inside Housing website

02/11/11

Benefit caps to force families out of London

24dash.com

29/10/11

Protest over attacks on tenancies Nov 15th

24dash.com

25/10/11

Council hits rioter with possession order

Inside Housing

06/10/11

Why reviving Right to Buy won't work

Guardian

04/10/11

Flint slams plans to kick out council tenants who get pay rise

Inside Housing

30/09/11

Campaign calls for Miliband to stop attacks

Inside Housing

30/09/11

Jobless go to back of housing queue

Evening Standard

28/09/11

Sheffield Park Hill class cleansing

Guardian

28/09/11

Council to prioritise homes for empoyed people

Inside Housing

23/09/11

Campaigners protest at riot eviction hearing

Inside Housing

07/09/11

Wandsworth riot eviction mother attacks fascist council

BBC News London

07/09/11

Anger at South London eviction threats

Socialist Worker

07/09/11

Should the council really

Southwark News

02/09/11

Council warns riot charge households

Inside Housing

24/08/11

Council house eviction: a kneejerk reaction

Public Finance

15/08/11

England riots: knee-jerk response

Observer

15/08/11

Pickles plans increased eviction powers

Inside Housing

11/08/11

What future for social housing?

BBC News

05/08/11

Shapps standing by 2 year tenancy option

24dash.com

04/08/11

Now drop 2 year tenancies altogether, Shapps told.

24dash.com

01/08/11

Grant Shapps scales back tenancy-limit plans

BBC News

29/07/11

Government backtracks on five year tenancies

Inside Housing

28/07/11

We will be creating ghettos of failure

Huffington Post

23/07/11

Housing crisis brings despair

Morning Star

16/07/11

Minister worried about housing benefit cap

Inside Housing

13/07/11

Labour would aim to keep 'affordable' rent

Inside Housing

07/07/11

No mention of Shapp's 5 year tenancy pledge in consultation

Inside Housing

07/07/11

Housing benefit changes will lead to cardboard city

BBC News

04/07/11

Homelessness in Wales on the rise

Inside Housing

24/06/11

Unions call for rent control

Inside Housing

24/06/11

Shapps: affordable rent is here to stay

Inside Housing

23/06/11

Greenhalgh says social housing should be a launch pad

Inside Housing

21/06/11

Public oppose cuts that drive up homelessness

Inside Housing

17/06/11

Private landlords to cut homes let to tenants on benefits

Inside Housing

14/06/11

Providers embrace affordable rent despite fears

Inside Housing

13/06/11

£26,000 benefit cap may be relaxed

Inside Housing

13/06/11

London council pact to protect childre

Inside Housing

10/06/11

Shapps: interest in affordable rent exceeding 'wildest expectations'

Inside Housing

09/06/11

Affordable homes to raise housing benefit bill

Inside Housing

09/06/11

Housing a major point of Localism Bill Lords debate

Inside Housing

08/06/11

Shapps defends fixed-term tenancies against Shelter report

Inside Housing

07/06/11

Fixed-term tenancies are failing abroad

Inside Housing

06/06/11

Councillor accused of distorting data

Inside Housing

06/06/11

Shapps announces plan to restrict social housing for high earners

Inside Housing

06/06/11

Miliband reveals thoughts on housing and localism

Inside Housing

03/06/11

Charity wins fight to take government to court over benefit reforms

Inside Housing

03/06/11

Islington: we'd rather build on school land than charge 80% rents

Inside Housing

20/05/11

Campaigners fight underoccupancy cut

Inside Housing

18/05/11

Lib Dems demand changes to workless benefit cap

Inside Housing

18/05/11

The 'localist' assault on social housing

Guardian

18/05/11

Amendment achieved as Localism Bill voted through

Inside Housing

18/05/11

Labour launches fight against fixed-term tenancies

Inside Housing

17/05/11

Benefit cap for unemployed survives Committee vote

Inside Housing

17/05/11

Campaigners push for Localism Bill changes

Inside Housing

16/05/11

Effect of housing reforms on cities debated

Inside Housing

12/05/11

Tenants fight underoccupancy benefit cut

Inside Housing

12/05/11

Councillor attacked for existing tenant 'raise rent' plan

Inside Housing

10/05/11

Concern grows over benefit cap

Inside Housing

10/05/11

Federation warns housing benefit cuts 'will backfire'

24Dash.Com

09/05/11

Housing associations cut development by half

Inside Housing

06/05/11

DWP housing benefit cut plans 'cost more'

Inside Housing

06/05/11

Housing 'crisis' to divide London, warns MP

24dash.om

05/05/11

MPs rebel against plans to scrap tenancy for life

Inside Housing

03/05/11

£1.8 billion affordable rent deadline looms

Inside Housing

03/05/11

BME tenants 'get a raw deal from benefits cuts'

