Housing

Friday, April 3, 2026 dudley community antisocial volunteers crime safety council champions housing asb sport

Dudley Council is set to launch a new initiative enlisting ‘community champions’ to help report antisocial behaviour (ASB) as part of a broader crime reduction strategy. This measure is detailed in the council’s recently … Read More

Friday, April 3, 2026 solihull childcare carehome planning housing socialcare yewtreelane development community property

A proposal has been submitted to transform a detached five-bedroom house in Yew Tree Lane, Solihull, into a children’s care home designed to accommodate up to three children. Applicant Chantelle Duggins has put forward plans … Read More

Friday, April 3, 2026 housing development compulsorypurchase england government homeowners urbanplanning newtowns property labour

The Labour Party government has unveiled plans to develop seven new towns across England, raising concerns as homeowners may be forced to sell their properties to accommodate these large-scale projects. The selected sites … Read More

Friday, April 3, 2026 dudley council housing repairs tenancy conservative committee property finance dispute

A fierce debate unfolded at Dudley’s Housing and Assets Scrutiny Committee over proposals to sell vacant council homes deemed too costly to repair. The dispute highlighted deep divisions among council members regarding the … Read More

Friday, April 3, 2026 westmidlands housing development brownfield remediation construction smes infrastructure affordablehousing regeneration

The West Midlands faces significant obstacles in building the homes urgently needed by its growing population. Key challenges include the costly cleanup of contaminated land and soaring construction expenses, which threaten … Read More

Thursday, April 2, 2026 dudley tenancy eviction antisocial behaviour policy housing enforcement police druguse

Dudley Council’s recent plans to evict tenants engaged in anti-social behaviour (ASB) are running into challenges, with officers warning of barriers in enforcing the new tough policy. At the March meeting of the Housing and … Read More

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 homelessness housing westmidlands councils housingassociations eviction prevention collaboration arrears intervention

Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) Overview and Scrutiny Committee have issued urgent calls for closer cooperation between housing associations and local councils to prevent homelessness across the … Read More

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 eviction birmingham housing homelessness council rental crisis disability affordability erdington

Birmingham City Council has expressed sympathy for a family of four facing eviction from their private rental home during the ongoing UK housing crisis. Fay and Anthony Bonas, along with their two daughters, have been served … Read More

Sunday, March 29, 2026 eviction housing tenants birmingham erdington council homelessness privaterenting disability relocation

A worried family of four in Erdington is facing eviction in just weeks after receiving a s.21 no-fault eviction notice from their private landlord. Fay and Anthony Bonas, along with their two young children aged one and six, … Read More

Sunday, March 29, 2026 retrospective planning exercise fitness solihull sportsclub shirley bootcamp housing community sport

Solihull planners have granted retrospective permission to Old Edwardians Sports Club (OESC) Ltd in Shirley for an outdoor exercise area constructed on a previously unused grassy space. The Streetsbrook Road-based club, known … Read More

Sunday, March 29, 2026 mould damp housing health stourbridge council rent asthma emphysema homelessness

In Stourbridge, Kevin Smith and his partner Danielle Hutton face a relentless everyday struggle in their mould-ridden home. Living on Lyttelton Road, the couple and their three children contend with pervasive damp and mould … Read More

Friday, March 27, 2026 stirchley housing community birmingham development sustainability retail leisure cooperative urbanplanning

In a bold move to shape the future of their neighbourhood, Stirchley residents have put forward an ambitious plan to transform a brownfield site on Hazelwell Road into a hub of community-led housing, retail, and leisure … Read More

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 smithswood carehome apartments planning solihull housing development liambyrne campaign conversion

Plans to convert the Jubilee Gardens Care Centre in Smith’s Wood into residential apartments have been approved despite significant opposition from the community and local representatives. Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull … Read More

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 mould damp housing health homelessness landlord council safety family neglect

Kevin Smith and his family are trapped in a living nightmare in their home on Lyttelton Road, Stourbridge. The house is riddled with damp, pervasive mould, unsafe electrical wiring, structural damage, and even invasive … Read More

Tuesday, March 24, 2026 homelessness roughsleeping westmidlands funding housing supportservices prevention accommodation wmca taskforce

Over the next three years, the West Midlands will benefit from millions of pounds in funding dedicated to tackling homelessness and rough sleeping. This investment aims to build on the progress made in recent years and … Read More

Tuesday, March 24, 2026 whg aspire merger housing tenants transparency walsall labour socialhousing regeneration

Concerns have been raised over the proposed merger between West Midlands Housing Group (WHG) and Aspire Housing, with calls for increased transparency and tenant involvement. The announcement of the merger, aimed at creating … Read More

Monday, March 23, 2026 renters landlords tenancy eviction rentersrightsact housing tenants legislation evictionban security

Millions of renters in England are about to receive important letters from their landlords as the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force on May 1. This landmark legislation introduces major reforms designed to improve tenant … Read More

Sunday, March 22, 2026 uk housing tax allowance rent income hmrc personal scheme accommodation

UK households have a valuable opportunity to increase their tax-free income by utilising the HMRC Rent a Room scheme. This government-backed initiative allows homeowners and tenants with spare rooms to earn up to £7,500 per … Read More

Friday, March 20, 2026 birmingham housing student accommodation development planning inflation viability tower council

The approval of plans for a new 21-storey student accommodation tower in Birmingham has raised alarms about the possibility of an oversupply of unsuitable housing in the city centre. The development, set to provide 506 … Read More

Thursday, March 19, 2026 dudley housing council properties repair scrutiny assets investment tenants maintenance

Dudley Council has generated nearly £14 million by selling 195 empty homes classified as too costly to repair. A report presented at the Housing and Assets Scrutiny Committee meeting on March 19 detailed the council’s process … Read More

Thursday, March 19, 2026 stirchley birmingham housing community cooperative greensquareaccord development affordable socialhousing councillor

Stirchley, a Birmingham neighbourhood known for its vibrant independent businesses and strong community spirit, faces uncertainty after a major housing development hit a roadblock. A decade-long project to build 39 flats and … Read More

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 dwp crisis resilience fund support lowincome emergency councils benefits housing

Starting in April, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will introduce two new bonus payments as part of a wider financial support scheme for low-income households in England. At the heart of this initiative is the … Read More

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 realestate birmingham luxury property mansions affluent housing location investment community

Nestled between the affluent villages of Lickey and Barnt Green, just south of Birmingham, lies a road with a name that raises eyebrows: Twatling Road. Despite this undoubtedly risqué moniker, it remains one of the region’s … Read More

Tuesday, March 17, 2026 solihull hockleyheath development housing planning flooding community objections council infrastructure

Planners have provisionally approved the construction of up to nine new homes in Hockley Heath, despite a wave of objections from local residents. The application, submitted last summer by Frances Ashton, concerns a site … Read More