In the first episode of the Inside Housing Management podcast, we discuss the research we carried out among frontline social housing staff to find out about the biggest issues they face in their work.  

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In this episode of the Inside Housing Management Podcast, we discuss handling noise complaints, which can have a huge impact on well-being, and supporting residents with complex mental health needs, an issue which frontline staff have told us is the biggest challenge they face in their work. 

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We discuss tried-and-tested ways to boost tenant engagement. 

Hosts Katharine Swindells, deputy features editor at Inside Housing, and Anna Highfield, best practice editor, are joined by engagement specialist Claire Blacka, who explains how to engage residents in a way that is both fun and meaningful – by turning it into a game. 

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.
Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

We discuss the best way to sensitively handle hoarding, the benefits of hiring a specialist mental health worker, and our exciting new campaign, #HousingManagementMatters.

The Inside Housing Management hosts are joined by special guest Abbie Peel, a communities and placemaking manager at Home Group. 

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What are the dangers of e-bike and e-scooter fires, and how can the risks be minimised?

Hosts Anna Highfield and Martin Hilditch, editor of Inside Housing, are joined by Alix Bedford from insurance agency Zurich Municipal, who explains why e-bike and e-scooter fires are a growing issue across the social housing sector. 

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.
Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

The results of a major survey are revealed, where we asked housing staff what they enjoy about their jobs, what drives them and how they got into the sector.

The episode also features an interview with Stacey Thwaites from housing association Gentoo, where she discusses how she got into the housing sector and why she feels like she can make a difference every day.

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.
Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

How can the social housing sector better support its resident-facing staff? Weighing in on the exclusive discussion is Kirsty Ellis, head of operations at Progress Housing Group, Anne-Marie Bancroft, director at specialist housing consultancy Altair, and Alison Inman, former president of the Chartered Institute of Housing and current chair of tenant engagement specialist Tpas.

The discussion covers topics including the growing remit of a housing officer, recognition, managing workloads, training and career progression, well-being and support, and fair wages. 

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.
Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Editor Anna Highfield talks to Inside Housing reporter Ellie Brown about shadowing Places for People (PfP) – and what she learned from her day with community housing manager Danny Flannery on his patch in Derby.

The co-hosts also discuss the latest Learning from severe maladministration report from the Housing Ombudsman, in which 12 landlords were named for failings over anti-social behaviour cases.

And guest Jen Radcliffe, head of partnerships at PfP Thrive, comes on the show to talk about housing management’s recruitment and retention problem, and what we can do to fix it. 

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.
Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Editor Anna Highfield and Inside Housing deputy features editor Katharine Swindells discuss the challenges that housing management staff face when dealing with ASB, and different approaches to managing it.

The co-hosts also discuss an enforcement notice served to a Birmingham supported housing provider by the Regulator of Social Housing.

This week our guest is Cheryl Gledhill-Kucuk, an award-winning housing partner at Accent, who joins us to speak about her experience handling ASB. 

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.
Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Anna Highfield, editor of Inside Housing Management, and Katharine Swindells, deputy features editor at Inside Housing, discuss the scale of the issue that is rent arrears, and how to take a different approach that might result in better outcomes for organisations, staff and residents.

The co-hosts also discuss new reports into the demand on homelessness services, and the state of government finances.

This week our guests are Catherine Cunliffe, who led the creation of a new income strategy at Lancaster City Council, which has reduced rent arrears to an all-time low, and Sam Jeffery, a member of Lancaster’s income team.

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.
Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Co-hosts Anna Highfield and Katharine Swindells discuss the results of a major investigation by Inside Housing Management into assaults against housing staff – which gathered data from 188 councils and 40 housing associations across the UK. 

We look at the rising levels of assaults revealed by the research, the possible reasons behind the trend, and what housing providers are doing about it, as well as exploring the residents’ perspective.

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.
Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

This week, we discuss how housing providers are taking a zero-tolerance approach to rising abuse and assaults against their staff. 

Our guest is Ellie Gooch, neighbourhood and community operations manager at Bromford Flagship, who talks about how the housing association has introduced a new zero-tolerance policy to abuse and aggression against its staff.