Inside Housing

28/04/11

Council rebels over government affordable rent plans

Inside Housing

28/04/11

Lib Dems split over fixed-term tenancies

Inside Housing

28/04/11

Parties lack tenancy policies ahead of elections

Inside Housing

28/04/11

Nearly half of councils to reject new tenure

Inside Housing

28/04/11

Public backs limits to social housing areas

Inside Housing

27/04/11

Livingstone attacks Boris in affordable rent row

Inside Housing

21/04/11

Benefit change 'will make young homeless'

Inside Housing

20/04/11

Scottish Conservatives reject 80% rents

Inside Housing

15/04/11

London's housing crisis: into 'affordable' unknown

Guardian: Dave Hill's London Blog

13/04/11

Localism drive fails to win over communities

Inside Housing

11/04/11

Benefit cut for underoccupiers 'will not save money'

Inside Housing

05/04/11

Labour criticises affordable rent programme

Inside Housing

05/04/11

Councils to pay LHA direct to landlords

Inside Housing

01/04/11

Affordable rents difficult for larger London homes

Inside Housing

30/03/11

Affordable rent will cause most upheaval

Inside Housing

29/03/11

Lack of smaller homes for housing benefit changes

Inside Housing

28/03/11

Housing groups to march against public sector cuts

Inside Housing

25/03/11

Avoiding a slip up

Inside Housing

18/03/11

Flint in U turn over secure tenancies

Inside Housing

18/03/11

Government rethinks broad market rental areas

Inside Housing

18/03/11

Terms of reference set for benefit review

Inside Housing

15/03/11

Associations face losing charity status

Inside Housing

11/03/11

Landlords face increasing legal challenges, warns tenants champion

Inside Housing

11/03/11

Richer tenants to be targeted

Inside Housing

11/03/11

Minister denies affordable rents will hit benefits

Inside Housing

10/03/11

Tory policy will create fairer system for tenants, says Minister

Inside Housing

10/03/11

Removing secure tenancies 'undermines big society'

Inside Housing

10/03/11

IDS promises help to families hit by benefit cap

Inside Housing

09/03/11

Government accused of lifetime tenancy U-turn

Inside Housing

09/03/11

Affordable rents spark pre-election debate in Scotland

Inside Housing

08/03/11

Benefit cuts will make 30% of England unaffordable

Inside Housing

08/03/11

Housing benefit caps face legal challenge

Inside Housing

07/03/11

Rocketing rents to send benefit bill sky high

Inside Housing

25/02/11

Scottish benefit claimants to lose £80m

Inside Housing

21/02/11

Third of tenants face underoccupancy cut

Inside Housing

18/02/11

Private landlords to lower rents

Inside Housing

18/02/11

New rent rules restrict out of area investment

Inside Housing

18/02/11

Tenants need £23k salary

Inside Housing

18/02/11

Social landlords win direct payments battle

Inside Housing

17/02/11

Government revises benefit cuts for unemployed

Inside Housing

17/02/11

CIH warns affordable rent model is flawed

Inside Housing

16/02/11

Negative response to affordable rent plans

Inside Housing

15/02/11

Tough bidding rules set for £1.8b pot

Inside Housing

14/02/11

Ministers to set out affordable rent plans

Inside Housing

14/02/11

Details of tenancy overhaul unveiled

Inside Housing

11/02/11

Benefit to go direct to tenants

Inside Housing

05/02/11

Social landlords to foot £123m tenure reform bill

Inside Housing

04/02/11

Affordable rent 'not worth the risk' say associations

Inside Housing

04/02/11

Capital gets largest slice of benefit fund

Inside Housing

02/02/11

Families 'could lose all benefits' under universal credit

Inside Housing

28/01/11

Lobbyists win welfare review

Inside Housing

28/01/11

Service charge to be included in 80% rents

Inside Housing

28/01/11

Restrictions to affordable rent regime revealed

Inside Housing

28/01/11

MPs oppose benefit cuts for unemployed

Inside Housing

27/01/11

Ministers warned over tenancy plans

Inside Housing

26/01/11

London housing crisis: does government localism mean transit-camp ghettos?

Guardian

25/01/11

New affordable rent model could add £1.56n to benefit bill

Inside Housing

21/01/11

Rent changes stop Teign merger

Inside Housing

21/01/11

Localism Bill 'risks stigmatising tenants'

Inside Housing

18/01/11

Labour politicians attempt to block Localism Bill

Inside Housing

17/01/11

Evicting neighbours from hell from council homes to be made easier, Grant Shapps to say

