Publications
Our publications focus on the latest policy topics and practical advice that you need to do your job. CIH members can access all our publication documents for free, please ensure you are logged into the website.
How to reduce under-occupation
With 1.7 million households on housing waiting lists in England and turnover of social rented homes at around 5 per cent, there has never been a more pressing need for social landlords to make the best possible use of the homes that they own and manage.
This briefing provides guidance on how to make downsizing a positive choice for tenants and includes several practical examples of organisations that run successful downsizing schemes.
Sponsored by Housing Partners
How to tackle disability related harassment
This how to briefing sets out what providers should be doing to respond to this challenge.
According to a poll commissioned by the Disability Rights Commission, one third of disabled adults and nearly half of adults with a mental health condition do not feel safe in their locality. As the social rented sector provides homes to a high percentage of disabled people, housing providers have a crucial role to play in tackling disability related hate crime.
How to deliver excellent customer service
To build a good and lasting relationship with your customers you need to find out what they want from you and – as far as you can – meet their expectations.
Excellent customer service is not an add-on to the business: it’s a vital component which needs to be valued and owned by all – if one part of the business doesn’t do this, it can affect the reputation and performance of the whole. It’s about getting the core business basics right and understanding how and where you can add extra value.
The practical implications of tenure reform
This how to covers the practical implications of tenure reform and will be of use to anyone who is likely to work with fixed term tenancies.
Areas covered include the nature of fixed term tenancies for both local authorities and housing associations, the relationship between fixed term tenancies and affordable rent, the rights of tenants with a fixed term tenancy and the processes for ending a fixed term tenancy.
How to develop your complaints process
This how to guide sets out key features of a successful complaints process, also summarising the forthcoming changes to regulation and to the ombudsman service that housing providers must be aware of
Devolving housing benefit: A discussion paper
This new report by CIH Scotland considers the scope and implications of devolving UK-reserved Housing Benefit to Scotland.
How to deliver quality housing and health partnerships
This 'how to' guide sets out how housing professionals can establish effective relationships with colleagues working in health, to improve outcomes for residents
The guide is particularly timely as budgets in both many housing and related support services and health services are facing budget constraints. These pressures could make the two sectors retreat in to their silos, or it could drive innovation in how housing and health together deliver more personalised and cost-effective services.
How to develop your tenancy policy
Tenancy policies have been introduced as part of the government's wider package of social housing reform. These reforms include the introduction of fixed term tenancies and affordable rent.
This guidance sets out how to develop a tenancy policy for your organisation. It explains the legal and regulatory expectations for your policy, the key decisions that you need to make and the things that you need to consider when determining your approach.
How to manage ASB cases effectively
This briefing sets out the practical steps that landlords can take to make sure they are carrying out this vital activity effectively
Fire safety in housing
This looks at key issues around fire safety in social housing, the legal framework, risk assessments, working with fire, rescue services and residents, and tackling fire-related anti-social behavior
- why is fire safety an issue for housing?
- fire safety in housing: the legal framework and key guidance for housing providers
- carrying out a risk assessment
- working in partnership with fire and rescue services
- working in partnership with tenants, residents, and communities
- tackling fire-related anti-social behavior
- the use of domestic sprinklers
- questions and answers from the CFOA, WMFS and CIH seminars
- glossary of key terms
Housing and Public Policy in post devolution Scotland
Housing was expressly included among the various areas of responsibility devolved to Edinburgh and this book seeks to explore the changes taking place in Scottish housing in the wake of devolution
Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 Briefing
This briefing describes the provisions of the Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003
It details the implications of the Act and the challenges it will present for homelessness services, the provision of support and temporary and permanent accommodation for both local authorities and RSLs. The briefing also covers changes to possession proceedings notification and changes to the recovery procedures for Assured Tenancies.
Low demand Housing in Scotland
Low demand for housing is a problem for almost every landlord in Scotland. The Good Practice in Housing Management: Review of Progress found that all local authorities and 57% of surveyed RSLs
they believed they were managing low demand stock. Although low demand stock is not a new
phenomenon, having been on the housing agenda for the last 30 years, it does seem to be a
growing problem with the aforementioned review indicating that 62% of social landlords thought
the problem of low demand had increased in recent years.
Improving Standards in the PRS
This briefing outlines some of the proposals in the Housing Improvement Task Force (HITF) final report ‘Stewardship and Responsibility: A Policy Framework for Private Housing in Scotland’.
HTIF Briefing on Operation of the Housing Market
This briefing outlines some of the proposals in the Housing Improvement Task Force (HITF) final report ‘Stewardship and Responsibility: A Policy Framework for Private Housing in Scotland’.
It focuses on the parts of the report that relate to improving the operation of the housing market.
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