Bromsgrove Named Top Midlands Place to Live 2026
Leafy Bromsgrove has been celebrated as one of the best places to live in the Midlands for 2026, praised for its vibrant high street, top schools, and scenic countryside access.
Category : Housing Issues
Affordable Flats Plan for Former Library Site Approved
Sandwell Council and SWG Construction have received planning approval to build nine affordable flats on the site of the former Harvest Road day centre and library in Rowley Regis, addressing a critical housing shortage.
Simple Paint Solutions Over Costly Room Renovations
Discover how a fresh coat of paint can transform tired walls without the disruption of a full renovation. Learn tips for finding inspiration and choosing professional help.
Four Oaks: Birmingham's Wealthy Suburb with High Home Prices
Explore Four Oaks in Sutton Coldfield, where average house prices near £500,000 and residents praise schools, shops, and stability amid planning debates.
Council Orders Fence Removal Despite Safety Concerns for Autistic Child
A Worcestershire couple faces a council order to demolish their garden fence, deemed 78cm too tall, despite installing it to protect their autistic son from a busy road, sparking a local safety debate.
Birmingham's Rogue Landlord Team Loses Government Funding
The Government has rejected pleas to continue funding Birmingham's specialist team tackling rogue supported exempt accommodation providers. The council must now find alternative resources to maintain the successful pilot project.
Last Chance for Free Air Fryers for North Lincolnshire Pensioners
North Lincolnshire Council urges eligible state pensioners born before 1959 to apply quickly for remaining free energy-efficient cooking appliances before stock runs out.
Birmingham MPs Expose Supported Housing Crisis in City Neighborhoods
Birmingham MPs reveal shocking conditions in supported exempt housing sector, with 32,000 vulnerable residents living alongside families amid drug use, mental health crises, and inadequate support.
Pensioners 'Hoodwinked' by £400 Leasehold Fee Rise
A 72-year-old pensioner faces nearly £400 monthly leasehold fees, feeling trapped despite a government cap on ground rents set for 2028, with campaigners calling for faster reform.
Druids Heath Regeneration Advances After Council Error
Birmingham City Council is proceeding with the multi-million pound Druids Heath regeneration despite a legal challenge over an 'embarrassing' planning mistake. New images reveal the estate's future look.
Druids Heath Regeneration Vision Unveiled Despite Setback
Birmingham City Council's masterplan for Druids Heath reveals a transformative vision for the estate over the next two decades, despite a legal challenge stalling progress.
Birmingham Estate Regeneration Delayed After Court Ruling
A major regeneration scheme in Birmingham's Druids Heath estate has been halted after the High Court quashed planning permission. Residents successfully challenged the council's decision, citing lack of transparency around financial viability assessments.
Funeral Traffic Chaos Sparks Outcry at Sutton Cemetery
Residents in Sutton Coldfield are demanding action after repeated funeral traffic jams outside New Hall Cemetery led to police intervention and emotional confrontations.
Birmingham Tenant's Sewer Under Bedroom, Rats, £1,200 Monthly Bill
A Birmingham council tenant faces a six-year ordeal with a sewer under her bedroom, rat infestation, and paying £1,200 monthly for unsafe housing and temporary accommodation.
Birmingham Council Hit by 50k+ Damp and Mould Complaints
Birmingham City Council has received over 50,000 complaints about damp and mould in the past five years, with health issues costing the NHS £1.4 billion annually.
Ombersley: Top Midlands Village Where Homes Are Scarce
The picturesque Worcestershire village of Ombersley has been highlighted as one of the West Midlands' most desirable places to live in 2026, praised for its charm and connectivity. However, fierce competition and high prices make it largely inaccessible f
Council Orders Removal of Fence for Autistic Child Over Height
A Worcestershire couple faces dismantling their £3,000 garden fence, installed to protect their autistic son, after the council deemed it 78cm too tall and incompatible with village character.
Council Rejects HMO Plans for Former Police Training Centre
Sandwell Council has refused permission to convert the vacant Windmill House police training facility in Smethwick into a 76-bed house of multiple occupation, citing numerous planning concerns.
Worcestershire Pensioners Get £300 Cost of Living Payments
Worcestershire Council announces expanded Household Support Fund providing £300 payments to eligible pensioners and vulnerable residents facing financial hardship.
10-Year Residency Rule Proposed for Birmingham Council Housing
Birmingham Local Conservatives propose requiring 10 years of continuous local connection to access social housing, aiming to prioritize long-term residents amid a severe housing crisis with over 23,000 on the waiting list.
Dudley Council Approves 4.8% Rent Increase for Tenants
Dudley Council's cabinet has approved a 4.8% rent increase for council house tenants, sparking political clashes over scrutiny and resident benefits.
First-Time Buyers Pay Thousands in Stamp Duty Despite Relief
New HMRC data reveals that first-time buyers are paying an average of £4,073 in stamp duty even with tax relief, as thresholds have been reduced, increasing financial pressure.
Families Outraged Over Flooded Walsall Cemetery Graves
Mourners at North Walsall Cemetery express heartbreak as graves flood again, with one daughter saying her mother 'would not want to be anywhere like that' due to persistent drainage issues.
Labour May Revive Help to Buy Scheme as Builders Push for Demand
The Labour government is evaluating a new version of the discontinued Help to Buy scheme under pressure from housebuilders to stimulate housing demand and support first-time buyers.
Bilston's £20m Revitalisation Plan Set for Approval
A ten-year vision to revitalise Bilston with £20 million in funding will be discussed by Wolverhampton Council's cabinet. The plan includes high street improvements, park upgrades, community facilities, and the return of Bilston Carnival after 18 years.
Council Sorry as Tenant Pays £1,200 for Rat-Infested Flat
A Birmingham council tenant is paying £1,200 for a rat-infested flat with a live sewer manhole in her bedroom, deemed unsafe after six years of complaints and job loss.
West Midlands' Happiest Places for 2026 Named
Rightmove's 2026 happiness survey highlights Leamington Spa as the top spot in the West Midlands, with other towns like Lichfield and Stratford also ranking high based on resident feedback.
Abandoned Petrol Station Frozen in Time Faces Demolition
A derelict petrol station in Willenhall, West Midlands, remains frozen in time with everyday items still inside after nearly a decade of abandonment, now set for demolition to make way for housing development.
Gervais Supports Street Paws' 'No One Left Outside' Campaign
Comedian Ricky Gervais endorses Street Paws' campaign to end housing policies forcing homeless people to choose between accommodation and their pets, highlighting the crisis in Yorkshire towns.
Shard End Terrace with Garden Office for £280k
A three-bedroom mid-terrace home on Hurst Lane in Birmingham's Shard End area offers three floors, two bathrooms, and a garden summer house ideal as a home office. Priced at £280,000.
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