Housing and Migrants

Some new housing proposals from government: One was well trailed the second came as a bit of a shock.

•  Local councils will be expected to introduce a local residency test for social housing with a requirement for people to live in the local area for between two and five years before they qualify. There will be exceptions for British families moving because of work or due to relationship break-up etc.

One question…Is it lawful? So British families looking for work should be rewarded, migrants excluded?........

•  Landlords will be required to check the migration status of new tenants by law. Letting agents will also be asked to check their documents. This means UK nationals will also have to show their passports, driving licence or birth certificate. Any landlord who fails to check the document is liable for a fine.

Wow, eligibility for private landlords thats going to go down like a lead balloon with the Landlords associations….err….. that is…. when they realise whats involved…..

Hi Martin

Is the government proposing to tell private landlords who and who they cannot rent to?  This would be a massive interference on the freedom to contract and the lawyers are going to have a field day with this.  Or is it just a typical government scare story to shift attention away from what they really intend to do?

nevip - 26 March 2013 12:27 PM

Hi Martin

Is the government proposing to tell private landlords who and who they cannot rent to?  This would be a massive interference on the freedom to contract and the lawyers are going to have a field day with this.  Or is it just a typical government scare story to shift attention away from what they really intend to do?

It looks (to me) like that is exactly what is proposed.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tough-new-housing-rules-to-control-immigration

“Many private landlords already make checks on tenants’ identity and credit status, making it difficult for illegal migrants to rent properties from them”.  That’s fair enough.  If private landlords want to ask for certain documentation in order to choose who to rent to then that’s their prerogative within their freedom to contract.

“Many private landlords already make checks on tenants’ identity and credit status, making it difficult for illegal migrants to rent properties from them…... the new checks would complement the government’s ongoing work on ‘beds in sheds’”.  It is entirely right that any government should tackle rogue landlords and slum accommodation.  However, attempting to force private landlords to act as arms of the state and to help police the immigration system is no substitute for a rational, coherent and joined up housing policy.  I look forward to the debates in Parliament.

Here is my simple suggestion to deal with rogue landlords.

Any landlord, social or private, that is part of an accredited scheme, to provide a decent home, is entitled to HB payments made Direct.

Good eh?