Housing

Amendments to council tax discount provisions in Scotland

New statutory instrument

Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee draws draft regulations exempting Home Office accommodation for asylum seekers from requirement to have HMO licence to special attention of the House

Lords Committee advises that the House may wish to seek assurance that the proposed policy will not lead to 'poor-quality, unsafe or inappropriate housing' being used for asylum seekers

Ombudsman highlights council’s ‘catalogue of clerical confusion’ and billing errors that led to resident being unfairly threatened with court action for not paying her council tax

London Borough of Barnet also criticised for ignoring resident’s request to communicate by post, in line with its 'inflexible' policy of emailing everyone regardless of their circumstances

Mobile Homes (Pitch Fees) Bill receives Royal Assent

New Act changes the inflationary index for annual pitch fee reviews in England from RPI to CPI

Welsh Government commissions Valuation Office Agency to undertake revaluation work as part of its plans for the reform of council tax

Minister's progress update to Senedd also confirms that transitional arrangements will be considered in relation to any 'winners and losers' under the new system

Scottish Government updates Temporary Accommodation Standards Framework

Guidance includes advice for social landlords on expected standards when housing homeless households and advice for local authorities on complying with the Unsuitable Accommodation Order

Scottish Housing Regulator publishes new strategy and work plans for 2023/2024

Pending a review of its Regulatory Framework next year, SHR says its priorities include people experiencing homelessness, quality of accommodation on Gypsy/Traveller sites, and ensuring the standards and outcomes in the Social Housing Charter are met

More than 1,300 people in the UK died while homeless in 2022

New research also reveals examples of significantly higher numbers of deaths in exempt accommodation than in the rest of the homeless population

One in six children in England are being forced to live in cramped, overcrowded accommodation because of a lack of suitable and affordable homes

Findings from National Housing Federation research also demonstrate ‘grave structural inequalities in our society’, with households from ethnic minority backgrounds three times more likely to be affected by overcrowding than white households

Scottish Government and COSLA launch consultation on increasing council tax charges on second and empty homes

Proposals include new powers for councils to charge up to double the full rate of council tax on second homes from April 2024

Council found at fault for three-year delay in moving family with a disabled child from unsuitable housing that could not accommodate essential mobility and safety equipment

Following Ombudsman investigation, Lambeth Council agrees to pay £20,000 compensation to the family for the avoidable risk of harm caused by the delay

Government consults on developing further regulation of the short-term holiday let market in England

Views sought on proposals for a new registration scheme for short term lets, and new restrictions under the planning regime

More than 5,000 Ukrainian households were found to be owed statutory homelessness duty in England between 24 February 2022 and 24 March 2023

New DLUHC figures show that the total has increased by more than 800 since January 2023, and that more than two-thirds of affected households include dependent children

Round-up of recent decisions from the Housing Ombudsman

Shelter research finds that private renters who complain about disrepair are more than twice as likely to be served with an eviction notice

Housing charity urges government to urgently introduce Renters Reform Bill to put an end to unfair evictions, drive up standards, and hold landlords to account

Technical drafting amendments to provisions relating to cost of living protections for tenants in Scotland

New statutory instrument

Government sets out details of final New Burdens funding in relation to council tax energy rebate scheme

DLUHC Letter to local authorities in England also provides information on how initial grant payments will be reconciled and how councils should handle ineligible payments