Housing

Government updates Parliament on progress in developing proposals for forthcoming consultation on licensing of supported housing

Written statement confirms that a consultation will be announced in the New Year that will include measures that give local authorities increased oversight of the sector and stronger enforcement powers

Government commits to reviewing the upper limit of the Disabled Facilities Grant in response to judicial review challenge

Court order requires review to be commenced by 7 November 2024 and take no longer than 3 months

MHCLG issues guidance on implementing strengthened council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes in England

Guidance includes advice on the April 2025 changes that will enable councils to use new powers to charge a premium of up to 100 per cent on second homes in their area

Housing First pilots have delivered good value for money, with vast majority of people supported successfully retaining their tenancies

New evaluation of initiative providing support for homeless people with multiple and complex needs suggests that benefits will amount to double the cost per person each year

MPs to question senior housing officials on failures to reduce homelessness

Public Accounts Committee inquiry will explore the government’s understanding of the extent, causes and costs of homelessness, and the response of and support for local authorities

Housing (Scotland) Bill amendment introduced to limit rent increases in ‘rent control areas’ to the lower of CPI plus 1 per cent or 6 per cent

Scottish Government also confirms a consultation in Spring 2025 will seek views on exemptions from and modifications to rent controls

Round-up of recent Ombudsman decisions and reports

Limits on discounts under the Right to Buy Scheme in England

New statutory instrument returns the maximum discount levels to pre-2012 regional levels

Budget 2024: Government launches consultation on a new long-term social housing rent settlement and announces changes to the Right to Buy scheme

Government also outlines that it is providing £233 million of additional spending in 2025/2026 on homelessness, at least £600 million of new grant funding to support social care, and an £86 million increase to the Disabled Facilities Grant

Scottish homelessness and housing organisations warn of risk to the lives and human rights of rough sleepers this winter

Letter to Human Rights Commission asks for urgent investigation into potential breach of obligations to protect fundamental right to life caused by a severe lack of safe accommodation

Welsh Government publishes White Paper setting out plans to improve affordability, habitability and accessibility in the private rented sector

Cabinet Secretary says that proposals set out further building blocks in the government's progressive path towards achieving housing adequacy for the people of Wales

Scottish Law Commission seeks views on proposal to suspend occupancy rights for individuals convicted of domestic abuse offences

Commission also outlines proposal for introduction of a new civil court order to immediately exclude perpetrators of abuse from the home without notice of the application

Senedd Committee calls on Welsh Government to explore the feasibility of compensating tenants for no-fault evictions

New report from the Local Government and Housing Committee also finds widespread discrimination by landlords against people on benefits and people with pets

Lack of joined-up support from council led to significant gaps in disabled man’s care package, homelessness and unsuitable interim and temporary accommodation

Ombudsman recommends that council pays more than £10,000 in compensation and reminds it of its duties towards homeless people, particularly those with complex support needs

Last year saw a more than 10 per cent increase in the number of people dying while homeless in the UK

New statistics also highlight that deaths of people sleeping rough increased by 42 per cent

Commons Public Bill Committee issues call for evidence on Renters’ Rights Bill

With scrutiny of the Bill due to commence on 22 October 2024, Committee strongly advises that evidence be submitted as soon as possible

Call for Renters’ Rights Bill to include ‘relocation compensation’ and protection from ‘rent-hike evictions’

Briefing from Generation Rent for the Bill's second reading yesterday also urges government to include provisions to end the 'right to rent' policy