Publications

The Welsh Government asked the Law Commission to review and update its recommendations for the reform of housing law.

The Wales Housing Management Standard for Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour is a voluntary Standard aimed at Local Authority Housing Departments and Registered Social Landlords in Wales.

This guidance is aimed at planning and housing practitioners to assist in the delivery of affordable housing.

A report to inform the review of homelessness legislation in Wales

A summary of the research conducted by Consumer Focus Wales into what tenancy reform could mean for the private rented sector.

Acceptable Cost Guidance figures (ACGs) are used as a guide for all schemes developed with Social Housing Grant (SHG).

A report to inform the review of homelessness legislation in Wales.

Results from the monitoring exercise of social landlords’ performance in achieving the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS).

This revised Code of Guidance provides a range of good practice to assist work to prevent and tackle homelessness.

We review the 30 year forecasts to consider the financial viability of housing associations (HAs) in the medium and long term.

This guidance is intended to supplement existing guidance on the Right to Buy and related rights.

A report to inform the review of homelessness legislation in Wales

A report to inform the review of homelessness legislation in Wales

This executive summary and final report evaluate a programme of homelessness prevention projects which Welsh Government funded in 2010/11.

Provides local authorities with a practical methodology to undertake a Local Housing Market Assessment.

Things are moving fast, and this newsletter will give you a quick summary of progress.

This newsletter will give you a summary of progress.

The Housing (Wales) Measure 2011 was passed by the National Assembly on 22 March 2011 and approved by the Privy Council on 10 May 2011. We have issued a document explaining the effects of the Measure, the Explanatory Memorandum, which can be found below.

Our Code 4/ 5 Pilot Project started in 2008. This is a progress report. It also gives feedback on how the project is developing and outlines some initial findings.

This Regulatory Framework applies to housing associations registered and regulated by the Welsh Ministers under Part 1 of the Housing Act 1996.

Rent First aims to help local authorities and housing associations meet their housing objectives. These include creating mixed income developments and communities which can access affordable properties to buy or rent.

This briefing covers what has been achieved in the housing sector two years after the Can Do toolkit was launched. The Can Do toolkit focuses on achieving targeted recruitment and training as core requirements of procurement processes.

We commissioned former Welsh Minister Sue Essex to review affordable housing delivery in Wales and make suggestions for improvement. The Essex Review took place between September 2007 and June 2008. The Review’s 43 recommendations were taken forward by an Implementation Programme.

In December 2009, Jocelyn Davies, Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration, commissioned an independent review of housing related support, which is better known as the Supporting People Programme.

This is our August 2010 update on modernising our framework for Housing Associations in Wales. It describes the progress made and key developments.

Empty homes can be a wasted resource. They can also be the targets of vandals and squatters, which can affect the quality of life of neighbours. We want these empty homes to come back into use. This will help tackle these issues and help meet housing demand in Wales.

We needed to define the expectations / intentions of Housing Associations and their aspirations as part of the new regulatory framework in Wales. After consultation, we developed delivery outcomes - statements of intent that Housing Associations can aspire to.

We review the 30 year forecasts to consider the financial viability of housing associations (HAs) in the medium and long term. These forecasts are submitted to us by 31st July each year. This paper reports on the main findings of the financial viability review on the 30 year financial forecasts.

With the Building Regulations powers set to transfer to Wales on 31 December 2011, Welsh ministers have set out the first proposals to improve the energy performance of new housing.

We have explored ways to deliver housing in areas of high pressure to increase the supply of affordable housing. To help us deal with this issue, we committed in One Wales to promote the expansion of Community Land Trusts throughout Wales.

This publication has been produced in partnership with Value Wales. It aims to give options to buyers on maximising opportunities through procurement to the SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) sector in Wales.

This is our February 2010 update on modernising our framework for Housing Associations in Wales. It describes the progress made and key developments.

In an ageing society, it is important to develop strategic housing policies that allow older people to continue to live with independence and dignity. This report, written by Wendy Bourton OBE, examines housing for older people in Wales. It suggests we should question assumptions about ageing and a ...

We believe that everyone in Wales should have the opportunity to live in a good quality home within a safe and secure community. To help achieve this aim we published the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS). This standard requires all social landlords to improve their housing stock to an acceptab ...

This guidance was issued in September 2009. It gives information on the Mortgage Rescue scheme funded through the Social Housing Grant programme.

In May 2009, we undertook a full Equality Impact Assessment of The Ten Year Homelessness Plan for Wales. This report presents the outcomes of that assessment.

Renewal areas have existed for nearly 20 years. Their main purpose is to improve living conditions in areas where there is scope to improve housing and to tackle a wide range of related environmental and socio-economic conditions.

This ten year plan describes how we are going to tackle homelessness in Wales until 2019.

