Time for a Social Housing Revolution: SHAC supports Manchester initiative

SHAC's Chair, Niall Mulholland, attended the Manchester launch of the 'It's Time for a Social Rent Revolution!' commission on May 15, 2026. A wide ranging audience included Greater Manchester Tenants Union and local MPs and councillors. The report includes excellent analysis and demands on the government. SHAC's own call is for an even more ambitious target for social housing for new developments as the level of need keeps on rising. You can see the commission's outputs and report here.

Social Housing Stigma: 
Baroness Taylor's Event

This week, Baroness Taylor held a 'Round Table' event on social housing stigma. Various housing campaigns attended including Stop Social Housing Stigma, alongside representatives from the sector's larger housing associations and the Housing Ombudsman.

Niall Mulholland, SHAC chair attended on our behalf and explained that the stigma is caused by ideological, political, and economic factors, all of which lead to the catastrophic loss of social housing. Along with other participants, Niall called for structural change: ending stigmatising language, creating mass, quality, affordable council and social housing, and establishing genuine democratic tenant participation and decision making. He highlighted SHAC's initiative for a national tenants and residents union. 

The Guardian: 
More than £52m reserved for social housing at risk after collapse of investment firms

Paul Kershaw, the chair of Unite’s Housing Workers Branch who also sits on the SHAC Committee, was recently interviewed for a Guardian article about the collapse of Heylo, a 'for profit' housing associaiton. The article highlights that 3,500 social homes could switch to private sector after companies run by Heylo Housing group go into administration.

Paul explained that such 'for profit' associations represent a risk for the Regulator, and asks "who picks up the tab when things go wrong? The investors, like BlackRock want the profit when things go well, but they don’t want the risk.” Read here.

Housing Sector Podcast:
The Decant Trap

Housing Sector Podcast #71 features Mark Hughes and SHAC Committee member Muhammad Khan. They discuss decants in social housing which often have the effect of displacing residents, leaving them to languish in temporary accommodation, and also break up communities. This episode also explores Grenfell-related trust issues, complaints handling, resident engagement, Awaab’s Law, and the growing tensions between housing providers and residents. Hosted by SHAC's campaign partner, Ben Jenkins. Listen here.

Shared Ownership Resources:
Shared Ownership and Subletting

Sue Phillips, our campaign partner at Shared Ownership Resources, has created a new guide on the Renters’ Rights Act, shared ownership and subletting. There’s a deadline of 31 May for shared owner landlords to send the required information to their tenants. Please see the resource here.

Next SHAC Monthly Meeting

Our regular monthly meetings provide an opportunity to hear updates on our campaigning and action, and to share any actions you are taking to hold your landlord to account.

Please join us for the next meeting:

6.30pm, Thursday 25th June

Zoom link - passcode 459809

Add the date to your calendar here. You can find details of all SHAC events here.