The Social Housing Round Table

In this ASB Awareness Week special, the Social Housing Round Table welcomed Sharon Murphy and Jack Madge from Green & Burton ASB Associates to explore one of the most debated questions in the sector: What if an ASB case isn't ASB? With over 115 attendees from across the sector, the conversation tackled: – How we define anti-social behaviour – The difference between criminality, nuisance and ne...

What does it look like when a housing provider fully commits to listening, reflecting and responding to feedback—not just in principle, but in practice? In this episode, Joe Williams from Settle joins Matt Baird to share an honest and refreshingly open account of their approach to feedback, culture change and continual improvement. Joe doesn’t gloss over what’s gone wrong. Instead, he shares the r...

This week’s Social Housing Round Table sponsored by Devonshires focused on a sensitive but essential topic: inquests. Joined by Samantha Grix and Charlotte Greatorex of Devonshires, the session shed light on what happens when a resident dies, what landlords can expect from the inquest process, and how responsibility is examined and understood. Key themes included: – When and how landlords are held...

In this episode of The Social Housing Round Table, James Green of Breathe Pure joins Matt Baird to shine a light on one of the sector’s most urgent and frustrating issues: damp and mould. With honesty and urgency, James challenges the sector’s complacency, calling out the gap between intent and action five years after the tragic death of Awaab Ishak. The session explores: – The real human cost of...

In this week’s powerful episode of The Social Housing Round Table, Elaine Middleton led a frank and impassioned discussion around the sector’s willingness—or reluctance—to change. Drawing on insights from both social and private housing, Elaine made the case that if the sector continues to resist evolution, it risks a catastrophic collapse. From resident voice and trust, to structural rigidity and...

Chris Holloway of Greatwell Homes joins us this week to discuss TSMs, complaints and accuracy. Are the TSM scores accurate? What constitutes a good service score? And how can we improve this all through collaboration?

This week’s Social Housing Round Table featured Jo Leckie and Clare Paterson, who returned to the Round Table to share findings from their benchmarking survey on Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) in the housing sector. The session unpacked why 'good data' isn’t always the right data, and why tenants’ voices must be given equal weight alongside performance indicators and system outputs. Wi...

This week’s Social Housing Round Table welcomed Dr. Eve Blezard from the Chartered Institute of Housing for an important discussion on the implementation of Awaab’s Law. Eve outlined what housing providers can expect as the sector moves from consultation to delivery, the moral imperative driving change and the operational and financial hurdles providers must overcome. The conversation didn't shy a...

This week, Sarah Daly from Agile Homes joined The Social Housing Round Table to ask a crucial question: how do the decisions we make at the point of development ripple into long-term asset spend and more importantly, tenant experience? Drawing on her extensive background across sustainability, retrofit and neighbourhood regeneration, Sarah opened a wide ranging conversation on how better communica...

This week’s Social Housing Round Table welcomed Simon Elsworth, Operations Manager at Sovereign Network Group, for a lively and wide-ranging conversation on recruitment in the housing sector. With perspectives from execs, tenants, recruiters, consultants, and front-line staff, the session explored the tension between valuing sector experience and hiring purely on skills. It’s a big, timely convers...

Has technology enhanced or hindered the customer journey in social housing? This week, The Social Housing Round Table, led by Stewart Davison of Elehan Consulting, dives into the complex relationship between digital tools and human connection.  We explore whether the lessons learned about technology during the 2020 pandemic have been embraced or abandoned and discuss finding the right balance for...

How strong is the relationship between politics and social housing?  Tune in to this episode of The Social Housing Round Table for a candid discussion with Eddie Hughes, Former Housing Minister, as we explore the complex dynamics between MPs, Registered Providers, Local Authorities, constituents and the wider social housing landscape.  We move beyond policy debates to examine where these relations...

This episode of The Social Housing Round Table features Andrew Todd, Head of Net Zero Carbon at Sureserve, leading a crucial conversation on long-term retrofit planning. We discussed strategies for effective resident engagement, avoiding a "guinea pig" scenario and ensuring a smooth transition to new technologies.  Discover the importance of clear communication, quality installations and post-retr...

