Albert Einstein said “If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it”.  The idea of social landlords reducing rents by reclassifying properties for those to be hit by the bedroom tax may seem absurd, but do the maths; think of the social and economic consequences for existing tenants and the areas they live in, and it becomes less absurd, and more of a rational response. In this article, an abridged version of which was first published in The Guardian, we examine the maths and the wider context for whether landlords should pass on the bedroom tax to under occupying tenants.

With the summer recess and spectacle of sport now well and truly over, it’s back to business across the housing sector, with many challenges ahead in the coming months. Welfare reform and the Green Deal are key issues, but looming amongst them all is how to demonstrate compliance with the new value for money regulatory standard & judgement. 
In keeping with our 'Einstein' themes this month, if you’re interested in a unique balanced scorecard for Vfm which makes everything simple, but not simpler,read on.

The debate over how social landlords should use the government's green deal to improve the energy efficiency of their stock and save tenants money has been rumbling along for over a year now, but has the sector missed the elephant in the room? asks Charlotte Vinther.

In June 2012, we undertook a critical friend review of Bron Afon Community Housing's income management service - to ensure income recovery strategies, policies, procedures and processes were in the best possible position to prepare both for going live as one of the DWP Direct Payment Demonstration Project, and the wider challenges of welfare reform. This case study highlights the outcomes and benefits  - which all organisations could realise.