Daily Telegraph

11/01/11

Brighton protest against housing benefit changes

Brighton Argus

16/12/10

Tenants take fight to No10

Morning Star

15/12/10

Disabled People Fight Back in Protest

UK Disability News

15/12/10

Grant Shapps: Next steps in delivering a better deal for council house tenants

CLG

13/12/10

Councils split over fixed-term tenancies

Inside Housing

10/12/10

Building opposition to housing cuts

The Guardian

03/12/10

Government advisors condemn benefit cuts

Inside Housing

01/12/10

Housing benefit cap to be postponed until January 2012

The Guardian

28/11/10

Tenure reforms are 'attack' on vulnerable

Inside Housing

23/11/10

Grant Shapps: A fairer future for social housing

CLG

22/11/10

Councils could block new rent

Inside Housing

21/11/10

Council house tenants set for eviction rule change

The Guardian

21/11/10

PM admits rent rise will hit benefit bill

Inside Housing

19/11/10

Council house tenants hit by £225 rise in great ConDem Rent Robbery

The Mirror

13/11/10

Rent gazumpers swoop in stampede by tenants

The Evening Standard

09/11/10

Housing Benefit Cuts would make London 'unaffordable'

Observer

31/10/10

Housing: Misery beckons on the home front

Guardian

30/10/10

Stormy Weather

Inside Housing

29/10/10

Housing benefit plans stir rebellion among Lib Dem backbenchers

Inside Housing

29/10/10

Miliband urges Lib Dems to block benefit plans

Inside Housing

28/10/10

Housing: Who are the real 'underoccupiers'?

Socialist Worker

23/10/10

Councils to move LHA claimants out of London

Inside Housing

22/10/10

Shapps defends radical social housing reforms

Inside Housing

21/10/10

Spending cuts to hit most vulnerable hardest

Inside Housing

21/10/10

Letter from Grant Shapps - Spending Review - Settlement for Housing

CLG

20/10/10

Secure tenancies face axe as funding is cut

Inside Housing

19/10/10

Social housing budget 'to be cut in half'

BBC

19/10/10

Secure tenancies face axe as funding is cut

Inside Housing

19/10/10

Higher rents and no council house for life

The Telegraph

18/10/10

Homes cuts: south-east 'faces disaster' over affordable housing

The Guardian

18/10/10

Spending cuts target child benefits, tax credits and social housing

Channel 4 News

17/10/10

Lucas: We need more council homes

Morning Star

11/10/10

Benefits to be cut through housing cuts

Inside Housing

05/10/10

Labour attacks tenure reform plans

Inside Housing

30/09/10

Labour Party backs lifetime tenancies

Inside Housing

30/09/10

Lib Dems to overhaul housing policy

Inside Housing

27/09/10

Seeing Red

Inside Housing

24/09/10

DWP concerned by tenure reform plans

Inside Housing

24/09/10

Voters to decide on lifetime tenancies

Inside Housing

24/09/10

Lib Dem ministers concerned by cuts

Inside Housing

24/09/10

Lifetime tenancy row threatens Coalition

Inside Housing

17/09/10

Job-linked benefit cuts would hit 200,000

Inside Housing

06/09/10

Scrapping security of tenure 'will not solve housing crisis'

Inside Housing

03/09/10

Inside Housing

27/08/10

Clegg: benefit cuts are hard to justify

Inside Housing

20/08/10

Housing organisation declares 'golden age' of home ownership over

The Observer

15/08/10

It's time for a cultural change in our approach to renting

Observer

15/08/10

Council pushes ahead with Tory housing attck

Socialist Worker

14/08/10

Tories Exposed for Mis-Selling Security

Inside Housing

13/08/10

Lib Dem Deputy to Create Benefit Reform Plan

Inside Housing

13/08/10

Tenants Have Rights to Secure Tenures

Inside Housing

13/08/10

Tories discussed council housing reforms before election, magazine reports

Guardian

12/08/10

Cuts to Housing Benefit: average losses by local authority

Guardian

12/08/10

Where will the Council re-house us?

Guardian

12/08/10

Council house row: why David Cameron is wrong

Telegraph

07/08/10

Cameron's U-turn on security of tenure

Inside Housing

06/08/10

London's Housing Crisis: the roots of David Cameron's council tenancy debate

Guardian

05/08/10

Coalition Faces Rift over Secure Tenancies

Inside Housing

05/08/10

No more council houses for life, says David Cameron

Telegraph

04/08/10

David Cameron announces plan to end lifetime council tenancies

The Guardian

03/08/10

Cameron threatens lifetime tenancies

Inside Housing

03/08/10

Council homes for life could go, says Cameron

BBC

03/08/10

Place your Betts

Inside Housing

23/07/10

Islington launches fraud inquiry into housing PFIs

Inside Housing

23/07/10

Boris fears housing benefit reforms

Inside Housing

23/07/10

Benefit reforms 'will make 200,000 homeless'

Inside Housing

23/07/10

Benefit Cuts: 750,000 Risk Losing Homes in South-East, Association Warns

The Guardian

23/07/10

Housing benefit cuts will leave poorest £600 worse off

The Guardian

23/07/10

Benefit plans concern Lib Dem deputy

Inside Housing

22/07/10

Simon Hughes: Ministers face rebellion on plan to slash housing benefit

London Evening Standard

21/07/10

Housing benefit cuts will harm capital, says Boris Johnson

London Evening Standard

19/07/10

Seeking a solution to sky high rent

Inside Housing

16/07/10

Benefit reforms threaten mixed communities

Inside Housing

15/07/10

Minister: benefit cap will cause 'casualties'

