File: //old_home_backup/roofmagazine.org.uk/public_html/roofblog/2007/01.html
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/>
<title>ROOF Magazine - ROOF Blog - January 2007</title>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://roofmagazine.org.uk/roofblog/2007/01" />
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="../../images/roof/favicon.ico"/>
<meta name="Title" content="ROOF Magazine - Every little helps"/>
<meta name="Description" content="MORTGAGE REPOSSESSIONS rose by 65% last year with 17,000 losing their homes, according to new figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) this…"/>
<meta name="Subject" content="Every little helps"/>
<meta name="Publisher" content="ROOF Magazine, Shelter, 88 Old Street, London EC1V 9HU United Kingdom; roof@shelter.org.uk."/>
<meta name="Date" content="22 January 2024"/>
<meta name="Keywords" content="development, planning, low-cost home ownership"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../roof_styles/reset.css"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../roof_styles/roofstyles.css"/>
<script type="text/javascript" src="../../scripts/jquery.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="../../roof_scripts/basicscripts.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="../../roof_scripts/blog_scripts.js"></script>
<!--[if lt IE 7]>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://www.roofmagazine.org.uk/roof_styles/ie_less_seven.css" />
<![endif]-->
<!--[if lte IE 6]>
<style type="text/css">
.clearfix { height: 1%; }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 7]>
<style type="text/css">
.clearfix {display:inline-block;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</head>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
try {
} catch(err) {}</script>
<!--div id="baseline"></div-->
<!--div id="columns"><div id="columns_bg"></div></div-->
<div id="container" class="clearfix">
<a name="topofpage"></a>
<div class="line" id="adbar60">
<div id="toplh_ad">
<a href="/" target="_blank"><img src="../../openx/www/images/homelessness_conf_2010.homelessanim.gif" width="468" height="60" alt="Lime Legal" title="Lime Legal" border="0"/></a><div id="beacon_85327c7db2" style="position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden;"></div>
</div>
<div id="toprh_ad">
<a href="/" target="_blank"><img src="../../openx/www/images/localgovbanner.gif" width="468" height="60" alt="LocalGov" title="LocalGov" border="0"/></a><div id="beacon_d14d0abcf8" style="position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden;"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="line">
<div class="item" id="header">
<div class="sap-content">
<a href="/"><img src="../../images/roof/roof_logo_final.png" alt="ROOF - For better housing" id="roof_logo"/></a>
<ul id="main_navigation">
<li><a href="../../roofblog">Blog</a></li>
<li><a href="../../features">Features</a></li>
<li><a href="../../opinion">Opinion</a></li>
<li><a href="../../jobs">Jobs</a></li>
<li><a href="../../diary">Diary</a></li>
<li class="final_item"><a href="../../about">About ROOF</a></li>
</ul>
<form method="post" action="/">
<div class="hiddenFields">
<input type="hidden" name="ACT" value="19"/>
<input type="hidden" name="XID" value="cebd372c03b61ae3055278776dea5f7b"/>
<input type="hidden" name="RP" value="search&#47;results"/>
<input type="hidden" name="NRP" value=""/>
<input type="hidden" name="RES" value="10"/>
<input type="hidden" name="status" value=""/>
<input type="hidden" name="weblog" value="features|diary|roofblog|opinion|about"/>
<input type="hidden" name="search_in" value="everywhere"/>
<input type="hidden" name="where" value="all"/>
<input type="hidden" name="site_id" value="1"/>
</div>
<div id="searchbox">
<input type="text" name="keywords" id="main_searchfield" value="Search this site"/>
<button id="main_search_button" type="submit"></button>
</div>
</form>
<div id="subscription_promo">
<p id="promo_text">Online access is now Free. If you have an existing subscription <a href="../../subscriptions">click here</a> for more information</p>
<!--p id="password_reminder"><a href="https://roofmagazine.org.uk/subscriptions/reset_password.php">Forgot your password?</a></p-->
</div>
<!--div id="login_instruction">Login for your online access: </div--><!--div class="item" id="login_box"><form method="post" action="http://www.roofmagazine.org.uk/" >
<div class='hiddenFields'>
<input type="hidden" name="XID" value="5090ff86b4e705addc6807a1fc35d22d" />
<input type="hidden" name="ACT" value="9" />
<input type="hidden" name="RET" value="//roofblog/2007/01" />
<input type="hidden" name="site_id" value="1" />
</div>
<input type="text" id="login_user_name" value="ROOF reference" name="username" />
<input type="password" id="login_password" value="Password" name="password" />
<input type="submit" name="submit" value="Login" id="login_button" />
</form>
</div-->
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="line clearfix">
<div class="item" id="content_column_blog">
<ul id="breadcrumb_trail" class="clearfix">
<li><a href="/">ROOF</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog">ROOF Blog</a></li><li>January 2007</li>
</ul>
<div id="blog_listing_archive">
<h1>ROOF Blog archive</h1>
<div id="blogpage_description">
