News, Information and Networks

The Bank of Good Practice

http://www.bankofgoodpractice.org/




The UK Housing Corporation's Bank of Good Practice for continuous improvement has been set up "to support and promote continuous improvement in housing associations". The Bank contains publications and examples of good practice intended to help associations meet the minimum standards contained in the Corporation's Regulatory Code and guidance, and also provides a useful 'one-stop shop' by highlighting relevant circulars, policy documents, research papers and performance indicator information. The site is very easy to use, with an excellent menu system, clearly organised content and effective use of colour coding. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 29 Apr 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: hou-290406-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Housing » Resources
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Design for Homes

http://www.designforhomes.org/




Design for Homes describes itself as "the UK knowledge centre for home design", and offers a number of useful features. These include an excellent gallery of built and planned housing projects; a list of UK courses related to residential design; and a worthwhile page of housing and architecture related links. Some parts of the site (including a news roundup, jobs noticeboard, forum, and 'CPD university') require users to register (free of charge) first. The site also acts as a gateway to Architect Search, a fantastic resource (listed in Sapling separately), provided by Design for Homes at www.archsearch.co.uk. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 5 Jun 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: arc-100303-03
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Architecture » Resources
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Hbinfo

http://www.hbinfo.org/



Aimed at local government employees, welfare rights advisors and housing workers, Hbinfo is an independent resource providing instant access to up-to-date information on housing benefit and council tax benefit legislation, DWP guidance and case law as well as "the most active discussion forums on the Internet". A small jobs section and a comprehensive list of links to UK local authorities can be accessed by anybody; however, the bulk of the site - including the news, case law, guidance and message board sections - are only available to organisation with a Hbinfo subscription. [MG/RS/GAS, 20 Jun 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: hou-290501-05
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Housing » Resources
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Housemark

http://www.housemark.co.uk/



HouseMark is a joint venture by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and the National Housing Federation (NHF), two not for profit organisations who are "dedicated to improving housing standards" and "committed to working for, and with, the social housing sector to improve performance and efficiency". As well as information about HouseMark's consultancy services, the site includes a useful page of housing news. However, a paid subscription is needed to access the site's full content. [MG/RS/GAS, 1 Jun 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: hou-060799-02
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Housing » Resources
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HUD USER

http://www.huduser.org/



HUD USER was established in 1978 by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD's) Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R), and describes itself as "an information source for housing and community development researchers and policymakers". The site is also "the primary source for Federal Government reports and information on housing policy and programmes, building technology, economic development, urban planning, and other housing-related topics". There are many useful features here, including an excellent publications section, and a bibliographic database containing 10,000 full-abstract citations to research reports, articles, books, monographs, and data sources in the areas of housing and community development. [GAS, 8 May 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: hou-300503-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Housing » Resources
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Intentional Communities

http://www.ic.org/



The website describes 'Intentional Community' as "an inclusive term for ecovillages, cohousing, residential land trusts, communes, student co-ops, urban housing cooperatives and other related projects and dreams"; this site is therefore intended to serve the growing communities movement, and provides important information and access to resources for seekers of community, existing and forming communities, and other friends of community. Features of the site include a useful listing of Intentional Communities on the web, a searchable Communities Directory, and an up-to-date events calendar. Information about the Fellowship for Intentional Community, described as "promoting community living and cooperative lifestyles across North America", is also provided. Overall, the look of the site may be a little dated - and a bit garish with its red hyperlinks - but its content is very good. [GAS, 29 Apr 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: sus-060700-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Sustainability » Organisations
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It's Your Move

http://www.itsyourmove.org.uk/



Provided by the organisation Broadway, It's Your Move "has been providing quality resettlement training, resources and good practice information since March 2000". The site itself provides access to the 'It's Your Own Home' handbook (a practical, user-friendly guide for people moving into their own independent accommodation), information about the London Resettlement Forum, and a helpful 'London for L£ss' guide that aims to "provide information on what you can do in London cheaply or for free". Free registration is needed to access certain parts of the site, including its news and links sections. [MG/RS/GAS, 1 Jun 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: hou-301002-05
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Housing » Resources
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Planning Resource

