The Housing Sector Podcast

Ben Jenkins
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  • Society & Culture

The Housing Sector Podcasts provide candid, insightful discussions on housing issues, featuring unfiltered conversations with residents and industry insiders to advocate for better services and transparency in the housing sector.

  1. Housing Sector Podcast #74 – Are Rent Strikes Coming?

    Jun 29

    Housing Sector Podcast #74 – Are Rent Strikes Coming?

    Could the UK be heading towards a new wave of rent strikes? In this episode, I sit down with Suze Muna from SHAC (Social Housing Action Campaign) to explore why more tenants and leaseholders are reaching breaking point. We discuss the growing pressure of rising rents and spiralling service charges, the financial position of housing associations, and whether frustration is beginning to turn into organised action. We also look at the proposal for a National Housing Union and ask whether the sector is listening to the people it exists to serve. In this episode we discuss: • What rent strikes are – and why they happen. • The impact of rising service charges. • Housing association finances and accountability. • Whether residents' voices are being heard. • The case for a National Housing Union. • What the future could look like if confidence in the sector continues to decline. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Do you think rent strikes are becoming a realistic possibility, or can the sector rebuild trust before it reaches that point? Please like, subscribe and share if you find these conversations valuable. https://shaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SHAC-Blueprint-for-a-National-Housing-Union-July-2026-Full-Version-V1.pdf #HousingSector #SocialHousing #RentStrikes #ServiceCharges #HousingAssociations #Tenants #Leaseholders #HousingPodcast #SHAC #NationalHousingUnion Support the show

    39 min
  2. Housing Sector Podcast #73 – The Boardroom Blind Spot?

    Jun 8

    Housing Sector Podcast #73 – The Boardroom Blind Spot?

    Housing Sector Podcast #73 – The Boardroom Blind Spot? In this episode, I am joined by Hannah Howard-Jones to explore one of the most important questions facing the housing sector today: are housing association boards asking the right questions? We discuss the role of boards, governance, accountability, CEO oversight, mergers, organisational culture, data quality, AI, and why transparency matters more than ever. From scrutinising performance data to holding senior leaders to account, this conversation examines whether boards are getting the information they need, whether they are challenging effectively, and what happens when organisations lose sight of their purpose. Topics covered: • The role of housing association boards • Governance and accountability • CEO performance and leadership • Board scrutiny and challenge • Housing association mergers • Data quality and decision-making • Artificial intelligence and risk • Resident trust and transparency • Leadership culture in social housing My thanks to Hannah Howard-Jones for joining me once again for a thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion. Follow, share, and visit housingsector.co.uk — because the more people who understand what’s really going on, the harder it becomes to ignore. #HousingSector #HousingSectorPodcast #SocialHousing #HousingAssociations #Governance #BoardMembers #HousingLeadership #Accountability #TenantVoice #ResidentVoice #DataGovernance #ArtificialIntelligence #HousingManagement #HannahHowardJones #BenJenkins Support the show

    35 min
  3. Housing Sector Podcast #72 - Blame the Victim

    May 18

    Housing Sector Podcast #72 - Blame the Victim

    In this episode of the Housing Sector Podcast, I speak with Stephen Day about building safety, institutional candour, resident campaigning, and what happens when people raising serious concerns become the target instead of the issues themselves. We discuss:  post-Grenfell fire safety concerns  compartmentation failures and remediation disputes  PAS 9980 and watered-down remediation standards  accusations of harassment against campaigners  councils, developers, and accountability  the culture of “deny, attack, reverse victim and offender”  why residents increasingly feel silenced rather than heard The conversation focuses heavily on the ongoing situation at Royal Artillery Quays and the wider questions facing the housing sector nearly a decade after Grenfell Tower fire. Follow, share, and visit housingsector.co.uk — because the more people who understand what’s really going on, the harder it becomes to ignore. https://substack.com/home/post/p-197129987 https://www.businessinsider.com/grenfell-fire-expert-colin-todd-disabled-people-2022-2 #HousingSector #BenJenkins #StephenDay #Grenfell #BuildingSafety #CladdingScandal #FireSafety #SocialHousing #PAS9980 #ResidentVoice #HousingPodcast #TenantRights #Accountability #Leasehold #RoyalArtilleryQuays #HousingCrisis Support the show