<p>Displaying ROOF Blog articles from <strong>January 2007</strong></p>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2007/01/every_little_helps">Every little helps</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">22/01/2024</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>Julian Birch</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>MORTGAGE REPOSSESSIONS</strong> rose by 65% last year with 17,000 losing their homes, according to <a href="http://www.cml.org.uk/cml/media/press/1089"><strong>new figures</strong></a> from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) this morning.</p>
<p>Although, it says the rate of increase slowed slightly in the second half, the CML is predicting further rises to 19,000 in 2007 and 20,000 as interest rate rises bite.</p>
<p>A <a href="../../cml/filegrab/1RRR-h107-ref-5192.pdf"><strong>Repossession Risk Review</strong></a>, also published today, shows that London has seen the biggest increase in possession actions.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2007/01/every_little_helps#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/development" title="development">development</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/planning" title="planning">planning</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/low-cost-home-ownership" title="low-cost home ownership">low-cost home ownership</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2007/01/housing_spending_rockets">Housing spending rockets</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">18/01/2024</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>Julian Birch</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>THE NATIONAL HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY</strong> in Wales is helping to prevent homelessness but there is no room for complacency, a <a href="http://www.wao.gov.uk/news/news_1352.asp"><strong>report</strong></a> by the Welsh auditor general said yesterday.</p>
<p>The strategy was launched in in November 2005 following a surge in homelessness in the previous three years and has a clear emphasis on prevention. The number of households accepted as unintentionally homeless fell sharply from 2,600 in September 2004 to 1,900 in June 2006 and the reduction in homlessness among 16- and 17-year olds was particularly marked.</p>
<p>However, homelessness rose again in the first half of 2006 and the reports says it is unclear why this happened. It also notes that not everyone who is homeless is applying for help: 1,215 families were evicted from social housing (mostly for rent arrears) in 2004/05 yet only 253 households were recorded as homeless in the statistics because they had lost their previous property because of rent arrears.</p>
<p>The report recommends a series of measures to improve the measurement of homelessness, make better use of affordable accommodation and raise awareness of the sttategy. It also notes that a series of areas such as housing benefit are outside the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly government.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2007/01/housing_spending_rockets#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/finance" title="finance">finance</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2007/01/roof_glossary">ROOF Glossary</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">17/01/2024</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>Bill Rashl</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>Useful contacts related to articles in the latest edition of ROOF (Jan/Feb 2007).</strong></p>
<h2>Compulsory purchase orders</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2004/20040005.htm">Compulsory purchase act 2004</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/">Guidance to planning authorities from the DCLG</a></li>
<li><a href="http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/advice/advice-7111.cfm">Help for people faced with a CPO in Scotland</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Supporting People</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.spkweb.org.uk/">Official government Supporting People website, including a directory of services</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Housing/Housing/supportpeople/intro">Scottish Executive equivalent</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.shelter-hosting.org.uk/roofarchive">More articles on Supporting People in the ROOF archive</a></li>
<li><a href="http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/policy/policy-421.cfm/plitem/187/">An evaluation of the programme in Scotland</a></li>
<li><a href="http://england.shelter.org.uk/advice/advice-7096.cfm">Who is entitled? Advice from Shelter</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Housing benefit reforms</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.dwp.gov.uk/housingbenefit/reform-agenda/">The government’s reform agenda</a></li>
<li><a href="http://england.shelter.org.uk/policy/policy-825.cfm/ct/1/sb/19/">More information about welfare reform policy</a></li>
<li><a href="http://england.shelter.org.uk/advice/advice-120.cfm/setcountry/true/?r=gaw&WT.srch=1&frmAlias=/housingbenefit/">Advice on housing benefit</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Decent homes</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/ehcs">An overview of the English House Condition Survey</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1152190">More information and guidance on decent homes</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/pub/607/181MonitoringthedeliveryofDecentHomesbylocalauthoritiesascopingstudyPDF103Kb_id1155607.pdf">Research Evidence: “Monitoring the delivery of decent homes by local authorities: A scoping study”</a></li>
