A rating game

In the post grant world of housing development that will commence next year, local authorities are being encouraged to use their access to cheap money on the back of the central government rating. This is ok but there are certain dangers. When small regional banks in Spain... read more.

Time for some good news

By Phil Shanks, 15 January 2013 It's January: traditionally the time for festive hangovers, bleak weather and - this time around - bleak economic forecasts. So what is the good news? I'll tell you... It is no secret that banks have ceased lending. As a consequence construc... read more.

Bridging the credibility gap

30th November 2012 Britain faces a housing crisis. With nearly one million of our fellow citizens living in inappropriate accommodation or homeless we are not building enough homes for people to live in. The National House Building Council’s latest year-to-date figures... read more.

Funding responsibility after the Universal Credit

20th November 2012 Some time ago I wrote a blog under the headline: “The baby on the  parish steps”. At the time of writing I knew that I would shortly be penning this piece.   In that article I highlighted my concerns that future funding for sup... read more.

Calculating the Social Premium

18th October 2012 Having spent the past few weeks presenting our financial model to the investment community, with yet more meetings to come, I have become well versed in explaining not only that the investment is well constructed and the risks properly managed, but that th... read more.

Mansion Tax?

30th September 2012 We already have it. Shame that it is the poor that will pay it. I was bought up in Local Authority Council housing and still believe passionately that the best way to provide affordable social housing for hard working families is for the state to fund a... read more.

First time home buyers

23rd September 2012 Today, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg announced with excitement a new government measure to help first time buyers. He has announced that regulations will be changed to allow parents and grandparents to draw on their pension pots to secure depo... read more.

The UK's first social housing REIT

15th September 2012 In seeking to marry the need for thousands of affordable and specialist houses with demands from potential investors, the journey to launch the UK's first social housing REIT is one that is fraught with both financial and ideological chall... read more.

Working well with our experts

September 10th 2012 The process of floating an organisation on the market is expensive and complicated. Much of that expense arises from the host of experts you are required to engage. In the case of SAF Housing which is planning to list the Houses4Homes Real Estate Investm... read more.

REIT ready to Launch

September 8th 2012 In developing the first purpose built residential Real Estate Investment Trust which will shortly go live, we have been pursuing the implementation of assumptions. There are a number of assumptions that fall within the province of "everyone knows" these ... read more.

Paralysis of analysis

September 5th 2012 As we begin to implement our Real Estate Investment Trust which will bring private and institutional investment to the affordable and specialist housing market, my attention was drawn to a housing report, commissioned by the government from the chair... read more.

The most vulnerable fear a Dickensian future

This article was published in the Yorkshire Post on 29 August 2012 By Phil Shanks, Chief Executive, Houses4Homes Dickens wrote about the workhouse and of foundlings; children literally left on steps of the parish, their parents unable or unwilling to look after them. They ... read more.

The day the wheels came off

August 27th 2012 Despite heartfelt and nationwide cheers for everything British following a successful London 2012, our economy lingers on the verge of decline yet again. This is a time when we need as much commitment and dedication from our leaders to solve the UKs economi... read more.

The last fence: mouth but no muscle

14th August 2012 Over the course of my time in business I have, from time to time, helped turn a failing business around. It is both an interesting and challenging process that calls for clear rules to be followed in order to succeed. Most importantly, it demands commitment... read more.

Public outrage: The new investment risk

August 8th 2012 Last week my co-director Juliette and I met with members of London’s finance community in preparation for the market launch of our social housing REIT. It was a mixed bag of people who were enthusiastic and positive about what we are aiming to achieve,... read more.