social housing

From July this year, the closure of Wren Insurance Association marks a pivotal shift in how professional indemnity (PI) risk is managed across the construction sector. While the immediate impact falls on architects, the implications extend well beyond design practices affecting contractors, developers and the wider supply chain at a time when building safety and compliance remain under intense scrutiny.

Valcan, manufacturer of cladding systems, works with project teams navigating façade design, fire performance and regulatory change. In collaboration with Consort Insurance, and drawing on insight from Daniel White, we’ve explored what Wren’s closure means in practice, why it matters now, and how firms can respond more resiliently.

As the Future Homes Standard (FHS) moves into its final policy stage before implementation, the Waste Water Heat Recovery (WWHR) sector, led by Showersave and Recoup, has identified that the framework may limit opportunities for reducing domestic hot water (DHW) demand – despite hot water accounting for one of the largest energy demands in both new-build and existing homes undergoing decarbonisation and retrofit improvements.

In January 2026, Ofgem launched new consumer protection rules to begin regulating the heat networks sector in Great Britain. This was a major milestone that will, over time, change how these services operate, putting consumers at the heart of everything they do. Ofgem have now launched a new digital service, and all heat networks are required to register in this service by 26 January 2027.  and all heat networks are required to register in this service by 27 January 2027. 

Leading sheet vinyl flooring brand Beauflor will be presenting its collections designed to cope with the unique demands of social housing projects at Housing 2026.

Exhibiting at Manchester’s Housing 2026, Beauflor will show that its sheet vinyl flooring is a cost-effective solution in social and homes. Offering style, comfort and an easy to look after floor for tenants, while giving providers a simple to install, multi-width, long-lasting solution in all areas; Beauflor sheet vinyl performs faultlessly.

Discover IVC Commercial’s affordable social housing flooring solutions at Housing 2026.

Leading European manufacturer of sheet vinyl flooring, IVC Commercial will be exhibiting at Housing 2026, showcasing its dedicated social housing collections that are affordable for providers and which have the ability to improve lives for tena

Sheet vinyl floors from IVC Commercial provide social housing with a flooring option that’s suitable for more than just bathrooms and kitchens.

A growing number of social housing providers are stepping beyond regulation to consider the positive impact of providing suitable floor coverings throughout the home. With measurable positive impact on tenants, the move towards provision above current standards suggests a new way of thinking about social housing that places greater emphasis on wellbeing.

With the recent announcement that the revised Decent Homes Standard for England will not mandate floor coverings in all rooms of social housing, Beauflor asks whether the provision of flooring for tenants should really be a postcode lottery.

While some forward-thinking social housing providers in England are including floor coverings throughout the homes they let, many others are still stripping out the attempts of previous tenants to improve the standard of their home and welcoming new tenants with bare floors. Unsurprisingly, these bare floors put tenants under financial strain to put right, or they are simply left living and sleeping in a home that has a negative impact on their well-being.