<li>Best of homes, worst of homes: Details of the campaign set up by Paddy Hill to help other victims of miscarriages of justice can be found at <a href="http://www.mojoscotland.com/">www.mojoscotland.com</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2007/01/roof_glossary#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/comments" title="comments">comments</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2007/01/communities_england">Communities England</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">17/01/2024</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>Julian Birch</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>A NEW AGENCY</strong>, Communities England, will take over the work of the Housing Corporation, English Partnerships and many government housing functions, communities secretary Ruth Kelly <a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1002882&PressNoticeID=2334"><strong>announced</strong></a> this morning.</p>
<p>The widely-trailed decision follows a review launched in April 2006 by the Department of Communities and Local Government aimed at devising a delivery mechanism to make the best use of public and private investment. This was extended in July to cover the department’s own housing functions. Its work on decent homes, housing market renewal, housing PFI and housing growth areas will transfer to the new agency.</p>
<p>The new agency will clearly be of crucial importance across a whole range of housing issues. It is not immediately clear what the new set-up will be, although a strong pointer is that the team planning it will be led by English Partnerships chair Baroness Ford. She said:</p>
<blockquote><p>‘My board and senior colleagues are delighted by the outcome of the housing and regeneration review. We have consistently supported the creation of a single, new agency and a streamlined supply chain and we look forward to playing our part in creating that new agency.’</p></blockquote>
<p>Does that mean housing will play second fiddle to regneration? Not according to Housing Corporation chair Peter Dixon:</p>
<blockquote><p>‘The new agency will bring the strengths of the Housing Corporation, English Partnerships and the Department together to form a single agency dedicated to creating places that people choose to live and stay in. We look forward to working with new colleagues, building on past successes to create a body which can deliver even more to communities and the country as a whole.’</p></blockquote>
<p>The two organisations will continue as normal during the transition period. Go <a href="http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.9733/changeNav/431"><strong>here</strong></a> and <a href="http://www.englishpartnerships.co.uk/page.aspx?pointerID=72EEDE1CD2F64BE1B0173FED7892DBBC"><strong>here</strong></a> for the press releases from the two organisations.</p>
<p>Separate reviews of the regulation of affordable housing by Martin Cave and of social housing by John Hills are due to report soon.</p>
<p>The creation of Communities England was welcomed by the <a href="http://www.cih.org/news/view.php?id=676"><strong>Chartered Institute of Housing</strong></a>, which had called for a single agency in its submission to the review. and Local Government Association.</p>
<p>The Local Government Association took the chance to make a pointed call for more devolution. Councils, as we all know, are meant to play a strategic role, but its chairman Sandy Bruce-Lockhart said:</p>
<blockquote><p>‘The government must make sure that Communities England operates at a genuinely national strategic level, giving council-led local partnerships the power to deliver real regeneration and growth in our communities.’</p></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2007/01/communities_england#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-housing" title="social housing">social housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/housing-association" title="housing association">housing association</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/politics" title="politics">politics</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2007/01/choice_based_guidance">Choice-based guidance</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">15/01/2024</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>Julian Birch</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>FRESH CONFIRMATION </strong>of the squeeze on first-time buyers comes in new figures from the <a href="http://www.cml.org.uk/cml/media/press/1065"><strong>CML</strong></a> today.</p>
<p>The average first-time buyer borrowed a record 3.29 times their income to buy a home in November and the average advance is now almost £114,000. Meanwhile, interest payments now make up 17.8% of their income, the highest proportion since 1992. The figures are especially worrying when you consider that these are the people who actually succeeded in buying, that many of them still had to rely on help from their families and that interest rates increased in November and again this month.</p>
