Housing

Renters (Reform) Bill to receive second reading in House of Commons next week

Reports suggest that Housing Secretary has 'won the internal battle' over progression of the Bill, which is expected to be carried over to the next parliamentary session

NAO warns that local authorities’ estimates that there are almost 5,000 homeless Ukrainian refugee households in England are likely to understate the true figure

New assessment of Homes for Ukraine scheme also warns that, as more sponsorship arrangements come to an end, the risk of homelessness is likely to increase

Scottish First Minister announces council tax bills will be frozen in 2024/2025

Delivering his keynote address to close the Scottish National Party 2023 conference, Humza Yousaf says the decision shows that the SNP is ‘delivering for people when they need it the most’

Housing Ombudsman’s findings of severe maladministration increased by more than 300 per cent in 2022/2023

Annual review of complaints reveals 'challenging picture of social housing complaints', with a spike in problems investigated attributed to poor property conditions, legislative changes, media attention and the inquest into the death of Awaab Ishak

Number of households in England assessed as homeless in 2022/2023 was more than 12 per cent higher than pre-Covid-19 level

New DLUHC figures also confirm that number of households in temporary accommodation rose by more than 10 per cent on previous year to reach highest ever recorded number

Government confirms introduction of reforms to shared ownership rents, including providing for increases using a ‘more modern’ measure of inflation

Change means that from today rents for new shared owners will increase once a year by the Consumer Prices Index plus 1 per cent

Housing Ombudsman publishes revised Scheme to reflect new power to order landlords to evaluate their policies or practice to prevent service failure being repeated

Changes designed to extend fairness to residents who experience poor practice without the landlord taking action to solve systemic issues

Welsh Government publishes White Paper setting out ‘radical and ambitious’ plan to end homelessness in Wales

Views sought on proposals including abolition of 'priority need' and 'intentionality' tests, and broadening of exemptions to 'local connection' test

Housing and homeless sectors call for Welsh Government to bring forward radical changes to the law to help end homelessness in Wales

Recommendations from Expert Panel include extension of prevention duty from 56 days to six months, and for homelessness support services to be made more inclusive and 'trauma-informed'

Scottish Government seeks views on proposals to improve the rented sector further to its New Deal for Tenants consultation

Suggested reforms include introducing more rent controls in the private sector, and giving greater protections during the eviction process in both the private and social sector

Round-up of recent decisions from the Housing Ombudsman

Round-up of recent Upper Tribunal housing case law

Housing Ombudsman launches consultation on new Complaint Handling Code ahead of it becoming a statutory requirement in England under Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023

Ombudsman also confirms that it has partnered with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman to extend the new Code across all local government functions

Requirement for professional representatives to use CE-file when providing documents to the Lands Chamber of the Upper Tribunal

New Practice Direction advises that requirement applies to proceedings that are started in the Tribunal on or after 4 October 2023

Scottish Government sets out long-term strategy to support the integration of displaced people from Ukraine

Developed in collaboration with the Scottish Refugee Council and COSLA, priorities include reducing the use of temporary accommodation, boosting access to settled housing, and keeping human rights at the heart of all integration efforts

Government launches consultation on using its power to direct Social Housing Regulator to set standards for social landlords to provide information to tenants about their rights

DLUHC exercise, that will run for eight weeks, follows Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 having been passed earlier this year

Continuation of temporary cost of living protections for tenants in Scotland until 31 March 2024

New statutory instrument extends period that provisions limiting the private sector rent cap and pausing enforcement of evictions for all tenants apply for a further six months