Inside Housing

12/07/10

Cut rent not benefits

Leeds Tenants Federation

09/07/10

Reset the pain threshold

Inside Housing

09/07/10

London's looming housing turmoil

Guardian

09/07/10

Housing benefit cuts will damage communities

Inside Housing

09/07/10

Inside Housing campaigns against benefit cut plans

Inside Housing

09/07/10

Streets apart

Inside Housing

02/07/10

British tenants

Telegraph

28/06/10

Housing benefit cuts slammed by sector

Inside Housing

25/06/10

Housing Benefit Curbs 'will push out the poor'

London Evening Standard

23/06/10

Tenant Services Authority to be axed

Sunday Mirror

20/06/10

Cameron: social tenants have nothing to fear

Inside Housing

30/04/10

Parties reveal vision for future of housing

Inside Housing

16/04/10

Healey and Shapps start war of words

Inside Housing

09/04/10

Constructive debate

Inside Housing

19/03/10

Birmingham slams unfair rent rises

Inside Housing

05/03/10

TSA issues benefit bill warning

Inside Housing

26/02/10

Work should not affect social rents

Inside Housing

22/01/10

Collision course

Inside Housing

15/01/10

Rent should not be linked to income

Inside Housing

15/01/10

CIH: charge high earners more rent

Inside Housing

08/01/10

Councils face new year rent headache

Inside Housing

08/01/10

Housing after the credit crunch [speech by John Healey]

CLG

09/12/09

Council tenants 'rewards' urged

BBC

02/12/09

Flight of freedom

Inside Housing

20/11/09

Red tape cut as Marsh opts for local liability

Inside Housing

13/11/09

Not everyone wants to own

Inside Housing

06/11/09

Subsidies exist in private sector too

Inside Housing

06/11/09

Blueprint for the future

Inside Housing

23/10/09

Landlords warn Tories mobility plan wont work

Inside Housing

09/10/09

Cameron to bring back secure tenancy opponent

Inside Housing

09/10/09

Housing benefit facing axe as Tories plot huge rent rises

Daily Mirror

07/09/09

Tory plot to put up rents exposed

Daily Mirror

07/09/09

Think tank calls for tenancy overhaul to tackle overcrowding

Inside Housing

07/09/09

Bill Rammell MP launches petition to get council to accept cut in rent increases

Harlow Herald

07/09/09

Tories plan to let benefit levels be set by local councils

The Observer

06/09/09

Inquest finds rent rise death was suicide

Inside Housing

20/08/09

Healey: what green paper?

Inside Housing

07/08/09

Baptism of fire (interview with John Healey)

Inside Housing

07/08/09

Plenty to go around

Inside Housing

17/07/09

Moving on up? I dont think so

Inside Housing

19/06/09

TSA committed to protecting tenure

Inside Housing

19/06/09

'Keep your hands off council housing'

Inside Housing

19/06/09

Controversy as regulator plans tenure overhaul

Inside Housing

12/06/09

Popular demand

Inside Housing

12/06/09

Right to buy gave sector a bad image

Inside Housing

05/06/09

Portillo calls for end of tenancy for life

Inside Housing

05/06/09

The crippling cost of right-to-buy

BBC

14/05/09

Transfer councils still hiking rents

Inside Housing

08/05/09

Inflation-busting rent rises spark homeless fears

Daily Mirror

05/05/09

Ms Blears thanks for the £3k Bill...

Daily Mirror

25/04/09

'Affordable' homes rent hike angers tenants

Observer

19/04/09

Rent rise reduction poses funding conundrum

Housing Excellence

27/03/09

Bid to prevent rent increase fails

Inside Housing

06/03/09

Beckett makes u-turn on council rents

Inside Housing

06/03/09

Beckett slashes council housing rent increases in half

24dash

06/03/09

TSA promises rent increase protection 'for all social housing tenants'

24dash

06/03/09

Is council housing the answer to our problems?