<p>Last week the <a href="http://www.rics.org/Property/Residentialproperty/Residentialpropertymarket/Accessibility100107.htm"><strong>RICS</strong></a> reported that the up-front costs of buying a home – the deposit and stamp duty – now account for 82% of the annual take-home pay of the average first-time buyer household. This prompted it to brand government plans to create an inclusive society as ‘a pipe dream’.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2007/01/choice_based_guidance#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tenants" title="tenants">tenants</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-housing" title="social housing">social housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/local-government" title="local government">local government</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2007/01/crawley_ballot_scrapped">Crawley ballot scrapped</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">15/01/2024</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>Julian Birch</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>COUNCILLORS IN CRAWLEY</strong> have voted to <a href="http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=135"><strong>cancel</strong></a> a stock transfer ballot after opinion surveys showed overwhelming opposition among tenants.</p>
<p>The decision follows a row over the true costs of upgrading the council’s 8,500 homes and the defection of a Conservative councillor to the Liberal Democrats over the issue. The ballot had been due in the Spring.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2007/01/crawley_ballot_scrapped#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/stock-transfer" title="stock transfer">stock transfer</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2007/01/fixed_fee_attack">Fixed fee attack</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">12/01/2024</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>Julian Birch</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>PROPOSED REFORMS</strong> to legal aid came under fire from all sides of the Commons in a Westminister Hall <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070111/halltext/70111h0001.htm#07011172000365"><strong>debate</strong></a> yesterday.</p>
<p>According to <a href="http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/macnn/press_20070111"><strong>Citizens Advice</strong></a>, the changes will deny thousands of vulnerable people access to help. Its main complaint is a new system of paying advice agencies a fixed amount for each case they handle. That could mean solicitors cherry-picking the easiest cases and leaving agencies to pick up the more complex ones, such as housing possession cases. During the debate Dominic Grieve (Con) attacked the Department for Constitutional Affairs as being ‘one of the very big losers’ in the spending round while Sally Keeble (Lab) raised housing as a particular area for concern and several Labour backbenchers and Simon Hughes (Lib Dem) raised the issue of high costs in London.</p>
<p>The central issue was raised by Karen Buck (Lab):</p>
<blockquote><p>‘Our core point—certainly for those on the Labour Benches—is that the 40 per cent. of cases that do not generate more income will be disproportionately concentrated in areas where providers deal with the most vulnerable people and the most complex cases. Sadly, we have not yet heard any convincing evidence to lead us to believe otherwise.’</p></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2007/01/fixed_fee_attack#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/legal" title="legal">legal</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2007/01/rise_surprise">Rise surprise</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">11/01/2024</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>Julian Birch</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>TODAY’s INTEREST</strong> rate <a href="http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/news/2007/003.htm"><strong>rise</strong></a> has taken just about everyone by surprise. A 0.25% rise had been expected, but not until February, and analysts including the <a href="http://www.cml.org.uk/cml/media/press/1061"><strong>CML</strong></a> are now predicting another increase to 5.5% later this year. Each 0.25% rise adds about £15 a month to the cost of a £100,000 repayment mortgage, adding to the steady increase of consumer debt.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2007/01/rise_surprise#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2007/01/brankin_takes_over_from_chisholm">Brankin takes over from Chisholm</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">10/01/2024</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>Julian Birch</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>RHONA BRANKIN</strong> was <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2007/01/09112513"><strong>appointed</strong></a> yesterday as the new communities minister in Scotland. The Midlothian MSP replaces Malcolm Chisholm, who <a href="http://www.shelter-hosting.org.uk/roofblog/?p=130"><strong>resigned</strong></a> just before Christmas after voting against the replacement of Trident in the Scottish parliament.