Hosts Anna Highfield and Ellie Brown are also joined by Inside Housing intern Kate Callaghan, to discuss how Rochdale Council is making a major change to its housing allocation banding and waiting lists. 

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.
Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

This week, we find out how housing providers are changing their approach to repairs to prepare for the implementation of Awaab’s Law at the end of October.

Also in the podcast, hosts Anna Highfield and Katharine Swindells are joined by Angela Manson, place team leader at Bromford Flagship, who talks about how the housing association has taken a fresh approach to boost its on-time repairs by 110% in one part of Bristol. 

Inside Housing news reporter Ellie Brown, who reported live from last week’s Labour Party Conference (28 September - 1 October), also explains how policy changes are set to impact housing providers. 

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.
Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Anna Highfield, editor of Inside Housing Management, and Katharine Swindells, deputy features editor at Inside Housing, discuss lessons from the Housing Diversity Network’s annual conference – including insightful training on better ways to respond to and tackle hate crime.

We also interview Melonie Wheatle, anti-social behaviour (ASB) officer at Hexagon Housing Association, about what her 13 years in ASB has taught her – including how the landscape of ASB has changed in that time, what the biggest barriers for ASB staff are in 2025, and what makes a good new recruit.

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.
Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Anna Highfield and Katharine Swindells discuss the key findings from Inside Housing’s Chief Executive Salary Survey 2025, the introduction of Awaab’s Law, and details of the incoming Competence and Conduct Standard for social housing. 

We also hear from Sarah Lamont, a specialist employment lawyer at law firm Bevan Brittan, about landlords’ main concerns regarding the Competence and Conduct Standard, and what providers can start doing to prepare for the regulations now. 

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.
Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Anna Highfield and Katharine Swindells discuss how housing management teams are using AI, from predicting rent arrears to identifying patterns in complaints, and how the technology is already changing the shape of housing management.

We also hear from Dr Guy Marshall, an independent AI and digital advisor for the housing sector, about how landlords can get their foot in the door with AI, including the best areas to start experimenting in, tips for small providers and the risks that staff should look out for.

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.
Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

In this episode of the Inside Housing Management Podcast, Anna Highfield, editor of Inside Housing Management, and Ellie Brown, news reporter at Inside Housing, discuss Anna’s experience shadowing a Peabody housing management team in north-east London.

We hear from Elaine Daley, neighbourhood manager at Peabody, and Ben Siegert, head of neighbourhoods at Peabody, about how major changes to decentralise their housing management services since merging with Catalyst in 2023 have changed things for their resident-facing staff.

We also hear an update on how landlords are coping with Awaab’s Law since it came into force on 27 October.

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.
Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Anna Highfield and Katharine Swindells discuss the Inside Housing Management brand’s most memorable moments and most-read articles since it launched in April.

We also hear from John Wilson, Traveller liaison and equine officer at Peabody, about his role working closely with Gypsy and Traveller communities who own and graze horses in Thamesmead, south-east London. 

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.
Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Anna Highfield, editor of Inside Housing Management, interviews B3Living’s chief executive Steve Woodcock about how the housing association achieved a top C1 consumer rating.

Anna is also joined by James Riding, living markets editor at Inside Housing, to discuss what’s in store for 2026 – including major incoming legislation and regulatory changes, key trends to be aware of and Inside Housing Management highlights to look out for this year.

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.
Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Hosts Anna Highfield and Katharine Swindells discuss the story behind a major social housing allocations investigation published in January.

They discuss the tip-off that instigated the investigation, the story behind it and what can happen when allocations policies have unintended consequences – both for residents and for housing management staff. 

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This episode of Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown and Clementine Scott.

Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Hosts Anna Highfield and Katharine Swindells discuss the Crime and Policing Bill and how, if implemented, it could bring new powers for housing staff tackling anti-social behaviour.

We explain the bill’s key proposals, the impact they could have on housing management staff and what the changes could mean for residents. 

We also hear from Sean Richards, community safety manager at West Kent Housing Association, who has worked alongside the police on multiple closure orders.

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.

Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Anna Highfield and Katharine Swindells talk about the launch of Inside Housing Management’s new housing Agony Aunt column.

We explain why we decided to introduce the column, explore some of the early dilemmas that housing staff have submitted, and introduce our five specialist Agony Aunts.