Independent

05/03/09

MP warns thousands at risk of home repossession 'without court order'

24dash

03/03/09

Shared ownership support is madness

Inside Housing

03/03/09

Anaylsis: Anti-social Housing

BBC Radio 4

26/02/09

Councils plead for U-turn on rent increases

Inside Housing

20/02/09

Ministers can and must fix this

Inside Housing

20/02/09

Mortgage repayments missed by one in 12

Times

03/02/09

1.2 million homeowners in negative equity

Nationwide

03/02/09

Social housing tenants face huge rent rises

Public Finance

30/01/09

Teenagers targeted

Inside Housing

30/01/09

Campaigners wary of Brown's building vow

Inside Housing

30/01/09

Authorities are not willing to fight

Inside Housing

30/01/09

Rush for home ownership 'disaster' for UK housing

Guardian

29/01/09

This is a ludicrous situation

Inside Housing

23/01/09

Shelter response to new FSA repossession figures and CLG council housing waiting list figures

Shelter

22/01/09

Stop inflation-busting rent rises

Inside Housing

16/01/09

Rebellion brews over proposed rent hikes

Inside Housing

16/01/09

View tenants rights in context

Inside Housing

09/01/09

Changes to housing benefit leaves poorest priced out of town

Guardian

30/12/08

Cash calls hit social landlords

Inside Housing

12/12/08

Rent challengers forced out

Inside Housing

12/12/08

A question of privilege

Inside Housing

12/12/08

Pledge to revolutionise housing benefit regime

Inside Housing

12/12/08

Security of tenure chewed up and spat out

Inside Housing

12/12/08

Council estates full of layabouts

Daily Mirror

03/12/08

IDS: Council estates full of layabouts

Daily Mirror

03/12/08

Call for end to 'benefits culture'

Guardian

02/12/08

Tenancy for life ban seen as 'dead parrot'

Inside Housing

26/11/08

Mortgage debt forces thousands to sell up

Times

21/11/08

An unwelcome blast from the past

Inside Housing

21/11/08

Social housing policy could result in more ghetto estates

Times

14/11/08

Thousands of new homes stand empty

Inside Housing

14/11/08

Council homes can be tenure of choice

Inside Housing

14/11/08

RSLs slam plans to end homes for life

Public Finance

14/11/08

Should social housing tenures be for life?

Times

14/11/08

Not for turning

Inside Housing

14/11/08

Beckett dismisses tenancy for life speculation

Inside Housing

12/11/08

Right-to-buy pricing people out of area

Sheffield Star

12/11/08

MP slams council homes 'fixed term'

Sheffield Star

12/11/08

This smacks of Ministers wanting to penalise the most vulnerable

Sheffield Star

11/11/08

Home concerns

Sheffield Star

11/11/08

Council homes

Times

11/11/08

'Council homes for life' reviewed

BBC

10/11/08

The Home Front

Times

10/11/08

Council homes for life to be scrapped

Times

10/11/08

Mean tests for council tenants

Guardian

10/11/08

Fed warns plan would create ghettos

Inside Housing

10/11/08

Movement of households in share-ownership housing in the UK

JRF

07/11/08

Shared equity does not lead to full ownership

Inside Housing

07/11/08

Its all in the mix

Inside Housing

07/11/08

People in shared-ownership housing more likely to be

JRF

07/11/08

Cap on council rent rise derails convergence plan

Public Finance

07/11/08

House prices fall by record 15%

Guardian

06/11/08

Plan to align rents delayed

Inside Housing

31/10/08

Minister seeks to fast-track mortgage rescue

Inside Housing

31/10/08

Social housing in numbers

Guardian

29/10/08

Repossessions soar by 71 per cent

Inside Housing

28/10/08

Institute defends tenancy for life proposals

Inside Housing

28/10/08

Court protocol strengthens repossession rights

Inside Housing

22/10/08

The right to a home for life: a debate that runs and runs

Inside Housing

17/10/08

Berlin is cool and property is remarkably affordable

Sunday Times

17/10/08

Would tenancy plans leave no room for improvement?

Inside Housing

17/10/08

Residents slam tenancy for life proposal

Inside Housing

13/10/08

Housing profession calls for end to tenancy for life

Inside Housing

08/10/08

Believe it or not, house prices are going to soar

Observer

05/10/08

Landlord bars tenant for seeking work

Inside Housing

19/09/08

Association chair questions social housing need

Inside Housing

17/09/08

A fifth of home loans head for negative equity

Observer

07/09/08

Crisis? What crisis?

Guardian

05/09/08

Property crash opens door to the new council house

Times

29/08/08

House price plunge fuels recession fear

Guardian

29/08/08

Worst time to purchase first home since 1970s

Observer

17/08/08

Surge in repossession orders clogging up the courts

Times

16/08/08

Health check shows shared ownership slide is worsening

Inside Housing

15/08/08

Policy group rejects work-to-rent plans

Inside Housing

15/08/08

Marsh: we will ask the tough questions

Inside Housing

08/08/08

News analysis Its crunch time for social housing funding

Public Finance

01/08/08

Is home ownership still an aspiration?