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2007/01/brankin_takes_over_from_chisholm#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/politics" title="politics">politics</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/scotland" title="scotland">scotland</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h2><a href="../../roofblog/2007/01/breakfast_boost">Breakfast boost</a></h2>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">09/01/2024</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>Julian Birch</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p><strong>NEW POWERS</strong> for tenant management organisations to take out anti-social behaviour orders and new funding [customary caveats about whether it really is] for arm’s length management organisations were served up alongside the tea and toast at a Downing Street breakfast summit for housing stakeholders this morning.</p>
<p>Go <a href="http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page10704.asp"><strong>here</strong></a> for the No 10 briefing and <a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1002882&PressNoticeID=2330"><strong>here</strong></a> for the DCLG press release.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_comments"><p><a class="add_comment" href="../../roofblog/2007/01/breakfast_boost#comments">Add comment</a> <strong>(0 comments)</strong></p></div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/tenants" title="tenants">tenants</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/social-housing" title="social housing">social housing</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/almos" title="almos">almos</a>, <a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/anti-social-behaviour" title="anti-social behaviour">anti-social behaviour</a></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="blog_rh_col" class="item">
<div id="mpu_ad_area">
<a href="/" target="_blank"><img src="../../openx/www/images/hcsroofbanner.gif" width="300" height="250" alt="Housing Care and Support conference" title="Housing Care and Support conference" border="0"/></a><div id="beacon_7e1b7e46d9" style="position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden;"></div>
</div>
<div class="" id="blog_tags_column_nested">
<form id="mailinglist_form" method="post" action="/">
<div class="hiddenFields">
<input type="hidden" name="XID" value="db980ef17d0b74cc7c7d8c23ca946e4b"/>
<input type="hidden" name="ACT" value="3"/>
<input type="hidden" name="RET" value="http://www.roofmagazine.org.uk/roofblog/2007/01/"/>
<input type="hidden" name="list" value="blog_notification"/>
<input type="hidden" name="site_id" value="1"/>
</div>
<div id="mailinglistbox" class="clearfix">
<h3>Join the ROOF mailing list</h3>
<p>Receive notification via email of new posts on the ROOF Blog</p>
<p><input id="mailing_email" type="text" name="email" value="Your email"/></p>
<p><input id="mail_submit" type="submit" value="Submit"/></p>
</div>
</form>
<div id="tag_cloud">
<h3>All tags</h3>
<div id="cloud">
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/2020" title="2020" style="font-size:10px;">2020,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/A-E" title="A&E" style="font-size:10px;">A&E;,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/accessibility" title="accessibility" style="font-size:10px;">accessibility,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/accommodation" title="accommodation" style="font-size:10px;">accommodation,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/activism" title="activism" style="font-size:10px;">activism,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/admissions" title="admissions" style="font-size:10px;">admissions,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/adults" title="adults" style="font-size:10px;">adults,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/advertising" title="advertising" style="font-size:10px;">advertising,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/advice" title="advice" style="font-size:10px;">advice,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/advice-service" title="advice service" style="font-size:10px;">advice service,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affluence" title="affluence" style="font-size:10px;">affluence,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/Affordability" title="Affordability" style="font-size:12px;">Affordability,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/Affordability" title="affordability" style="font-size:18px;">affordability,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable" title="affordable" style="font-size:10px;">affordable,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable-homes" title="affordable homes" style="font-size:16px;">affordable homes,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable-housing" title="affordable housing" style="font-size:12px;">affordable housing,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable-rent" title="affordable rent" style="font-size:10px;">affordable rent,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/ageing-population" title="ageing population" style="font-size:10px;">ageing population,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/agency" title="agency" style="font-size:10px;">agency,</a>
<a href="../../roofblog/tags/tag/agents" title="agents" style="font-size:10px;">agents,</a>
</div>
</div>
<div id="blog_archives">