Mortgage repossession is a significant cause of long-term poverty and financial exclusion. The current economic climate increases the risk to vulnerable households. It is an area that needs to be addressed to prevent this becoming major cause of family homelessness.

This Statutory Guidance is aimed at Local Authorities. It sets out the process that they must follow when consulting tenants on proposals to transfer the council housing stock to a Registered Social Landlord.

The National Tenant Participation Strategy was published by the Welsh Assembly Government in April 2007. The Strategy details an approach for the social housing sector to improve public services and place people at its centre. The Strategy included an Action Plan with detailed objectives.

These documents provide contact details for Registered Social Landlords in Wales.

This guidance provides information that social landlords may wish to consider.

This document provides guidance for local authorities on reintroducing Social Housing Grant (SHG) funded HomeBuy schemes.

Guidance for local authorities in Wales who intend to ballot their tenants on stock transfer proposals to achieve and maintain the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

This letter explains how the rate of interest for local authority mortgages changed in March 2009.

The One Wales document committed the Welsh Assembly Government to increasing the supply of affordable homes in Wales by at least 6,500 over the next four years.

The Charter outlines the basic rights and standards of service that any council tenant or leaseholder in Wales involved in a stock transfer should expect from their existing and new landlord.

A guide to how the Criminal Justice agencies respond to homophobic hate crime, and the steps you can take towards stopping it.

Disabled Facilities Grant (Conditions relating to approval or payment of Grant) General Consent 2008

A toolkit to help local authorities and stakeholders deal with local fuel poverty by looking at good practice across Wales.

The amount of money spent on supporting Homebuy in each local authority area.

The Welsh Government and Community Housing Cymru have for the first time jointly published a summary of the 2007 financial statements of associations.

In October 2007, the Deputy Minister for Housing established a Task and Finish Group to explore the barriers and opportunities presented by the Assembly Government's priority to deliver significantly more affordable homes in Wales by 2011 in the context of the 'One Wales' agenda. The Gr ...

This report was commissioned to examine models for distributing Supporting People funds to local authorities.

This guidance is intended to help local authorities and housing associations implement the National Tenant Participation Strategy for Wales.

We want to create a fair and just society in Wales and housing has a key role to play.

New schemes awarded funding under the Social Housing Management Grant Programme from April 2008.

Background information on the project to change how we distribute the Supporting People fund. This paper includes the principles governing this work.

The guide is designed to assist commissioning bodies to ensure that an appropriate range of support and accommodation is available for households experiencing domestic abuse and to encourage partnership working to ensure that, appropriate policies, procedures and practices are implemented. It is in ...

The amount of Social Housing Grant allocated to each local authority since 1999.

You should read this booklet if you are a tenant (or licensee) and live in a house in multiple occupation (usually called an HMO) or if you are not sure whether your home is part of an HMO.

You should read this booklet if you are a private landlord or manager of a house in multiple occupation (commonly called HMOs) or if you are not sure if the building falls into that category.

As a student going to university you will face a lot of new and unfamiliar challenges. Perhaps the biggest one is finding somewhere to live.

The refurbishment grant is intended to improve the quality of life for Gypsy Traveller site residents by modernising existing facilities provided on sites by local authorities, and the provision of new facilities on sites where needed.

Our plans for changing how the Homebuy scheme works. These changes are designed to remove or minimise the weaknesses identified in the scheme by the Review of Low Cost Home Ownership Policies in Wales.

What is Tenancy Deposit Protection? Your questions answered...

Our strategy for promoting and supporting tenant involvement in the management of housing services. It explains our policy on tenant participation and how we expect social landlords to deliver this.

A brief overview of how local authorities may be able to raise additional finance for capital expenditure. This 'prudential borrowing' may help local authorities achieve and maintain the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

We have issued this guidance to clarify how Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) should apply the principles of 'best value' to their work. The guidance sets out the preparations that RSLs need to make, and how we will support RSLs to deliver best value.

This document provides guidance to local authorities on the preparation of Local Housing Strategies in Wales.

‘Better Homes for the People of Wales’ was our first National Housing Strategy for Wales. It was approved in July 2001. It was implemented through this action plan. This plan summarises the aims, objectives and targets and records progress towards delivering them.

Radon is a naturally occurring gas, which results from the radioactive decay of uranium. It is found in small quantities in all rocks and soil. The gas disperses quickly in the open air, but can accumulate in buildings, especially in areas where the underlying ground contains higher than average tr ...

Guidance to help local authorities ensure tenants are involved in planning to meet the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

Training material to help people working with tenants. The Resource is designed to help tenants understand the Welsh Housing Quality Standard and how their landlord proposes to achieve it.

This document is for Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) to use to register their interest in a property purchased through the Homebuy scheme. RSLs must register their interest to protect their loan. For instance to make it clear to the buyer that if they need to take out further loans secured on th ...