Times

27/07/08

A week that taught me home truths about the housing crisis

Observer

27/07/08

Paid to find tenants jobs

Inside Housing

25/07/08

Rents to soar as sales market falters

Inside Housing

22/07/08

Credit crunch: Emergency scheme to help cash-strapped homeowners

Observer

13/07/08

Home ownership out of reach for average earners

Times

10/07/08

Danger of the doldrums

Guardian

09/07/08

Flint admits to an unsustainable boom

Guardian

05/07/08

Housing shortages are affecting Britain's workplaces

TUC

01/07/08

'Increase number of rented homes' - MPs

LGA Firstonline

18/06/08

Six years wait for a home if your gets repossessed

LGA

17/06/08

Mayer: landlords threatened by market tsunami

Inside Housing

13/06/08

The F word

Inside Housing

13/06/08

'Strong demand' for homes to rent

BBC

09/06/08

Repairs could cost owners' homes

BBC

07/06/08

Bags of misery for tenants

Guardian

07/06/08

Social sectors greatest downfall still its image problem, poll shows

Inside Housing

06/06/08

Ratings agency downgrades outlook for Home Group

Inside Housing

06/06/08

Perceived ideas

Inside Housing

06/06/08

The time is now for council housing argues Glyn Robbins

Compass

04/06/08

Scottish housing grant sparks rent rise fears

Inside Housing

03/06/08

Average price of British home has fallen by £8,000 in past 12 months

Guardian

30/05/08

After the boom, the bust

Guardian

30/05/08

Safety net for repossession victims

Inside Housing

30/05/08

Associations use draconian eviction rules

Inside Housing

30/05/08

Choice between last resort or sustaining role

Inside Housing

22/05/08

MPs call for 50,000-a-year boost to social housing stock to cut waiting lists

24dash

21/05/08

5 million people waiting for social housing by 2010

LGA

16/05/08

PM declares open season

Inside Housing

15/05/08

400,000 skint families to join scramble for council homes

Daily Mirror

09/05/08

Repossessions set for dramatic rise

Observer

04/05/08

Prescott blames banks for housing boom

Guardian

03/05/08

House prices now sliding by £500 a week

Guardian

03/05/08

Construction slump wrecks plan to boost supply of new homes

Independent

02/05/08

New-build homes market collapses

Guardian

02/05/08

Orders for new homes slump by 27 per cent

Independent

01/05/08

Home rent costs 'soaring' as credit crunch fuels extra demand

24dash

01/05/08

Councils dragging their feet over Social Homebuy

Public Finance

25/04/08

First-time buyers thwarted by 200% price rise

Guardian

17/04/08

10% of homeowners 'could be plunged into negative equity'

24Dash

17/04/08

Labour MPs' fury over homes crisis

Observer

06/04/08

Labour heartland faces housing crash

Sunday Times

06/04/08

A third of housing deals fall through

Financial Times

05/04/08

Look at housing markets, IMF says

Financial Times

04/04/08

Wave of Labour rebellion over minister's proposals

Inside Housing

14/03/08

Home truths

Inside Housing

22/02/08

Owner-occupancy slides to the lowest level in almost a decade

Guardian

14/02/08

Tenants groups enraged by Flints draconian speech

Inside Housing

08/02/08

Home repossessions rise to 27,000

BBC

08/02/08

That sound? Labour's hard nuts are alive and whistling

Guardian

08/02/08

Flints idea so stupid its frightening

Inside Housing

08/02/08

Rent Service risks pricing people out of their homes

Inside Housing

07/02/08

Housing homeless is a duty, say Flint opponents

Guardian

06/02/08

Charities attack proposals to make council house tenants look for work

Times

06/02/08

To link council tenancy with jobseeking feeds the stigma

Guardian

06/02/08

Home truths

Guardian

06/02/08

Workhouse social policy

New Statesman

06/02/08

Joined-up thinking on housing and jobs (letters)

Guardian

06/02/08

PM gives Housing Minister Caroline Flint cold shoulder over 'boot out' jobless idea

Daily Mirror

06/02/08

Property Badder

Daily Mirror

06/02/08

Homes alone

Daily Mirror

06/02/08

Avoid return to workhouse

Daily Mirror

06/02/08

Anger at 'find work' ultimatum for tenants

Independent

05/02/08

No 10 plays down Flint's social housing plan

Guardian Unlimited

05/02/08

'Work or lose home' says minister

BBC

05/02/08

The cart before the house

Guardian

05/02/08

Labour: if you want a council house, find a job

Guardian

05/02/08

Council tenants 'outraged' at housing minister's employment contract plans

24dash

05/02/08

Call for security of tenure to be case-by-case

Inside Housing

01/02/08

Warning over one million homes at risk

Guardian

30/01/08

The grim repo: 1.28m sub-prime US homes threatened by bailiffs

Guardian

30/01/08

National Office of Statistics

28/01/08

House costs up as food bills drop

BBC

28/01/08

Supply, Mobility and Opportunity

Inside Housing

14/12/07

Cooper outlines her vision

Inside Housing

14/12/07

'People, not just houses'

CLG

12/12/07

Sub-prime lending undermining home ownership

Citizens Advice

12/12/07

Tougher tactics to tackle estate-based worklessness

Inside Housing

07/12/07

House prices too high for young professionals

24 Dash

20/11/07

Tenants face new rents tax

Inside Housing

16/11/07

Councils ignore advice and up rent on revalued homes

Inside Housing

01/11/07

First-time buyers pay over the odds

Guardian

20/10/07

Out on a limb: why one man regrets getting involved

Guardian

20/10/07

Councils demand rent decision

Public Finance

19/10/07

Britain may be at risk from US-style housing crash, warns IMF

Guardian

18/10/07

1m use plastic to pay mortgage

Metro

16/10/07

The price of house mania

Guardian

12/10/07

Quarter of households 'unable to afford their own homes'

24 Dash

05/10/07

Freeing up more social homes is more important than building new ones....

