Housing

DLUHC launches ‘Awaab’s Law’ consultation on timescales for repairs in the social rented sector

Proposals include new legal requirements for social landlords to investigate hazards within 14 days, start fixing within a further 7 days and make emergency repairs within 24 hours

Chamber President issues new Practice Directions for Lands Chamber of the Upper Tribunal

New Directions set out procedural requirements for parties to appeals from 2 January 2024

Round-up of recent decisions of the Housing Ombudsman

Round-up of recent Upper Tribunal housing case law

Home Office reverses decision to reduce notice period for people granted refugee status to leave asylum accommodation

Homeless link welcomes reintroduction of 28-day notice period and calls for next government to adopt a more cross-departmental approach to ending homelessness and mitigating the risks faced by refugees leaving asylum accommodation

Scottish Government sets out progress made on its new homelessness prevention legislation

Responding to recommendations from Task and Finish Group, government commits to providing more clarity on the duties provided for, and confirms that primary legislation will list those bodies to whom duties apply

One in five private rented dwellings fails to meet Decent Homes Standard

English Housing Survey also finds that almost one in ten properties in the private sector have a problem with damp

Public Bill Committee launches call for evidence on Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill

With first scrutiny session set for 16 January 2024, Committee asks for evidence to be submitted as soon as possible

Ombudsman launches special investigations into three London landlords after casework shows them struggling with damp and mould, repairs, and complaint handling

Action taken against Camden and Hackney Councils and Hyde Group following them having either high maladministration rates or increasing findings in the identified areas, including several findings of severe maladministration

Scottish Government sets out plan to help Ukrainian people seeking refuge from the war to access longer-term housing

Social Justice Secretary says that next steps will help support people to find safe, settled accommodation for the longer term, providing much-needed stability and helping them set down roots and make the most of local opportunities

More than two-thirds of applicants on Northern Ireland’s social housing waiting list at the end of 2022/2023 were in ‘housing stress’

Annual housing statistics also show that two-thirds of people presenting as homeless in the region were accepted as being owed statutory homelessness duty

First-tier Tribunal’s power to make an order in respect of costs in relation to proceedings brought under specified housing legislation

Council settles judicial review claim accepting that residence requirement under its housing allocation scheme discriminates against refugees and those fleeing violence

High Court hands down order requiring review and, pending amendment, for it to be disapplied to support people in similar circumstances

Round-up of recent Upper Tribunal housing case law

Round-up of recent decisions of the Housing Ombudsman

New rough sleeping data measures show that more than 8,000 people were sleeping rough in England in September 2023

DLUHC says new data framework will help measure progress in meeting its vision to end rough sleeping and help identify where action is needed to drive improved performance

Number of homeless households with children in temporary accommodation in England continues to increase to reach almost 70,000

New DLUHC figures also show that of the more than 4,000 households with children in B&B accommodation, more than half had been resident for more than the statutory limit of 6 weeks