21 February 2018
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HOUSING LAW NEWS & POLICY ISSUES
 

Redress for consumers of housing – consultation launched
On 18 February 2018 the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government launched a consultation seeking views on improving redress in the housing sector, including exploring the option of a single housing ombudsman. For more details, see Housing Law Consultations. For the Ministry’s announcement of the consultation, click here

Electrical safety in the private rented sector – consultation launched
On 17 February 2018 the MHCLG published a consultation seeking views and comments on the recommendations made by the Private Rented Sector Electrical Safety Working Group. For more details, see Housing Law Consultations. For the Ministry’s announcement of the consultation, click here

Rough sleeping in England: autumn 2017
On 16 February 2018 the MHCLG revised the rough sleeping statistics previously published on 25 January 2018. For the revised figures, click here

Universal Credit and landlords
On 14 February 2018 the Department for Works and Pensions updated its guides explaining what Universal Credit means for landlords. The guides have been amended as to the time the first payment will usually be received after a claim is submitted. This has changed from 1 month and 14 days to 1 month and 7 days. For the guides, click here

Local authorities and the private rented sector
On 15 February 2018 the Communities and Local Government Committee heard from local authorities and representative bodies as part of its private rented sector inquiry and pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Tenant Fees Bill. For more details, click here

Housing First – report commissioned by St Mungo’s
On 19 February 2018 St Mungo’s published a report, Using Housing First in Integrated Homelessness Strategies: a review of the evidence by Professor Nicholas Pleace of the Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York. The report found that “Housing First is highly effective in ending homelessness among people with high and complex needs, but it does not constitute a solution to single homelessness, or rough sleeping, in itself.” The report stated that “international evidence shows that Housing First services need to be a part of an integrated homelessness strategy to be truly effective.” To read the report, click here

LGBT*Q people living in social housing
On 15 February 2018 researchers from the University of Surrey and Goldsmiths, University of London, published a study which states that nearly 50 per cent of LGBT*Q people living in social housing accommodation do not feel a sense of belonging in their local community and over a quarter report feeling lonely in the area they live. It also found that 60 per cent of trans people and more than a third of LGBT*Q people do not feel safe in their neighbourhood. For the report, click here For a press release concerning the study, click here

Selective licensing scheme – Brent
On 19 February 2018 Brent Council announced that the Government had approved the Council's selective licensing application to extend the licensing scheme to five more wards across Brent. Cllr Harbi Farah, Cabinet Member for Housing and Welfare Reform, said: "Brent Council is driving up housing standards in the private rented sector and cracking down on rogue landlords. We are hoping that the government will agree to extend selective licensing across more wards in the near future." For more details, click here

Selective licensing scheme – Nottingham
On 13 November 2018 Nottingham City Council announced that the Government had approved a new licensing scheme. It will cover over 30,000 privately rented homes in Nottingham and is the largest outside London to be given approval by the Secretary of State. A report by the BRE (Building Research Establishment) Group estimated that 21 per cent of Nottingham’s private rented properties are likely to have ‘Category 1 hazards’, examples of this type of hazard could include exposed wiring, a dangerous boiler, cold bedrooms, a leaking roof, mould on walls or ceilings and vermin infestation. The Council considers that selective licensing will help ensure these issues are addressed. For more details, click here

Low-cost rented homes – Joseph Rowntree Foundation analysis
On 19 February 2018 Joseph Rowntree Foundation published new analysis showing how nearly 600 additional low-cost rented homes need to be built every week in order to fix the broken housing market and help low incomes families escape poverty. JRF is calling on the Government to use its forthcoming Social Housing Green paper to commit to building 78,000 affordable homes a year so more families can enjoy a decent and secure life. For details of the JRF analysis, click here

StreetLink rough sleeping scheme – London
On 14 February 2018 the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, noted that since the start of the ‘No one needs to sleep rough in London’ campaign in December 2017, Londoners have made 3,579 referrals through the StreetLink app – the highest level on record, up almost 50 per cent from 2,461 referrals over the equivalent period last year. For more details, click here

HOUSING LAWS IN THE PIPELINE
 

Since 12 February 2018 there have been developments in respect of the Regulation of Registered Social Landlords (Wales) Bill. See below.