Inside Housing

04/10/07

Renting: the problem or the solution?

Guardian

03/10/07

Why Ninja mortgages could wreak havoc

Observer

30/09/07

Repossessions could soar in UK

Guardian

21/09/07

Lib Dems will pledge even more homes than Labour

Inside Housing

20/09/07

Quantity placed above affordability

Inside Housing

20/09/07

Developing associations to turn focus on private sales

Inside Housing

20/09/07

Mayor's family-friendly build spend

Inside Housing

20/09/07

Labour grassroots ready to fight for security of tenure

Inside Housing

14/09/07

Labour grassroots ready to fight for security of tenure

Inside Housing

13/09/07

House prices and the great affordability gap

Times

05/09/07

Capital markets hit by US sub-prime mortgage crisis

Inside Housing

30/08/07

Tenants 'tell tales' to rent a home

24 Dash

13/08/07

Is the government planning a new programme of council house building? The devil it is

Socialist Worker

31/07/07

Housing market at high risk from shock

Financial Times

30/07/07

To achieve affordable housing, we'll fight selfish nimbyism

Observer

22/07/07

Dont forget buyers in rush for rental

Public Finance

20/07/07

Index of housing affordability comparing house prices with average earnings

Guardian

19/07/07

Rural England needs more houses, too

Guardian

18/07/07

Homes is where the heart is

Guardian

18/07/07

Constructive criticism

Guardian

18/07/07

Minister backs Council Housing

BBC

15/07/07

It's housing, housing, housing as Brown builds a new vision

Observer

15/07/07

Let's start thinking outside the box

Observer

15/07/07

Charity backs PM's housing pledge

BBC

15/07/07

Housing need must be met - Brown

BBC

14/07/07

Brown's council house pledge

Channel4

14/07/07

Tenants prepare to fight 'crippling' service charges

Inside Housing

13/07/07

Building tops priorities list

Inside Housing

13/07/07

Brown promises 3m new homes

Guardian

12/07/07

Weak headlines, strong subtext

Compass web

12/07/07

It's not a return to the 1990s - but things could get worse

Independent

11/07/07

More 25-year fixed-rate mortgages?

BBC

11/07/07

The Big Question: How should we deal with the crisis over affordable housing?

Independent

11/07/07

Brown pledges 3m new homes

Guardian Unlimited

11/07/07

Housing dominates Brown's agenda

BBC

11/07/07

Housing set to top Brown plans

BBC

11/07/07

Huge increase in those forced to default on mortgages payments

Independent

11/07/07

Why housing has become a political priority

BBC

11/07/07

Young home-buyers forced into record debt

Times

11/07/07

Fixed rates more popular, affordability worse, says CML

CML

10/07/07

Hamish McRae: Be prepared to wait a decade for housing to become affordable again

Independent

05/07/07

FSA finds poor practice by intermediaries and lenders within sub-prime market

FSA

04/07/07

How to keep the roof over your head

Financial Times

16/06/07

Angry tenants support campaign to halt investors

Inside Housing

15/06/07

Leave our surpluses alone, warn RSLs

Public Finance

15/06/07

Post-2010 backlog to cost £1.2bn

Inside Housing

15/06/07

Campbell pledges social housing revolution

Guardian Unlimited

14/06/07

Mortgage Misery

Daily Mirror

13/06/07

The crisis in Britain's housing

Socialist Worker

12/06/07

Boost to affordable housing

Sunday Telegraph

11/06/07

Let's be fair on the home front

Daily Mirror

09/06/07

Britain faces 20-year house boom that will split nation, says report

Guardian

07/06/07

First-time buyers priced out by the failure to build new homes

Times

07/06/07

Reform of planning rules vital to meet growth in demand

Times

07/06/07

Millions could be paying off mortgages in old age

Financial Times

02/06/07

The problem with buy-to-let

Guardian

01/06/07

The problem with buy-to-let

Guardian

01/06/07

Plea to reform foundering Homebuy

Inside Housing

31/05/07

Treasury is playing at snakes and housing ladders

Times

31/05/07

Rents soar as rate rises squeeze buy-to-lets

Daily Telegraph

30/05/07

Buy-to-let investors rush to sell amid rate rises

Financial Times

30/05/07

Behind the green door

BBC Politics Show

17/05/07

Such a splendid idea, but such a tricky beast to unleash in practice

Independent

16/05/07

New build is worst buy-to-let investment, experts warn

Telegraph

09/05/07

Housing affordability at lowest since 1991 and set to get worse

Independent

09/05/07

Home improvements

Public Finance

04/05/07

Bricked in

Guardian

04/05/07

Right to rent campaign gains momentum

Inside Housing

03/05/07

Lenders pull fixed-rate mortgages. Is a housing market crash coming?