    35 min
  4. Housing Sector Podcast #71 The Decant Trap

    May 11

    Housing Sector Podcast #71 The Decant Trap

    In Housing Sector Podcast #71, I speak with Mark Hughes from Southwark and Muhammad Khan from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea about growing concerns around the use of decants within social housing. The discussion explores allegations that temporary decants are increasingly being used in ways that leave residents permanently displaced from their homes. Mark shares his personal experience involving disrepair, lock changes, temporary accommodation issues, and legal action, while Muhammad discusses concerns around unsuitable accommodation, resident mistrust following Grenfell, and fears surrounding regeneration and displacement. We also discuss:  Temporary vs permanent decants  Repairs and disrepair in social housing  Resident trust and accountability  The impact on families and vulnerable tenants  Tenant participation and resident panels  PR, complaints handling, and governance culture  Awaab’s Law and housing obligations This episode contains allegations and personal experiences discussed by the guests. Relevant councils will be offered a right of reply. Follow, share, and visit housingsector.co.uk — because the more people who understand what’s really going on, the harder it becomes to ignore. #HousingSector #SocialHousing #HousingPodcast #Decant #TenantRights #CouncilHousing #Disrepair #HousingCrisis #AwaabsLaw #Southwark #RBKC #Grenfell #HousingAssociation #ServiceCharges #BenJenkins Support the show

    34 min
  5. Housing Sector #70 The Landlord’s Trap

    Apr 20

    Housing Sector #70 The Landlord’s Trap

    In Housing Sector Podcast #70, I speak to Richard Duvall, a landlord and tenant caught in a situation that highlights a growing issue within the housing system. After renting out his one-bedroom flat on a short-term agreement, Richard expected to move back in when the contract ended. Instead, nearly 18 months later, his tenant remains in place, paying little to no rent, while he continues to cover the mortgage, bills, and rent on another property. This episode explores the reality behind Section 21, court delays, and the gap between legal rights and real-world outcomes. It raises difficult questions about balance, where protections designed to support tenants may also be leaving some landlords financially exposed. With debt rising, court timelines stretching, and no clear resolution, this is a case that shows how the system can stall when it matters most. If the system is meant to protect both sides, what happens when it fails one completely? #HousingSector #BenJenkins #Landlords #Tenants #Eviction #Section21 #HousingCrisis #UKHousing #PropertyLaw #HousingJustice #CostOfLiving #CourtDelays #TenantRights #LandlordRights Support the show

    23 min
  6. Housing Sector Podcast #69 – New Beginnings with Katie Joyce

    Apr 13

    Housing Sector Podcast #69 – New Beginnings with Katie Joyce

    In Housing Sector Podcast #69, I sit down with author Katie Joyce to discuss her debut novel New Beginnings — a fictional story grounded in real experiences from frontline homelessness services. Katie shares her journey from acting into working in hostels, shelters, and outreach during COVID, and the realities of supporting people facing homelessness, trauma, and mental health challenges. We explore the pressures staff face, the gaps in the system, and why burnout is so common in supported housing. We also discuss the writing process, turning lived experience into fiction, and how storytelling can help people feel seen in a sector that is often overlooked. This is a conversation about homelessness, frontline pressure, and the human stories behind the system. Print: https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Beginnings-Katie-Joyce/dp/1915905958/ Ebook: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0GR6FWZDS/ Audiobook: https://open.spotify.com/show/2pOjmVyxXvLIbqYov1HI3T?si=yoaQRR2HRXeiL7M5caoMig  Support the show

