Housing Quality Network: Here you will find information and briefings from HQN, plus all the latest information from government, regulators and inspectors. Scroll down to find the document you want. Documents are also stored under Housing Info, and older items are in our archive.

Locata - A New Way Of Finding Homes: Five London boroughs and three housing associations have joined forces in Locata to help people find the homes they want. So far Locata has found homes for over 7000 households.

London Housing Website: London Housing, part of the Association of London Government, provides research, analysis and information on housing and associated issues on behalf of the 25 London councils that subscribe to the service.

Orbit Group: The Orbit Group website. All members of the Orbit Group work in partnership to build a brighter future for people and communities.

National Rent Deposit Forum: National Rent Deposit Forum. A national umbrella organisation that supports rent deposit schemes and encourages new ones to develop. With 250 member-schemes around the UK helping homeless people access private rented housing.

The Housing Ombudsman: The Housing Ombudsman Service considers complaints against member organisations, and deals with other housing disputes.

Affordable Housing For Rural Communities: Guide: The good practice guide, Affordable Housing for Rural Communities is available free. Contact: Sussex Rural Community Council. Tel: 01273 473422.

Housing: There is an increasing and pressing need for social and low cost housing in rural areas. Demand for rural housing from incomers, opting to commute to town based work, and from the elderly, choosing to retire in the country, together with restricted availability of sites for new rural houses has created a shortage of affordable accommodation for those who have grown up in the countryside. In response the Rural White Paper (1995) has proposed a ‘no right to buy’ council or housing association houses policy in communities of less than 3000 people so as to ensure a source of low cost accommodation. In 1996 the Government announced that there is a national need to build 4.4 million new homes in the U.K. Where these homes are to be built is now the subject of keen debate. (Source: Rural Development Commission) See also the Rural Housing Trust.

Regionalisation, Devolution And Social Housing: This report for National Housing Week affirms that housing organisations must focus on regeneration as a key concern. It also covers household growth on brownfield and greenfield sites as well as the link between housing and social exclusion. Included are case studies from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, which all have national housing agencies. It is also argued that while the European Union has no direct responsibility for housing, its Structural Funds are relevant to this sector. Contact: National Housing, Octavia House, Westwood Way, Coventry CV4 8JP.

Stirling University Housing Policy And Practice Unit (Hppu): The Housing Policy and Practice Unit (HPPU) has been at the forefront of education for the housing profession since it was established in 1980. The HPPU’s main area of work is the delivery of post-graduate level courses leading to the professional qualification, the Diploma in Housing Studies.