Housing 21 has announced the appointment of Jane Holbrook as the next Chair of the Board. She will take over from Elaine Elkington when she steps down in September 2026.

Jane brings more than 20 years of executive and non-executive leadership experience, with a strong focus on customer service, performance improvement and governance. Her appointment will help support Housing 21’s ambition of achieving 95 per cent resident satisfaction.

Read all about Jane’s appointment.

Join us as we tour the country for our annual Retirement Living conferences.

These events are a great opportunity to hear the latest updates from Housing 21, share your views, and meet residents from other schemes.

What can residents expect?

Residents attending the conferences can:

• Hear a welcome and organisational update from Chief Executive Bruce Moore
• Meet our new Director of Retirement Living, Kate McArdell-Broome
• Receive updates from regional leadership teams
• Take part in discussions on key topics
• Ask questions and share feedback directly with colleagues
• Connect with residents from across Housing 21

Dates and locations:

• Tuesday 8 September – Leicester Marriott Hotel, Leicester
• Tuesday 15 September – Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol
• Tuesday 17 September – Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly, Manchester
• Tuesday 22 September – Mercure Dartford Brands Hatch Hotel Spa, Kent
• Thursday 24 September – Park Plaza, Leeds

Places are limited, so we encourage residents to register as soon as possible.

To find out more, view frequently asked questions and book your place, visit our Resident Conferences webpage

New regulations mean your home may be considered part of a heat network.
A heat network is when several homes receive heating and hot water from one shared central boiler or heat source, rather than each home having its own system.

This way of providing heating is becoming more common in some housing schemes. It helps deliver heat efficiently across multiple homes.

The new rules are designed to improve standards and make sure residents receive clear information about how their heating works, how it is charged, and what support is available if there are issues.

We’ve created a short video to explain heat networks, so you can get a better understand of what it means for you, if your property is on a heat network.

Awaab’s Law was included in the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023. The first stage, covering significant and emergency damp and mould risks, came into effect across England in 2025.

We have produced a short video to help explain what this means for residents in a clear and simple way.

The video covers:

• What Awaab’s Law means for residents
• What changes are coming next
• What to do if you spot issues that could affect your health or safety

It also explains the steps you can take if you notice damp, mould, or other concerns in your home, and how we will respond.

Take care, keep cool, and enjoy your summer!

We’ve loved seeing so many resident gardening photos shared across the year, and now summer is in full bloom it’s great to see all that hard work paying off.

At Alice Bye Court in Thatcham, our Extra Care residents have been busy in the garden, helping to bring colour and life to their outdoor spaces ready for the summer months.

Alice Bye Court is just one example of the pride and care residents put into their communal gardens across Housing 21 schemes.

Gardening is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, stay active, and connect with neighbours. It also helps create welcoming spaces for everyone to enjoy.

We would love to see more of your gardens as the season continues. If you have photos from your scheme, please share them with us and they may be shared on our social channels.

Did you know Housing 21 currently has shared ownership homes available to purchase across communities nationwide?

Older Person’s Shared Ownership (OPSO) can make home ownership more affordable by allowing you to buy a share of a property, starting from as little as 10 per cent, and pay rent on the remaining share.

For many people, shared ownership offers an opportunity to purchase a home at a lower cost, build equity over time and retain an asset that can be passed on to beneficiaries.

We currently have a range of resale shared ownership homes available. These properties are ready to move into now, meaning you can join an established community without waiting for a new development to be completed.

Whether you are considering a move yourself, or know someone who may be interested, it could be worth looking at the homes currently available.

Find out more on the Shared Ownership resales webpage.

We’re well into World Cup season, and although some matches are kicking off late, residents across our schemes have been joining in the excitement.

From decorations in communal areas to cheering on the teams together, there’s been a real sense of fun and community spirit building in many places.

We’d love to hear how your scheme has been getting involved. Have you been decorating, watching matches together, or supporting your nation in other ways?

Residents at Rupali Court in Birmingham have been celebrating the official unveiling of their new housing scheme, which they helped to design from the very beginning.

Rupali Court in Lozells is the first cohousing scheme developed by Housing 21, marking a new approach to creating homes for older people.

Unlike traditional developments, future residents met before building work began and worked together to shape key parts of the scheme. This included influencing the layout, design features, finishes and even the name. “Rupali” means “silver” in Bengali, chosen by residents to reflect the community’s identity.

Rupali Court is also a social rent scheme, supported by funding from Homes England. This means it provides affordable homes for older people in the local area.

The scheme has also brought wider benefits to the community, transforming a long-vacant former high-rise site into a new and welcoming neighbourhood space.

Residents, Housing 21 board members and local community groups came together on 8 June to mark the milestone at a special celebration event.

Rupali Court shows how resident-led cohousing can work in practice, with Housing 21 now looking to explore similar approaches in other communities across England.

We regularly share our biggest stories on the Housing 21 website. Here is a round-up of some highlights from June.

A personal reflection on Loneliness Awareness Week: Resident Tom shared his experiences during Loneliness Awareness Week, offering a thoughtful reflection on connection, community and the importance of reaching out to others. 

Blind veteran raises funds for Guide Dogs: Lee, a blind veteran living at our Extra Care scheme The Rise, is taking on a fundraising challenge to raise £1,000 for the Guide Dogs. The charity helps people with sight loss live more independently through guide dogs and other support services.

Holm Court celebrates Outstanding CQC rating: Holm Court has achieved an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), recognising the high standard of care and support provided at the scheme.

We will continue to share more stories like these on our website, celebrating the people and communities across Housing 21.

A quick monthly check is all it takes to make sure your pendant alarm is working properly when you need it most.

Your pendant alarm is there to give you peace of mind, knowing that help is always just a button press away. Taking a few moments to test it regularly helps ensure it will work reliably in an emergency.