What does it truly take to support young people transitioning from care to independence?  Join The Social Housing Round Table for a for a very passionate discussion on the challenges of young people leaving care with Sureya Gulzar, Head of Social Business at Black Country Housing Group and Rebecca Riley, Head of Communities and Projects at HACT. We also delve into Black Country Housing Group's "Fo...

Join us for a lively and insightful discussion on Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs) with Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement for The Regulator of Social Housing.   In this episode, we explore best practices, key findings from the first year of implementation and early metrics for year two.   Kate also addresses a wide range of questions from industry professionals and tenants, providi...

Are you a housing officer feeling the strain of the job? Do you ever feel like you're on the brink of burnout?  In this episode of The Social Housing Round Table, we're joined by Chris Garlick, a housing officer at Accent Housing, to discuss the all too common issue of burnout in the housing sector. Chris shares his research on the topic, including the shocking statistic that 65% of housing office...

Catch the replay of this week's Round Table session on redefining social value in social housing and gain valuable insights from industry leader Craig Bell, owner of Bell Group! In this thought-provoking session, we explored: The true meaning of social value: We challenged the status quo and dove deep into what REALLY constitutes social value in the context of procurement and long-term partnership...

Ever wondered how rent is calculated in social housing? It's a bit of a maze, really! Join us as we chat with Samantha Grix, a whiz in rent regulation, who breaks down this complex topic in plain terms. We'll explore the latest rules, common mistakes, and the potential impact of rent changes on tenants and housing providers. Plus, we'll discuss why it's so important for everyone to understand rent...

Tune in to what is a compelling discussion on the critical issue of ethnic minority representation in social housing. Our guest, Kai Jackson, shares her groundbreaking research and the journey that led her to uncover the systemic barriers and generational mistrust that hinder engagement. In this episode, we delve into the key findings from Kai's report, exploring the challenges faced by both tenan...

Welcome to the Social Housing Roundtable, the podcast where we discuss the latest trends and innovations in social housing! In this episode, we're joined by Richard Walker, Home Services Director at Pickering and Ferens homes, who will be sharing their journey towards creating a more connected and engaged community for their older residents.     Richard discusses the challenges they faced in commu...

In this eye-opening episode of The Social Housing Round Table, we delve into the critical need for improved data and communication across the social housing sector. It's evident that despite the tireless efforts of many dedicated individuals, the sector still faces significant challenges. This episode explores the issues of trust, accountability and communication, highlighting the urgent need for...

Join us for a lively discussion on a challenge that keeps every housing maintenance manager up at night: managing work in progress (WIP) repairs. This week's Social Housing Round Table dives deep into the world of repairs, tackling the "WIP mountain" head-on.  Inspired by a "Social Housing" viral post from Duncan Palmer, this episode brings together a group of voices to share their experiences, in...

In this episode of The Social Housing Round Table, we're diving into a truly impactful session featuring the incredible Rachel Holliday from Time to Change West Cumbria. Hear how Rachel, with the support of Alertacall Ltd, is making a tangible difference in her community to combat homelessness and learn how we can all make a difference.  Tune in now and discover how collaboration and determination...

What are the biggest risks facing social housing in 2025? The answers might surprise you. At today's Social Housing Round Table, Becky Tucker from House of Risk gave a fascinating overview of the sector's risk profile. With economic uncertainty, regulatory changes and the growing threat of cybercrime, it's more important than ever for housing organisations to stay ahead of the curve. A massive tha...

And that's a wrap! Tune in for our final episode of The Social Housing Round Table of 2024. We shared some key insights from the past year and were joined by The Social Housing Round Table's Head of Partnerships, Elaine Middleton who shared her journey and role with us. There's also a sneaky Christmas Quiz in there for anybody who wants to test their Christmas knowledge!   A big thank you to Alert...