Local Housing Authority Debt Bill
This Bill, which had its first reading in the House of Lords on 4 July 2017, seeks to replace the current regime of limits on local housing authorities’ debt with limits determined by the existing prudential regime for local authority borrowing for non-housing-related purposes. The second reading is yet to be scheduled. For the Bill as introduced, click here To follow progress of the Bill, click here

Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation and Liability for Housing Standards) Bill
This is a Private Member’s Bill introduced in the House of Commons by Karen Buck. The Bill aims to amend the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to require that residential rented accommodation is provided and maintained in a state of fitness for human habitation; to amend the Building Act 1984 to make provision about the liability for works on residential accommodation that do not comply with Building Regulations; and for connected purposes. The Bill received its second reading on 19 January 2018. It will begin its Committee stage on a date to be announced. On 14 January 2018 the government confirmed that it would support the Bill. For the Bill as introduced, click here For a House of Commons Library research briefing, click here To follow progress of the Bill, click here

Homeless People (Current Accounts) Bill
This is a Private Member’s Bill introduced in the House of Commons by Peter Bone. The Bill is intended to require banks to provide current accounts for homeless people seeking work; and for connected purposes. The Bill is being prepared for publication. The Bill received its first reading on 5 September 2017. The second reading was due to (but did not) take place on 1 February 2019. To follow progress of the Bill, click here

Housing (Amendment) Scotland Bill
This Scottish government Bill aims to amend the law on the regulation of social landlords and to reduce the influence of local authorities over registered social landlords. It was introduced on 4 September 2017 and is at Stage 1 which is due to be completed by 30 March 2018. For the Bill as introduced, click here For a research briefing on the Bill, click here To follow progress of the Bill, click here

Sublet Property (Offences) Bill
This is a Private Member’s Bill introduced in the House of Commons by Christopher Chope. It is intended to make the breach of certain rules relating to sub-letting rented accommodation a criminal offence; to make provision for criminal sanctions in respect of unauthorised sub-letting; and for connected purposes. The Bill is being prepared for publication. The Bill received its first reading on 5 September 2017. The second reading has been postponed and is now due to take place on 6 July 2018. To follow progress of the Bill, click here

Mobile Homes and Park Homes Bill
This is a Private Member’s Bill introduced in the House of Commons, also by Christopher Chope. It is intended to require the use of published criteria to determine whether mobile homes and park homes are liable for council tax or non-domestic rates; to make provision in relation to the residential status of such homes; to amend the Mobile Home Acts; and for connected purposes. The Bill is being prepared for publication. The Bill received its first reading on 5 September 2017. The second reading has been postponed and is due to take place on 6 July 2018. To follow progress of the Bill, click here

Affordable Home Ownership Bill
This Bill was introduced to Parliament on Tuesday 24 October 2017, also by Christopher Chope, under the Ten Minute Rule and is a Private Member’s Bill. It was said by him to make provision for affordable home ownership; to require the inclusion of rent to buy homes in the definition of affordable housing; to make provision for a minimum proportion of new affordable housing to be available on affordable rent to buy terms; to provide relief from stamp duty when an affordable rent to buy home is purchased; and for connected purposes. The Bill itself has not yet been published. Its second reading has been postponed to 16 March 2018. To follow progress of the Bill, click here

Creditworthiness Assessment Bill
This Private Member’s Bill was introduced by Lord Buck and had its second reading in the House of Lords on 24 November 2017. The Bill would require certain matters (including rental payment history) to be taken into account when assessing a borrower’s creditworthiness. For the Bill as introduced, click here The Bill will have its Committee stage on a date to be announced. For progress of the Bill, click here

Regulation of Registered Social Landlords (Wales) Bill
The purpose of this Bill is to amend or remove those powers which are deemed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to demonstrate central and local government control over Registered Social Landlords (RSLs). These changes will enable the ONS to consider reclassifying RSLs as private sector organisations for the purpose of national accounts and other ONS economic statistics. A Stage 1 debate took place in Plenary on 13 February 2018. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed. Stage 2 began on 14 February 2018. Stage 2 consideration will take place in Committee on 12 March 2018. For progress on the Bill, click here and scroll down.