<h3>Blog archive</h3>
<h4>2010</h4>
<ul id="months_2010">
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2010/03">March 2010</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2010/02">February 2010</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2010/01">January 2010</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>2009</h4>
<ul id="months_2009">
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/12">December 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/11">November 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/10">October 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/09">September 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/08">August 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/07">July 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/06">June 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/05">May 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/04">April 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/03">March 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/02">February 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2009/01">January 2009</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>2008</h4>
<ul id="months_2008">
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/12">December 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/11">November 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/10">October 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/09">September 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/08">August 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/07">July 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/06">June 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/05">May 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/04">April 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/03">March 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/02">February 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2008/01">January 2008</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>2007</h4>
<ul id="months_2007">
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/12">December 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/11">November 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/10">October 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/09">September 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/08">August 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/07">July 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/06">June 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/05">May 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/04">April 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/03">March 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/02">February 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2007/01">January 2007</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>2006</h4>
<ul id="months_2006">
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2006/12">December 2006</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2006/11">November 2006</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2006/10">October 2006</a></li>
<li><a href="../../roofblog/2006/09">September 2006</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="" id="advertising_column_blog">
<script type="text/javascript"><!--//<![CDATA[
var m3_u = (location.protocol=='https:'?'https://roofmagazine.org.uk/openx/www/delivery/ajs.php':'/');
var m3_r = Math.floor(Math.random()*99999999999);
if (!document.MAX_used) document.MAX_used = ',';
document.write ("<scr"+"ipt type='text/javascript' src='"+m3_u);
document.write ("?zoneid=1");
document.write ('&cb=' + m3_r);
if (document.MAX_used != ',') document.write ("&exclude=" + document.MAX_used);
document.write (document.charset ? '&charset='+document.charset : (document.characterSet ? '&charset='+document.characterSet : ''));
document.write ("&loc=" + escape(window.location));
if (document.referrer) document.write ("&referer=" + escape(document.referrer));
if (document.context) document.write ("&context=" + escape(document.context));
if (document.mmm_fo) document.write ("&mmm_fo=1");
document.write ("'><\/scr"+"ipt>");
//]]>--></script><noscript><a href="/" target="_blank"><img src="../../openx/www/delivery/avw_php-zoneid-1-cb-INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE-n-aa9d368a.jpg" border="0" alt=""/></a></noscript>
<div id="google_160">
<script type="text/javascript"><!--
/* 160x600, created 2/3/09 */
//-->
</script>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="line">
<div class="item" id="btt">
<p><a href="#topofpage">Back to top of page</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="line">
<div class="item" id="footer">
<div id="footer_menu">
<h3><a href="../../about">About this site</a></h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://england.shelter.org.uk/shop/subscriptions/roof_magazine">Subscriptions information</a></li>
<li><a href="../../about/copyright">Disclaimer and copyright</a></li>
<li><a href="../../about/privacy">Privacy policy</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p id="roof_contact">© 2005-09 ROOF Magazine | ROOF 88 Old Street, London EC1V 9HU</p>
<script type="text/javascript">
try {
} catch(err) {}</script>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>