The Housing Sector Podcast

In this hard-hitting episode, I sit down with Frank Chiverton — a director with over 35 years of experience in surveying, damp and mould consultancy, project planning, and contract management — for a frank and forthright conversation about the state of UK housing. We discuss the systemic decline in build quality, the disappearance of skilled oversight on site, and how roles once responsible for qu...

This blog explores the housing sector’s growing disconnect between professionals and the residents they claim to serve. It unpacks the dangerous comfort of echo chambers, the rise of tokenism, and how resident voices — the real experts — are too often excluded, silenced, or co-opted. It also highlights how a new wave of grassroots campaigners is pushing back — building platforms, breaking bubbles,...

My latest blog looks at the impact of Birmingham City Council’s financial collapse on tenants and leaseholders: unsafe homes, service charges paid but not delivered, and basic safety concerns that remain unanswered. At the same time, the Regulator of Social Housing now has stronger powers under the 2023 Act — including Ofsted-style inspections and unlimited fines. So why hasn’t it stepped in? Wher...

Retrofitting is one of the biggest challenges in housing today. When it’s done well, it can transform homes, reduce bills, and improve lives. But when it goes wrong, residents can be left with cold homes, higher costs, and serious legal battles. In this episode, I sit down with Sophie Ait-Tayeb from Anthony Gold Solicitors to talk about what happens when retrofitting works — and what support is av...

In this episode, I’m joined by Mel Little — a Birmingham high-rise resident and health & safety professional — who exposes how fire safety is failing in practice despite being signed off on paper. We discuss: Fire doors failing inspections and redacted fire risk assessments Compartmentation failures, lithium-ion battery risks, and stay-put policies A council officer accusing Mel of lying when...

In this episode, I speak with campaigner Deepa Mistry, who has taken an extraordinary step to get her housing provider to listen — launching a public petition. While many residents raise concerns through complaints, meetings, or social media, Deepa’s experience shows what happens when those routes fail. Residents shouldn’t have to go to such lengths simply to be heard, yet for Deepa, creating a pe...

In Episode 47, I speak with Zoë Garbett AM — Green Party London Assembly Member, Hackney councillor, and one of the few politicians willing to speak plainly about the state of housing in this country. This conversation pulls no punches. We talk about what’s really happening behind the headlines, and why the public narrative around housing is so often divorced from the lived reality of residents, l...

In Episode 46, I speak with Melissa Vassiliou — a housing advocate and founder of the Greater Western Sydney Advocacy Network (GWSAN) — about the growing cracks in Australia’s housing system. We cover: Defective buildings signed off for occupation Developers “phoenixing” their companies to dodge liability The “missing middle” in Sydney housing and its social consequences The echoes of Grenfell and...

In this hard-hitting episode, I sit down with housing commentator and policy analyst Joe Halewood to examine one of the most devastating and overlooked realities in the UK today: how benefit cuts have made so-called “affordable housing” unaffordable — and the chain reaction that follows. We talk numbers.  We talk policy.  And we talk about the lived experiences behind the statistics. Families are...

In this episode, I speak with Simon Reay , Group Director at Rubixx , one of the alternative tech providers shaking up a sector long dominated by legacy systems and outdated thinking. With more than two decades of experience in social housing, Simon brings insight into how Rubixx is building smarter, resident-focused systems that streamline service delivery without losing sight of the people they’...

How many of us are paying for services we never see delivered? Amber was. So were her neighbours. Instead of waiting for answers, they took action. They legally removed their managing agent, set up their own resident-led company, and took full control of managing their block. What followed wasn’t just a reduction in service charges — it was a rise in standards, accountability, and community power....

For the first time on the Housing Sector Podcast, I’m joined by three guests — campaigners from the grassroots group Welsh Cladiators — to talk about building safety, leasehold injustice, and the slow, painful fight for accountability in Wales. Despite having a devolved government, the issues facing residents in Wales mirror those in England. Unsafe homes. Delays. Legal loopholes. A government tha...

