Lunchtime news March 2

The private sector will be given a bigger role in welfare to work in Monday’s launch of the Freud report, says the Financial Times.

Demand for private rented homes is rising at its fastest rate for nine years thanks to a buoyant economy and migration, according to the latest RICS lettings survey.

Arm’s length management organisations say government funding delays could lead to redundancies and falling inspection scores, reports Inside Housing.

Housing associations in London are struggling to spend their allocations from the Housing Corporation, raising fears the money could be diverted elsewhere, reports Inside Housing.

Places for People has set up a new joint venture with regeneration and development specialist Cofton that will invest £300m in land acquisition over the next two years. One of the first jobs for Making Places will be the £200m transformation of Smith’s Dock in Newcastle.

And finally….maybe communities are more mixed than we think. The Daily Mail has found a viscount living in a council house.