http://www.planningresource.co.uk/




Launched in January 2004, Planning Resource seeks to combine the strengthes of Planning magazine (replacing the previous Planning website), Regeneration & Renewal magazine, Axis magazine, Development Control Services Ltd (DCS) and the RTPI. It aims to become a one-stop shop for the planning community, and though some areas of the site are restricted to paying subscribers only (RTPI members get full access), there are also plenty of free areas to enjoy. An up-to-date 'News' section (subscribers only) brings together planning, regeneration and housing-related stories from the three different magazines, while the 'Jobs & Careers' section claims to be "the most comprehensive planning/regeneration jobs site available". Meanwhile, the excellent 'Documents' section pulls together good practice examples, documents referred to in Planning and Regeneration & Renewal, and links to planning policy and regional strategy documents, as well as providing a comprehensive annotated links directory. Elsewhere, the 'Online Community' part of the site renders Planning Resource as a place for interaction as well as information, with a well-used events diary and discussion forum. Visually, the site as a whole is neatly laid out and easy to navigate, if a little on the text-heavy side in parts. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 4 Jul 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: pla-070604-02
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Planning » Resources
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The Practical Guide to Buy-to-Let

http://www.let-a-property.info/



The Practical Guide to Buy-to-Let' is an e-book offering independent buy-to-let advice, news and tips for UK property investor landlords. The ebook itself has to be paid for, but a free extract can be downloaded from the website. A 'buy-to-let calculator' is included as part of the e-book package, and a demo can again be downloaded. The website itself is mostly concerned with selling the e-book, but it does also feature a useful directory of UK letting agents. [GAS, 29 May 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: hou-270603-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Housing » Resources
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Regenesis

http://www.regenesis.net/



Regenesis is a US-based site of management resources for condominium, homeowner and community associations. The majority of the content, including useful articles, advice and discussion forums, is only available to registered users; basic 'copper' registration is free, with 'silver' or 'gold' paid subscriptions offering access to the rest of the material. [MG/RS/GAS, 3 May 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: hou-111298-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Housing » Resources
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Renewal.net

http://www.renewal.net/




Developed by the UK's Neighbourhood Renewal Unit, renewal.net describes itself as the "online guide to what works in neighbourhood renewal". It includes 'how to' guides, case studies, project summaries and other documentation, much of it in downloadable formats. Material is organised into a number of themes, including housing and environment, worklessness, education, crime, health and local economies, and the front page offers links to additional 'hot topics'. Discussion forums, details of events and useful links are also provided, making renewal.net a convenient and easy-to-use one stop shop for neighbourhood renewal information. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 5 Jun 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: reg-020603-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Regeneration » Resources
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Tree Hugger

http://www.treehugger.com/




Tree Hugger is a web magazine, covering anything that has a modern aesthetic yet is environmentally responsible. The site boasts a large readership who check out the latest news, reviews and recommendations for modern yet green products and services, and who use its directory to help facilitate their buying processes. Tree Hugger is well written and despite the name does not preach at you, but seeks to inform. Coverage is vast, with headings covering accessories, 'almosts', alternative energy, architecture, audio/video, aviation, bathroom, bedroom, bikes, biopolymer, books, botanical, cars and celebrities, through to solar, sports and technology. In addition, there is also a link to Hugg (http://www.hugg.com/) a sister site and green news story harvester. Here, "all posts start out in the queue. Each time a story is Hugged, it climbs the ranks. If a story gets enough Huggs, it jumps up to the front page where it can be seen by everyone who visits". There is also Tree Hugger TV (http://www.treehuggertv.com/), again a sister site, which offers a video version of the web magazine, featuring material produced by anyone who shares Tree Hugger's passions and can operate a video camera. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [RB, 15 Jan 2008].



ENTRY NUMBER: lan-120906-03
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Sustainability » Resources
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World Home Mortgage News

http://www.worldhomemortgagenews.com/



World Home Mortgage News does exactly what it says, providing "current home mortgage news headlines from around the world, with an unbiased global perspective". News articles, covering subjects such as mortgages, interest rates, housing, and consumer credit stories are added by hand throughout the day - it is not a computer generated auto-feed news source. Given that the site's editor is a mortgage broker who started in the real estate industry in 1984, World Home Mortgage News seems an authoritative resource. The design of the site is refreshingly simple, with the news headlines centrestage, enhancing the site's value as a useful resource. Unfortunately, the site seems not to have been updated since September 2005, and the useful archive of previous stories no longer seems to exist. [GAS, 8 May 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: hou-161003-04
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Housing » Resources
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