In this narrated blog from HousingSector.co.uk, Ben Jenkins takes a critical look at the Chartered Institute of Housing — questioning whether the organisation truly represents residents or has become too entangled in sector politics, self-promotion, and silence. From empty conference slogans to tokenistic inclusion and the commodification of "tenant voice," this episode challenges the se...

In this episode, I sit down with Martin Donkin — chair of the Coniston House Tenants & Residents Association (CHTRA) — to unpack one of the most outrageous examples of planning gone wrong and residents being ignored. Tower Hamlets Council signed off on what was pitched as a “low-impact” rooftop extension by Eastend Homes. What followed has been anything but. Serious water damage, unsafe living...

In this episode of the Housing Sector Podcast, I sit down with Paul Smith — Director of Foundations and a seasoned housing professional with over 25 years' experience. We discuss his work delivering home adaptations, improving access, and ensuring that people live in homes that are truly fit for purpose. Paul shares insights into what’s working, what still needs fixing, and why getting adapta...

This week, I’m joined by Frances Kneller — someone who grew up in social housing, worked in the heart of the system, and now supports people as a councillor. Frances brings a unique blend of lived experience and sector insight, having experience with the Chartered Institute of Housing and within housing associations before stepping away from the formal structures. Together, we explore the growing...

This week on the Housing Sector Podcast, we’re joined by Lisa Malyon – tech entrepreneur, campaigner, and founder of Mums Versus Mould. What started as a personal battle for Lisa – facing serious health issues and watching her daughter struggle with asthma – has grown into a powerful community initiative supporting families across the UK. Mums Versus Mould is a grassroots Facebook group offering p...

Join us for a compelling discussion with Matt Lismore, chair of the Weavers Quarter Residents' Association and a prominent housing activist. Matt shares his firsthand experiences from the Weavers Quarter estate in Barking, East London, where residents have faced significant safety concerns due to structural flaws in their homes. In this episode, we delve into the alarming issues surrounding t...

In this episode, I speak with Steve Day , a dedicated campaigner and leaseholder advocate who worked closely with the late Amanda Walker to expose some of the worst building safety failures in modern Britain. Together, they uncovered life-threatening defects at Royal Artillery Quays , challenged the silence of local authorities, and pushed for real legislative reform. Amanda’s tragic death only sh...

In this episode, I speak with Giles Grover, a long-time campaigner at the heart of the End Our Cladding Scandal movement, to cut through the noise around fire safety, dangerous buildings, and the government’s legacy of deregulation. We dig into why buildings under 18 metres are still unsafe, why leaseholders should never be footing the bill for remediation, and how decades of policy failure have l...

In this episode, I speak with Jakia Begum , a determined social housing activist and tenant at Tower Hamlets Community Housing , who’s refusing to stay silent. Jakia moved into her flat only to be hit with sky-high heating costs outsourced to a third party. From concierge charges to CCTV fees , estate warden costs and service charges for services not received , she found herself paying more and mo...

In this episode, we delve into the often-overlooked issue of furniture poverty with Claire Donovan, Director of End Furniture Poverty. Claire discusses the profound impact of lacking essential household items—such as beds, cookers, and washing machines—on individuals and families across the UK. With over 6 million people affected, including 26% of social housing tenants, the consequences are far-r...

In this episode of The Housing Sector Podcast , I am joined by Suz Muna, Secretary of the Social Housing Action Campaign (SHAC), to discuss the critical need for a National Tenants and Residents Union . With grassroots groups facing significant challenges in offering residents the legal support they need, Suz outlines how a union could empower tenants and residents nationwide. Key topics include:...

In this episode, I sit down with Paul Kershaw to discuss the evolving role of housing associations in the UK. We delve into the shift from housing staff who once had a deep humanistic approach to tenants' needs, to an increasingly corporate structure driven by financial interests and investors. Paul sheds light on how the tenant’s voice seems to have been lost in this shift, with board meetin...

Housing Sector Podcast #31 – From Resident to CEO and Chair In this episode, I sit down with Jennie Ferrigno BEM 😄   — a true trailblazer in UK social housing. Jennie’s journey is rooted in lived experience. From her time as a housing association resident to becoming CEO and Chair of Red Kite Community Housing , she’s shown what real leadership looks like when it’s built on empathy, integrity, an...