Housing

We are deep in a housing crisis – why are so many properties still empty?

New data reveals councils are barely taking over empty homes anymore, amid calls for a new national programme to bring unused properties back into use.

Dec 13 • Matty Edwards and The Lead

New asylum policies making homeless refugees “targets for the far right”

Labour’s abrupt return to the 28-day move-on period is pushing vulnerable people into rough sleeping and exposing them to fraud and abuse.

Nov 25 • The Lead and Chaminda Jayanetti

The Lead Untangles: Is there a simple solution to the homelessness crisis?

Ahead of the Budget, the housing sector is united in calling for Local Housing Allowance rates to be unfrozen – will Reeves listen?

Nov 20 • Matty Edwards and The Lead

London is getting homeless families out of hotels – but the crisis is far from over

Councils in the capital have managed to vastly reduce the number of families in hotels and B&Bs, but is this really a win in the battle against…

Oct 25 • Matty Edwards and The Lead

13 Labour MPs have joined our call for Council Tax Reform

It's about time. And there's stirrings in the North of England.

Oct 14 • Ella Glover and The Lead

The scramble for a spare room

Inside the experience of trying to get by in houses of multiple occupation and the realities of renting in 2025. Ella Glover writes as the Renters…

Sep 9 • Ella Glover and The Lead

A landlord should never be the homelessness minister

Plus: Our summer reads in a bumper The Lead Digest, ReformWatch including the Reform UK Board election and latest from The Lead North.

Aug 7 • Zoe Grunewald and The Lead

How Bristol put a lid on temporary accommodation costs amid homelessness crisis

Councils are piloting ways to tackle the cost of housing a record number of homeless families while we wait for a new strategy from the government.

Jul 19 • The Lead and Matty Edwards

A crucial safety net for Britain's homeowners is facing the scrap heap

Plus: Child poverty is getting worse – what will Labour do about it? And, the NHS ten-year plan tell us your thoughts...

Jul 8 • Hannah Fearn and The Lead

A year of Labour in power - the report card, part I

We rank how Keir Starmer and the government is performing against a progressive agenda on the economy, NHS, housing and education and you give your…

Jul 3 • Zoe Grunewald and The Lead

I was homeless. Tackling rough sleeping requires a system overhaul – decriminalisation is just the start

Plus: Another scoop from The Lead North about the so-called 'Reform Pub', councillors are dropping like flies in this week's Reform Watch, and all our…

Jun 19 • The Lead and Chantelle Lunt

Spending Review: This government means business on the housing crisis

Plus: The latest ReformWatch, the best of our in-depth reporting from the North + The Lead Digest with everything we're reading and watching this week.

Jun 12 • Hannah Fearn and The Lead

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