We are joined by Agony Aunt Kelly Street, head of communities at Places for People, to discuss how her years of experience in housing management have prepared her for the role – and some of the trickiest housing management cases she has dealt with.

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.

Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Anna Highfield and Katharine Swindells reveal the results of a major survey asking landlords how ready they are for the Competence and Conduct Standard.

We dig into what landlords told us about how they are preparing for the new legislation, their biggest challenges and concerns, and the perceived mood among staff members.

We also discuss what housing managers and leaders have been telling us anonymously after taking qualifications or supporting staff in taking them.

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.

Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

In this episode of the Inside Housing Management Podcast, Anna Highfield and Katharine Swindells  call for entries for the Inside Housing Management 30, and explain what we’re looking for in nominees.

We also discuss the state of play in housing repairs, exploring how landlords are responding to Awaab’s Law and where the Housing Ombudsman has highlighted gaps across the sector. 

Finally, we hear from Paul Withrington, safer neighbourhood officer at Golding Homes, with an important message about modern slavery and why housing staff should be looking out for signs of it.

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.

Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Anna Highfield and Ellie Brown discuss the top lessons for housing managers from a recent housing festival. We share insights on Awaab’s Law, the Competence and Conduct Standard, artificial intelligence in housing and the impact of the Iran war.

We also speak to Inside Housing Management Agony Aunt Mandeep Sahota about hoarding issues, digging deeper into her first column, in which she advises a housing professional on how to manage a tricky hoarding dilemma, by balancing care and support with legal and safety concerns.

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.

Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

In this rerun of a previous episode of the Inside Housing Management Podcast, Anna Highfield and Katharine Swindells explore whether housing providers should have ‘flag policies’, and how they can respond better to hate crime.

The popular episode also features an interview with Melonie Wheatle, anti-social behaviour (ASB) officer at Hexagon Housing Association, in which she shares lessons from her 13 years in the field, the biggest challenges for ASB staff in 2026, and what makes a good recruit.

Subscribe to Inside Housing Management by clicking here.

The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.

Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Hosts Anna Highfield and Katharine Swindells discuss the results of an Inside Housing survey about how the spread of misinformation on immigration and allocations is impacting the social housing sector.

We interview Zanda Rektina, housing and communities officer at South Liverpool Homes (SLH), and Anna Bishop, SLH’s chief executive, about how the organisation has been tackling this issue.

We also discuss an apparent rise in the number of social housing providers cracking down on tenancy fraud, and the reasons behind this trend. 

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.

Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Anna Highfield and Katharine Swindells discuss the sector’s changing approach to hoarding and speak to two housing associations tackling the issue in innovative ways. 

One of our guests this week is Jenny Devon, sustainment and cohesion manager at Liverpool-based housing association Prima, about a national pledge Prima has launched to get housing organisations to better support residents with hoarding.

We also speak to Clarion’s regional sustainment manager (East), Amanda Parnell, about an ambitious hoarding pilot project she has spearheaded, and Mark, a Clarion resident of 16 years, who was one of the first tenants to take part in the pilot. 

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.

Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Katharine Swindells and James Riding discuss the sector’s changing approach to resident engagement and whether it’s working.

We hear from Nic Bliss, director of the Stop Social Housing Stigma campaign, about the campaign’s latest survey and what it tells us about resident engagement in 2026.

We also speak to Cynthia Knight, scheme manager at Midlands-based housing association Stonewater, about an innovative food-based resident engagement project that she spearheaded for South Asian residents.

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.

Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Anna Highfield and Katharine Swindells discuss the incoming Social Tenant Access to Information Requirements (STAIRs) and whether the sector is ready for the change. 

We hear from Ben Pumphrey, partner and data governance specialist at law firm Anthony Collins, and Sue Ramsden, policy leader at the National Housing Federation, about how landlords should be preparing for STAIRs – and where things might go wrong in practice.

We also speak to Susan Noone, head of people at housing association Vivid, about a new mandatory customer skills credential that the organisation is rolling out for all staff, and what they hope to achieve with it.

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The Inside Housing Management Podcast is produced by Lucy Brown.

Music credits: Motivate by Wavecont (https://protunes.net/) | Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ | Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0