Politics

Want to influence housing policy in England? All the arguments may be on your side, but in the end it comes down to two things: money and votes. By Emma Hawkey

Read more

Courts to report on possession action by social landlords. By Melanie Delargy

Read more

While there is a lack of information about soaring eviction action by social landlords, more people will lose their homes. Melanie Delargy reports.

Read more

Housing minister Lord Falconer tells Melanie Delargy why we need the numbers on social evictions.

Read more

In one of the most significant extensions of enfranchisement since woman got the vote, homeless people were given a voice for the first time in June's general election. Kathy Moran looks at the success of the new legislation and talks to homeless people in London about their views while Susan Nickalls takes soundings in Edinburgh

Read more

Working families tax credit is one of the governments key measures to encourage more people back to work. But David Webster argues that the system is failing to achieve its desired aims

Read more

Westminster elections seem increasingly irrelevant to housing in devolved Scotland and Wales. On social security, and housing benefit in particular, that perception is wrong. But Mary Taylor says there is little political will to change the status quo in Scotland

Read more

It seems hard to believe, but it's now four years since Labour was swept to power by its biggest-ever general election victory. But what has Tony Blair's government actually achieved on housing since it came to power back in May 1997? Looking back at its record, the answer of our jury is surprisingly upbeat. Report: Julian Blake

Read more

Labour went into the 1997 general election with manifesto commitment to introduce a licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation. After four years in office, it will enter the next campaign with the pledge unfulfilled. What are the prospects for licensing now - and are wider reforms to revive the private rented sector still a government priority? Julian Blake reports

Read more

A labour government with a huge majority and well ahead in the polls calls a snap election. Against all the odds it loses to a Conservative party written off by the pundits. Unlikely? Yes. Unthinkable? It happened in 1970. What would it mean for housing if it happened again? John Goodwin asks shadow environment secretary Archie Norman

Read more

Britain's housing benefit system is in crisis, with hundreds of thousands of claimants suffering intolerable delays. Over-regulation, combined with shockingly poor levels of service and disastrous local privatisations have conspired to push the system to the point of collapse. Will the government now act? Julian Blake reports

Read more