Guardian

20/04/07

RSLs want bigger rent rises

Public Finance

20/04/07

The US wobbles and UK housing falls down: is it all just a bad dream?

Independent

15/04/07

Town where teachers and nurses can only rent ...

Independent

14/04/07

Give staff home aid

Daily Mirror

14/04/07

House crisis for key workers worsens

Daily Mirror

14/04/07

Key workers priced out of housing market

Guardian

13/04/07

The Big Question: Is the housing market still booming - and could it be heading for a crash?

Independent

13/04/07

Nurses 'can't afford houses in 99 per cent of UK towns'

Independent

13/04/07

Property woe for public workers

BBC

12/04/07

Building a future

Guardian Comment

30/03/07

Give us a real choice

Guardian

29/03/07

Home delivery

Guardian

28/03/07

Youre breaking up families, Gordon

Sunday Times

18/03/07

Public opinion

Times

06/03/07

The great generational robbery

New Statesman

05/03/07

Council housing's true worth

Observer (letters)

04/03/07

Comment Grasping the housing nettle

Public Finance

02/03/07

Respectable rebel

Inside Housing

01/03/07

Hills summary of tenant discontent is challenged

Inside Housing

01/03/07

Don't patronise us - build us more homes (Letters)

Observer

25/02/07

Social housing should give tenants broader choices

Public Finance

23/02/07

Equity stake plan could bring big repair bills for marginal owners

Inside Housing

23/02/07

Seeds of change (Hills Interview)

Inside Housing

23/02/07

Buy-to-let investors are still smiling - but for how long?

Guardian

22/02/07

Plan to break up council estates

Independent

21/02/07

BUILD A FUTURE

Mirror

21/02/07

An equitable answer? (Hills Interview)

Guardian

21/02/07

We need to bulldoze bad council estates

Mirror

21/02/07

Housing horror is a betratal of the poor

Mirror

21/02/07

A study that must not be shelved

Independent

21/02/07

We need to buldoze bad council estates

Daily Mirror

21/02/07

Speech by Ruth Kelly MP at the launch

DCLG Press Release

20/02/07

It will take real courage to solve our housing crisis

Independent

20/02/07

Councils may put time limit on tenants

The Times

20/02/07

Housing plan calls for better mix

BBC

20/02/07

What is the future of social housing?

BBC Radio 4 Today Programme

20/02/07

Professor John Hills urged to 'stand up for council housing'

24dash.com

20/02/07

Professor John Hills urged to 'stand up for council housing'

24 Dash

20/02/07

Report backs end to secure council tenancies

Society Guardian

20/02/07

'Support Council Housing'

Mirror

20/02/07

Tenants' choice

Society Guardian

20/02/07

Council Housing Shake-Up to Create

Mirror

20/02/07

Defend Council Housing speaks out ahead of John Hills' report

24dash

19/02/07

3 Million tenants face boot

Mirror

19/02/07

Estate of Shock

Mirror

19/02/07

Shelter in the storm

Guardian Comment

19/02/07

The boom is over, the price must yet be paid

Business Guardian

19/02/07

3 million tenants face boot

Daily Mirror

19/02/07

Ten per cent - a little piece of home

Observer

18/02/07

Open the gates and free people from Britain's ghettos

Observer

18/02/07

Kelly calls for wider home ownership

Public Finance

16/02/07

An NHS for housing

Guardian

14/02/07

Tenants spurn chance to be home-owners

The Times

14/02/07

Minister calls for housing help

BBC

14/02/07

An NHS for housing

Guardian

14/02/07

Social housing tenants to be helped on to property ladder

Guardian

13/02/07

Ruth Kelly: The future of housing policy

Fabian Society

13/02/07

Defend Council Housing slams Ruth Kelly's speech

Times

13/02/07

Ruth Kelly unveils 'right to own' plan for social housing tenants

Times

13/02/07

Social housing tenants to be helped on to property ladder

Guardian

13/02/07

'Rent rise scandal in Brighton'

24dash

18/09/06

A time for change

Inside Housing

30/06/06

Buy-to-let investors rush to sell amid rate rises

Financial Times

30/05/06

Lifelong tenancy reform could threaten social sustainability

Inside Housing

06/08/04

Home for life under threat

Inside Housing

30/07/04

Houses of horror

Guardian

11/01/02

Simon Hughes: Minister Faces Rebellion on Plan to Slash Housing Benefit

London Evening Standard

09/07/99

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