Birmingham £200 cost of living payments arrive in January
Birmingham households are urged to check bank accounts for £200 hardship grants from the council's fund. Applications are open until March. Find out if you're eligible.
Category : Housing Issues
Over-55s turn to £144k park homes as prices soar
Soaring bungalow prices are driving over-55s towards park homes, a £144,748 housing alternative offering single-storey living and community. Discover the growing trend.
£860M Vision for Town Centre Living in Greater Manchester
Regeneration boss Tim Heatley outlines a £860M, 2,500-home vision for suburban living in Greater Manchester's overlooked towns, citing strong demand and affordable rents.
£500 Cost of Living payments for Camden households
Struggling households in Camden can apply for emergency payments of up to £500 from the Household Support Fund. Check eligibility and how to apply now.
Affordable flats planned for former Rowley Regis day centre
A new planning application seeks to build eight affordable flats on the site of a former day centre and library in Rowley Regis, addressing a critical shortage of family-sized homes in Sandwell.
400,000 homes in wrong council tax band
Up to 400,000 UK homes may be in the wrong council tax band due to flawed 1991 valuations. Check your band now and challenge it to potentially claim thousands in backdated refunds.
Mortgage shock for 4.5 million UK households
Nearly half of UK mortgage holders will see bills rise by £768 a year as fixed deals expire. The Bank of England warns of payment shocks despite recent rate cuts.
Winter Drying Hack Bans Musty Smells in 90 Minutes
A simple trick using a fan heater and a bedsheet promises to dry laundry fast and eliminate musty odours this winter. Discover the debate between this method and dehumidifiers.
New flats planned for Tipton amid 'critical' housing shortage
Sandwell Council reveals plans for 12 affordable flats opposite the new Horseley Road metro stop, aiming to ease a severe shortage of family homes where waits can stretch to nine years.
Army veteran turns life around with Solihull HMO support
Former soldier Dan Vaughan, who struggled after leaving the army, is rebuilding his life thanks to a veteran-specific HMO scheme in Solihull. Discover how the project offers housing and support.
Half of West Midlands Teachers See Homeless Pupils
Shocking Shelter survey reveals more than half of teachers in the West Midlands have worked with homeless children in the past year, severely impacting education. Urgent action is needed.
How Birmingham residents defeated HMO plans in 2025
A look at how community action led to the rejection of several HMO applications in Birmingham in 2025, from Handsworth to Erdington. Read the success stories.
Village objects to six bungalows on 'inappropriate' site
Residents and parish councillors in Charlton, Worcestershire, strongly oppose plans for six bungalows on agricultural land, citing traffic and sustainability concerns. Read the full story.
Four bungalows planned for disused Worcestershire pub car park
A developer has submitted plans to build four dormer bungalows on the former car park of The Coventry Arms in Upton Snodsbury, a site vacant since 2017. Read the latest on this brownfield development.
Council's £1m hotel bill for homeless 'not sustainable'
Stoke-on-Trent City Council spent over £1m housing homeless in B&Bs last year, leaving taxpayers with an £850k bill. Councillor admits the situation is unsustainable. Read the full report.
Ofgem Letter Warning for Damp and Mould in UK Homes
Households with damp and mould are urged to watch for a critical Ofgem letter. Tenants must notify landlords immediately as 98% of ECO4 insulated homes need repairs costing up to £18,000.
Former Walsall newspaper offices to become apartments
Plans submitted to convert historic Walsall Observer offices into four one-bed flats. Decision expected February 2026. Read the latest on this Bridge Street development.
Labour's Mansion Tax Spares £2m+ Social Housing
Labour's new property surcharge will hit owners of high-value homes from 2028, but exempts over 110 social housing properties worth over £2 million. Get the full details.
NatWest doubles social rent loan fund to £1bn
NatWest expands its ringfenced social rent loan fund to £1bn, aiming to accelerate the building of affordable homes and save housing associations up to £50m. Read the full announcement.
Bereaved families could face £140k council tax bills
Bereaved families could be hit with six-figure bills due to deferred council tax payments on high-value homes. Learn about the new surcharge and its long-term impact.
Lifetime ISA could be scrapped in 2026 government review
The UK government has announced a consultation for early 2026 that could see the Lifetime ISA replaced, impacting first-time buyers' savings and property purchase limits. Learn what this means for you.
Best Places to Live in West Midlands for 2026
Lifestyle experts name the eight best areas to live in the West Midlands in 2026. Discover the top picks, from Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter to vibrant Kings Heath.
Octopus Energy expands 'Zero Bills' tariff homes
Octopus Energy and Barratt Redrow are building 54 'Zero Bills' homes in Bedfordshire and Gloucestershire. Residents will pay nothing for energy for a decade. Read how this sustainable initiative works.
Birmingham's Top 16 Streets for 2026 Living
Discover the 16 most desirable streets in Birmingham for 2026, as chosen by local readers and writers. Find your perfect neighbourhood in Brum.
Right to Buy costs taxpayers £900m in council repurchases
UK taxpayers have paid over £900 million to councils repurchasing former social housing under Right to Buy. Sheffield and Edinburgh lead the list. Read the full analysis.
Liverpool campaign to resurface unadopted Hartley Avenue
A heritage campaigner is spearheading a drive to resurface Hartley Avenue, an unadopted road in Liverpool, aiming for formal council adoption to aid residents and businesses.
Plans approved for arson-hit Willenhall building
Major plans to transform a fire-damaged former pub in Willenhall into a 12-bed HMO and multi-use community hall have been approved. The New Testament Church of God will lead the regeneration.
Controversial HMO plan resubmitted in Smethwick
A developer has resubmitted plans for an 8-bed HMO in Smethwick, ignoring nearly 100 objections and a council rejection over parking and overcrowding fears. Read the full story.
Birmingham's Longest Council Home Wait Times Revealed
New data shows Birmingham residents face waits up to 250 weeks for social housing. Discover the worst-hit areas and how the council's system works.
Birmingham housing wait hits 250 weeks in Quinton
New data reveals 16 Birmingham areas are 'red zones' for council housing waits, with Quinton's 250-week lead. Discover the full list and official advice for applicants.
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