Here are my articles published by Inside Housing
The government’s affordable rent product means some tenants are being fleeced for no good reason other than they can be and it has to stop, argues Martin Wicks
Inside Housing – Comment – Time to end the use of (un)affordable rent
18.03.2022
Tenants have to fight for the right to be consulted on a far too regular basis, argues Martin Wicks
Inside Housing – Comment – There’s too much lip service paid to tenant engagement
17.11.2020
New leadership of the party does not change the nature of the housing crisis or the solution members voted for: a major new programme of council homes for social rent. The party must continue to push for this, writes Martin Wicks
23.09.2020
A regeneration scheme in Swindon, which will reduce the number of homes available at social rent levels in favour of higher affordable rents, highlights the folly of the current national approach to housing. The current pandemic highlights more than ever why the nation should rediscover its love of social rent, writes Martin Wicks
Inside Housing – Comment – Enough is enough, we need to call time on affordable rent
01.06.2020
Despite extra government funding, fears mount over the impact the coronavirus crisis will have on councils’ finances. In this respect, there are many reasons to cancel Housing Revenue Account debt, argues Martin Wicks
Inside Housing – Comment – If NHS debt can be written off, why not the same for HRA arrears?
22.04.2020
If the government intends to meets it housebuilding target, councils will need more money to help them, argues Martin Wicks
17.02.2020
Many housing associations are turning their back on fixed-term tenancies. Martin Wicks welcomes this and says secure tenancies are needed for stable communities
Inside Housing – Comment – Why secure tenancies are needed to help build communities
21.11.2019
The Labour Party conference last week sparked plenty of debate over housing policy. Here, Martin Wicks urges the party’s leadership to make a firmer commitment on building new council houses
Inside Housing – Comment – Why Labour must commit to £10bn for new council housing
02.10.2019
With a growing private rented sector, new groups are emerging to tackle injustices. Martin Wicks explains how collective organisation can force change
Inside Housing – Comment – How collective power is making a difference for tenants
27.08.2019
Labour’s housing policy does not put enough on emphasis on building and protecting council housing. It is time for the party to listen to its members, writes Martin Wicks
Inside Housing – Comment – Labour must listen to its members and focus its policy on council housing
11.07.2019
Labour’s plans to tackle the housing crisis will fail unless they are bold enough to back councils with guaranteed grant, spend more and scrap the Right to Buy, writes Martin Wicks
Inside Housing – Comment – Labour must adopt bolder housing policies
27.03.2019
Martin Wicks reports on the latest in a series of tenant meetings about the Social Housing Green Paper and explains why he was disappointed with what happened
Inside Housing – Comment – MHCLG should not try to control tenant engagement events
12.11.2018
Theresa May’s decision to scrap the council borrowing cap has been welcomed, but it is no substitute for grant and could leave tenants facing extra costs, writes Martin Wicks
Inside Housing – Comment – Existing council tenants should not bear the costs of new building
10.10.2018
Unless self-financing debt allocations are reset to take into account lower-than-expected income, councils will struggle to maintain existing stock, writes Martin Wicks
06.02.2018
Many housing associations are turning their back on fixed-term tenancies. Martin Wicks welcomes this and says secure tenancies are needed for stable communities
Inside Housing – Comment – Why secure tenancies are needed to help build communities
Martin Wicks 