The Supporting People programme helps vulnerable people to gain and retain independence by remaining in their own home. This study measures the costs and benefits of the Supporting People programme in Wales.

Now entering its 6th year, the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) has made a real difference to the lives of vulnerable people in Wales.

This document identifies actions that will be taken to address the housing and related support needs of refugees. The plan also provides information on relevant law and policy.

Provides a framework to plan for the housing needs of ex-offenders returning to the community from prison.

This new Protocol for the Disposal of Surplus Land for Affordable Housing seeks to make best use of Assembly Government assets for achieving our housing priorities.

The Toolkit is a one-stop shop providing practical advice to enable local authorities and their partners to maximise the supply of affordable housing.

This Guidance gives local authorities valuable additional information to enable them to carry out their duties under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System and is being made under section 9 of the Housing Act 2004.

This Guidance informs local housing authorities of the enforcement duties and options they have under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System and is being made under section 9 of the Housing Act 2004.

On 5 May 2006, the Law Commission published, "Renting Homes: The Final Report" (Law Com No 297).

Extra care housing provides more support than traditional sheltered housing and greater independence than residential care.

Guidance outlining the ongoing review process. It describes how supported housing services in receipt of Supporting People Grant should be reviewed against the service specification.

This Regulatory Code sets out the fundamental obligations of Registered Social Landlords in Wales, referred to by the more commonly understood term "housing associations".

The guide enables local authorities to derive overall figures for the numbers of households requiring additional housing.

Guidance on the standards that must be met when providing temporary accommodation.

We have delivered measures to over 50,000 homes in Wales in the past 5 years, and assisted many thousands of vulnerable people in all of our communities to improve their lives.

We published our first National Homelessness Strategy in 2003. It presented objectives and commitments to work with others to reduce homelessness. This 2006-2008 strategy built upon and strengthened these aims through a greater emphasis on prevention and joint-working.

This Code gives guidance on how social landlords in Wales should prepare and review their policies and procedures in relation to anti-social behaviour.

Development Quality Requirements (DQR) are the standards that Registered Social Landlords' housing must meet. Registered Social Landlords are also called Housing Associations.

This report aims to both provide background and we hope a useful guide for local authorities in tackling homelessness.

Information explaining to landlords how the Local Housing Allowance works. Explains how it is calculated and why it is normally paid direct to the tenant.

This guidance is aimed at accommodation providers. It is also intended for agencies who need to provide housing and support of asylum seekers who receive a positive decision on their asylum claim.

Changes were made to the distribution and delivery of the Social Housing Grant Programme in 2005.

This leaflet has been produced by the Welsh Tenants Federation, Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) Cymru, and the Welsh Assembly Government. It is aimed at people who are thinking of setting up a tenants and residents group, and at members of existing groups. It is also aimed at landlords.

This document focuses on the language needs of people whose first language is not English and provides good practice guidance on interpreting and translation services.

This advice note has been produced to inform and aid voluntary sector agencies in Wales in developing interventions to prevent homelessness.

Introductory/starter tenancies were introduced with the clear intention of assisting landlords to deal with increasing problems of alleged anti-social behaviour.

This guide has been written to help public and voluntary sector organisations in Wales consult with homeless people on service planning, service delivery and identifying gaps in service.

The Guide was prepared by the Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru and Cymru Equality and Diversity Consortium. It will assist local authorities and Registered Social Landlords deliver their responsibilities in the BME Housing Action Plan for Wales.

An explanation of the role of the Rent Officer and the Rent Assessment Committee in the setting of Fair Rents.

An explanation of the role of the Rent Officer in your local authority’s decision on how much housing benefit you receive.

Rent Officer's valuations help local authorities decide how much housing benefit you receive. This leaflet explains how, if you are unhappy, you may ask for the Rent Officer’s valuations to be looked at again.

A guide to preventing managing and resolving neighbour disputes.

A guide to help everyone involved in building construction reduce waste.

Advice for people having problems with a neighbour.

This advice note was produced in May 2003 to support ‘Preparing Local Housing Strategies’.

This booklet is a guide to the Homebuy scheme in Wales. Homebuy helps people to buy a home on the open market.

Our plans for tackling fuel poverty.

Guidance telling local authorities how they can help improve private housing that is in poor condition.

Explains how the Supporting People Programme operates.

Guidance for local authorities on the preparation of local authority housing stock business plans. Includes guidance on Housing Revenue Account business planning.

This Action Plan is designed to help us meet our duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

Practical advice to help social landlords work with tenants to develop Major Works Agreements.

Better Homes for People in Wales was our first National Housing Strategy.

This document provides advice and guidance on the process of undertaking stock condition surveys for local authority managed housing stock. It is aimed at assisting local authorities to improve the long-term management of their housing stock.

This guidance explains how local authorities across Wales can effectively involve tenants in a meaningful way through introducing tenant participation compacts.