New DWP Cost of Living Payments Announced for UK Households
A new £1bn Crisis and Resilience Fund will provide emergency payments to low-income households on Universal Credit or Housing Benefit from April 2026. Learn about the new support.
Category : Search result: Birmingham housing crisis
Walsall brownfield sites can hold 5,000 homes
Walsall Council reveals only 5,000 homes can be built on brownfield land, meeting just four years of housing targets. Green belt development is now deemed essential.
£110m Deal for 600+ Affordable Oldham Homes
First Choice Homes Oldham secures a £110 million finance deal with Santander UK to build over 600 affordable homes and upgrade thousands more for energy efficiency. Discover the plans.
New DWP Crisis & Housing Benefits Start April 1
Two new DWP benefits, the Crisis Payment and Housing Payment, launch on April 1, 2026. Thousands of low-income households across England could be eligible for support from the £1bn Crisis and Resilience Fund. Learn more about the eligibility criteria and
Birmingham Council plans 4.8% social rent increase
Birmingham City Council plans a 4.8% rent rise for social housing to fund repairs and meet government standards. The increase, set for discussion on January 20, aims to tackle a backlog of maintenance issues.
80 Affordable Homes Open in Trafford
Southway Housing Trust's largest ever affordable rent and shared ownership scheme in Trafford is now open, helping families move out of temporary accommodation.
New DWP Cost of Living Payments Announced for 2026
The DWP announces a new £1bn Crisis and Resilience Fund with two key payments for 2026, not limited to benefit claimants. Learn how local councils will distribute support.
Birmingham's supported housing crisis sparks 6,000 complaints
A new report reveals over 6,000 complaints about crime and poor conditions in Birmingham's 'exempt' supported housing. The council has reclaimed £8.7m in benefits, but campaigners warn the crisis is deepening.
Birmingham Council sells £250m of property in crisis
Birmingham City Council has sold over 1,000 properties and plots of land, raising £250m to tackle its financial woes. Discover the full scale of the asset sales and what it means for the city's future.
Walsall Council grilled on housing and green belt
Walsall Council leaders will be questioned on housing targets, green belt development, and securing funding for affordable homes. Meeting set for January 12, 2026.
Stoke-on-Trent council rent hike of 4.8% proposed
Stoke-on-Trent City Council plans a 4.8% rent increase from April 2026, adding £4.29 weekly for tenants. Read the full details and impact on housing services.
Man prefers prison to struggle of finding work after release
Iain Macpherson, freed after 22 years for murder, claims the stigma of his life sentence makes employment and housing impossible, leaving him wishing for recall.
Homeless women face sub-zero New Year in Midlands
Two women slept rough in freezing West Midlands temperatures after being turned away from a shelter. They share their story of eviction, loss, and the struggle to find housing on Universal Credit.
Housing Benefit Frozen While Other DWP Payments Rise
Local Housing Allowance rates are frozen until 2026, creating an average £2,214 annual shortfall for renters. Discover the impact of this DWP policy.
Mum's two-year wait for disabled son's extension
A mother-of-three pleads for help after builders left a vital extension for her disabled son unfinished and 'riddled with damp' for two years. Read her story.
Birmingham Council House Wait Times: Holyhead Fastest
New data reveals the shortest and longest council house waiting times across Birmingham wards, with Holyhead at 30 weeks and Quinton at 250 weeks. Discover the full list and council advice.
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.
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.
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.
Union Chief: Gov Must Focus on Cost-of-Living in 2026
TUC leader Paul Nowak urges the Government to prioritise living standards in 2026, warning of political consequences. Survey reveals one in five skip meals daily.
Birmingham's worst-hit streets during bin strike revealed
As Birmingham's bin strike took hold, streets were engulfed by mountains of waste. See the areas worst affected and hear from frustrated residents demanding action.
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.
Birmingham food banks see hundreds ahead of Christmas
Hundreds of Birmingham residents, from the homeless to struggling workers, visited food banks in Lozells and Handsworth for essential supplies before Christmas. Read the full story.
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.
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.
Leasehold reform delay hits 5.2 million UK households
Vital leasehold reforms, including a rent cap, are delayed until 2026, leaving millions in limbo. Discover what this means for homeowners and the political fallout.
New 14-home plan for Malvern farmland submitted
A developer has submitted fresh plans for 14 homes on Malvern farmland, months after a scheme for nine properties was rejected by the council and dismissed on appeal. Read the latest details.
Sixes bar chain collapses, 16 UK venues at risk
Sixes, the cricket-themed bar chain backed by Ben Stokes, has collapsed into administration, putting 16 venues including Birmingham at risk. Read the latest on the rescue efforts.
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