Housing

Government tables amendments to Renters (Reform) Bill to make it illegal for landlords to have blanket ban on renting to people on benefits or with children

Secretary of State says new measures will end discrimination against vulnerable people and families who are being unfairly denied access to a home

Government confirms Decent Homes Standard to be introduced in the private rented sector

Amendments being tabled to the Renters (Reform) Bill will also make it illegal for landlords and agents to have blanket bans on renting to benefit recipients or those who have children

Welsh Government launches consultation on proposals to reform the council tax system in Wales

Views sought on a range of possible changes including the revaluation of all properties, adding further council tax bands and making changes to tax rates

Lee Rowley becomes 16th new Housing Minister since 2010

Appointment follows Rachel Maclean having earlier been asked to step down after only nine months in the role

Miscellaneous amendments to Renting Homes Regulations in Wales

New statutory instrument

Number of section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions started in England and Wales reaches seven-year high

Shelter also highlights that new MoJ statistics show an almost 40 per cent annual increase in court proceedings resulting from landlords using the process

DLUHC launches consultation on capping ground rent payable by existing leaseholders in England and Wales

Views sought on options including capping at a 'peppercorn' rent, an amount set at a maximum financial value, or a cap that is frozen at current levels

Select Committee Chair urges government to commit to a timetable for abolishing section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions

Letter to Secretary of State also criticises Minister's 'mischaracterisation' of the Committee's recommendations in an attempt to deflect blame for the government's delay

Department of Finance launches consultation on proposed changes to rates allowances in Northern Ireland

Plans include removing early payment discount, landlords' allowance and maximum capital value cap

Ensuring that HMOs are always treated as a single dwelling for the purposes of council tax in England

New statutory instrument

King’s Speech confirms government plan to introduce Leasehold and Freehold Bill

Government's new legislative programme also includes Renters (Reform) Bill which has been carried over from previous parliamentary session

Regulator of Social Housing launches consultation on updated guidance relating to its strengthened enforcement powers under the Social Housing (Regulation) Act

Views on proposed new powers, including allowing a person authorised by the RSH to enter premises with or without a warrant to take emergency remedial action to remove the imminent risk of harm, sought by 16 January 2024

Homelessness support organisations respond to Home Secretary’s plans to criminalise the use of tents by people sleeping rough

Open letter urges Suella Braverman to instead focus on housing solutions and investment in interventions to prevent rough sleeping

Court of Session dismisses residential landlord representatives’ challenge to legality of emergency cost of living tenant protection measures introduced by Scottish Government

Petition of the Scottish Association of Landlords and Others against the Lord Advocate and Scottish Ministers [2023] CSOH 76

Body representing HMO licensing enforcement authorities backs legal challenge to plans to exempt asylum seeker accommodation in England from HMO requirements

Witness statement from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health in support of judicial review brought by three asylum-seeking families warns that proposed changes risk creating a two-tier system for enforcement of standards in HMOs

Round-up of recent Upper Tribunal housing case law

Round-up of recent decisions of the Housing Ombudsman