    26 min
  7. Housing Sector Podcast #68 - Missing Invoices, Legal Threats and the Housing Playbook

    Apr 7

    Housing Sector Podcast #68 - Missing Invoices, Legal Threats and the Housing Playbook

    In Housing Sector Podcast #68, I’m joined once again by Suz Muna from Social Housing Action Campaign (SHAC) to break down a case that goes right to the heart of what’s going wrong in the housing sector. We start with a shocking example involving Peabody, where residents uncovered that around half a million pounds’ worth of service charge costs had no supporting invoices. What makes this even more serious is that this wasn’t just poor record-keeping—it involved misleading both an MP and the Housing Ombudsman Service. From there, the conversation opens up into a much bigger issue: how service charge overcharging is impacting not just residents, but taxpayers as well. With housing benefit often covering these costs, the consequences extend far beyond individual households. We then move into the tactics being used when residents push back. From being labelled “vexatious” to facing legal pressure, communication restrictions, and intimidation, there is a growing pattern emerging across the sector. I share my own experience of being targeted through legal threats, including what’s known as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), and how these are being used to silence people raising legitimate concerns. We also discuss the wider culture within the sector, including the role of events, awards, and professional bodies like the Chartered Institute of Housing, and whether these environments are helping drive improvement—or simply reinforcing the status quo. This episode is about more than one case. It’s about patterns, systems, and the reality many residents face when they speak up. The key message is simple: you are not alone. Whether it’s through SHAC, tenant groups, or informal networks, there is strength in numbers—and that may be the most important tool residents have. Follow, share, and visit housingsector.co.uk — because the more people who understand what’s really going on, the harder it becomes to ignore. #HousingSector #ServiceCharges #SocialHousing #TenantRights #HousingCrisis #SHAC #HousingOmbudsman #SLAPPs #Leasehold #SharedOwnership #Accountability #BenJenkins Support the show

    38 min
  8. Housing Sector Podcast #67 - From Modular Promise to Ongoing Mess

    Mar 25

    Housing Sector Podcast #67 - From Modular Promise to Ongoing Mess

    In Housing Sector Podcast #67, I’m joined once again by Martin Donkin for an important follow-up on the ongoing situation at Coniston House. When Martin last came on the podcast, we discussed the modular homes project being built on top of existing flats by East End Homes, the disruption it had caused, and the serious concerns being raised by residents. In this episode, we revisit that story to look at what has happened since. Martin explains how residents are still living with the fallout of a project that was meant to be straightforward but has become a drawn-out and costly mess. We discuss temporary accommodation, trust, delays, legal action, building safety concerns, and the wider question of whether this scheme should ever have gone ahead in the first place. We also explore the lack of transparency in the housing sector, the limits of access to information for residents, and why stronger scrutiny is badly needed when housing providers are handling public money and making decisions that affect people’s homes and lives. Martin also talks about how this experience has pushed him into politics, and why he now feels change will only come if more people step forward and challenge systems that are clearly not working. This is a conversation about modular promises, poor planning, public accountability, and the human cost when housing projects go badly wrong. Listen now and please like, share and subscribe. Follow, share, and visit housingsector.co.uk — because the more people who understand what’s really going on, the harder it becomes to ignore. https://youtu.be/NnnOReSA34w #HousingSector #BenJenkins #MartinDonkin #ConistonHouse #EastEndHomes #SocialHousing #HousingCrisis #ModularHousing #BuildingSafety #HousingAccountability #TenantVoice #Leaseholders #ServiceCharges #HousingOmbudsman #Transparency #FOI #STAIRS #UKHousing #ResidentAdvocacy #HousingPodcast Support the show

    43 min
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About

The Housing Sector Podcasts provide candid, insightful discussions on housing issues, featuring unfiltered conversations with residents and industry insiders to advocate for better services and transparency in the housing sector.

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Jenkins
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Housing Sector Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Housing Sector Podcast

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