The Renters (Reform) Bill is designed to improve conditions for renters by implementing reforms outlined in the private rented sector white paper from June 2022.

Key measures of note are:

• Abolishing section 21 'no fault' evictions and shifting to a simpler tenancy structure.
• Introducing comprehensive possession grounds for landlords.
• Enabling tenants to challenge excessively high rents that are meant to force them out.
• Establishing a Private Rented Sector Ombudsman.
• Creating a Privately Rented Property Portal.
• Granting tenants the right to request having pets on the property.
• Providing digital court services for tenancy-related matters.

For more details visit Guide to the Renters (Reform) Bill ?and The Renters (Reform) Bill unpacked | NRLA.

The Social Housing Regulation Bill allows for planned inspections of housing services starting in April 2024.

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) operates using a co-regulatory model, which means landlords must meet the standards, and the RSH will visit landlords every four years to check on them. The RSH wants to ensure that relevant officials are complying, landlords know their properties and tenants well, and there's data to prove it.

Local Authorities will need to self-refer if they breach the standards, which is a new requirement starting from April.

For more information visit Regulator of Social Housing: factsheet .

The Regulator of Social Housing is seeking input on their updated regulatory consumer standards from landlords, tenants, and individuals interested in social housing. These standards outline the expected outcomes for registered housing providers across four categories: Safety and Quality, Transparency, Influence and Accountability, Neighbourhood and Community, and Tenancy.

The Regulator also seeks feedback on a draft Code of Practice, published regulatory impact assessment, and an equality impact assessment.

After reviewing responses to consultation questions, standards and the Code of Practice are expected to be finalised and implemented by April 2024.

The consultation closes on 17^th October 2023.

Half The Story, a local social enterprise based in Nottingham, aims to transform lives by employing homeless people and individuals facing various challenges. Operating under the umbrella of Grace Church Enterprises, the venture includes businesses like cleaning, events, and a newly established biscuit-making enterprise. The co-owners, Matt Parfitt and Stuart Cunniffe, believe in creating diverse job opportunities to support people through employment, fostering a supportive environment, and nurturing a positive culture.

The enterprise's goal is to reduce poverty and homelessness not only in Nottingham but also nationwide.

Read more here.

The charity Sharewear, based in Nottingham, addresses clothing poverty and waste by accepting donations of pre-loved clothing and redistributing them to those in need, preventing items from going to landfill. The charity's work helps a wide range of people, from those in supported housing, individuals who are homeless, to families accessing community services

If you have any quality pre-loved clothing you no longer wear, you can find details on donating to Sharewear here.

Our Housing Solutions service (formerly known as Housing Aid) works on homelessness prevention, empowers homeless and protects the most vulnerable. Housing Solutions focus will be on reducing reliance on temporary accommodation and short-term Bed & Breakfast accommodation and moving towards utilising good quality accommodation in the private sector.

Housing Solutions service is looking for individuals with a wide range of transferable skill sets and who can add value and develop with this service. ?You can find out more and apply here.

Nottingham City Council has been awarded ?800,000 to continue providing support for rough sleepers over the next two years.

This new funding, provided by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, is in addition to more than ?6.5m already awarded through Rough Sleeping Initiative for providing rough sleeping accommodation and support services between 2022-2025.

Over 80% of the funding will go to accommodation and community-based support providers with the remaining 20% funding dedicated roles to help rough sleepers off the streets and work with? key services to prevent street homelessness occurring in the first place.

Read more here.

Nottingham City Council?s Housing Services division has received Landlord Accreditation from the Tenant Participation Advisory Service, a national organisation focused on enhancing tenants? engagement in social and council housing. ?

This accreditation acknowledges Nottingham's strong tenant involvement practices, aiming to improve services and involve tenants in decision-making. The council has established various mechanisms for tenant accountability, such as a tenant-led scrutiny panel, 136 Street and Block Champions, community groups, and service-based groups.

Nottingham City Council tenants interested in participating can contact the Council for more information by calling 0115 746 9100 or emailing [email protected].

Read more here.

Nottingham City Council has approved plans to enhance the energy efficiency of an additional 370 social homes in the city. This initiative has secured over ?2.9 million in grant funding from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 2.1 through a consortium bid led by the Midlands Net Zero Hub.

SHDF Wave 2.1 involves implementing various energy efficiency measures, such as cavity wall insulation, external wall insulation, loft insulation, draughtproofing, and heating controls. The upgrades aim to ensure warmer winters and cooler summers, reduce energy bills, and improve health.

You can read more here.

Nottingham City Council is working with Homes England and TUNE Homes to develop 36 new affordable homes at Prospect Place in Lenton. The homes will be entirely gas-free and equipped with air-source heat pumps and PV solar panels.

Of the 36 homes ten will be available for shared ownership, while the remaining 26 will be offered for affordable rent through Nottingham City Council. The project is expected to be completed by summer 2024.

Expressions of interest for the shared ownership properties can be made through NCHA Sales by emailing [email protected].

Read more here.

Building of 106 council homes in Top Valley has resumed. After the collapse of the original contractor in September, Nottingham City Council has been working hard to ensure work could restart. The new contractor, Lovell Partnership, has begun work on the first phase of approximately 50 homes, which will be completed from late October 2023 to mid-February 2024. A second phase will promptly follow to ensure the timely availability of all 106 properties.

More information can be found here.

According to latest UK Housing Price Index data the average price of a home in Nottingham in was ?195,509. This is an annual growth rate of 6.9%, much higher than rates experienced by the country, region and county however growth in Nottingham has slowed dramatically from consistent double digit percentages in 2021 & 2022.

Unusually the strongest price growth in Nottingham has been seen among flats and maisonettes, which normally experience lower uplifts that other property types.

Another good source of price growth comparison is Hometrack?s UK House Price Index which compares 20 UK cities, the latest of which showed Nottingham?s growth was lower than only Liverpool and Manchester.

Latest quarterly data from Hometrack shows the average price of renting a property in Nottingham fell marginally to ?896 per month. This is still however, 10.1% more than one year before, due to a sharp uplift experienced between December and March.

Nottingham?s price growth rate was lower than many other key English cities including Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham, notably different from 2021 when it consistently outstripped nearly all other English cities.

Despite recent reports of high wage growth in the UK single earner affordability in Nottingham rose to 30.9%, meaning nearly a third of earnings are now spent on rent.

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