Secure Tenancies (Victims of Domestic Abuse) Bill
This government Bill seeks to make provision about the granting of old-style secure tenancies in cases of domestic abuse. First reading took place on 19 December 2017. Second reading took place on 9 January 2018 when a wide-ranging discussion took place on issues including the impact of domestic abuse and housing insecurity. The committee stage took place on 24 January 2018. For the Bill as introduced, click here For a note of impacts, click here For a House of Lords Library Briefing prepared in advance of the second reading, click here To follow progress of the Bill, click here

Private Landlords (Registration) Bill
This Bill was introduced to Parliament on 17 January 2018 under the Ten Minute Rule. The Bill seeks to require all private landlords in England to be registered. It is due to receive a second reading on 27 April 2018. The Bill is being prepared for publication. To read the debate on introduction of the Bill, click here To follow progress of the Bill, click here

Leasehold Reform Bill
This Bill, introduced to Parliament on 7 November 2017 under the Ten Minute Rule and sponsored by Justin Madders, makes provision about the regulation of the purchase of freehold by leaseholders; to introduce a system for establishing the maximum charge for such freehold; to make provision about the award of legal costs in leasehold property tribunal cases; and to establish a compensation scheme for cases where misleading particulars have led to certain leasehold agreements. It is scheduled to receive a second reading on 26 October 2018. The Bill is being prepared for publication. To follow progress of the Bill, click here

Homelessness (End of Life Care) Bill
This Bill, sponsored by Sir Edward Davey, was introduced to Parliament on 7 February 2018 under the Ten Minute Rule. It makes provision about end of life care and support for homeless people with terminal illnesses, including through the provision of housing for such people. It is scheduled to receive a second reading on 16 March 2018. The Bill itself is being prepared for publication. To follow progress of the Bill, click here

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HOUSING LAW CONSULTATIONS
 

Since 12 February 2018 consultations have been published on Strengthening consumer redress in housing and Electrical safety in the private rented sector. See below.

Rent a room relief
Rent a room relief was first introduced in 1992 to incentivise individuals to make spare capacity in their homes available for rent. The government intended this to increase the quantity and variety of low-cost rented housing. In the last 25 years the housing market has changed significantly: there has been an overall growth in the number of people living in the private rented sector, whilst the emergence and growth of peer to peer online marketplaces and digital platforms has made it easier to advertise rooms, putting those with spare accommodation in touch with a global network of potential lodgers. Given the pace and scale of change in the sector, the government wants to explore whether the design of rent a room relief provides the right incentives for the rental market as it exists today. The government is calling for evidence by 23 February 2018. For the consultation document, click here

Draft Order extending coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to Registered Social Landlords
Following previous consultation on extending coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) to Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) the Scottish Government is now consulting on the terms of a draft order. The draft order proposes to designate RSLs (and RSL subsidiaries) in so far as they undertake functions for which they are already subject to regulation and oversight by the Scottish Housing Regulator. Views are sought on the terms of the order designating RSLs as public authorities for the purposes of FOISA. The consultation will close on 7 March 2018. For the consultation document, click here To respond to the consultation, click here

Domestic Private Rented Sector minimum level of energy efficiency
The government is seeking views on its proposal to amend the domestic Minimum Level of Energy Efficiency Regulations to introduce a capped landlord financial contribution element. This proposal is designed to ‘future-proof’ the regulations and make them as effective as possible, while protecting landlords against excessive cost burdens. With a cost-cap, domestic landlords would only need to see investment in improvements to an EPC F or G rated property up to the value of that cap. The government’s preferred cap level is £2,500 per property. A range of additional, alternative, cap options are set out in the consultation and the associated consultation impact assessment. The consultation is intended for all interested parties including landlords and tenants, local government, energy suppliers, energy assessors, small and large businesses, consumers, and the general public. The consultation will close on 13 March 2018. For the consultation documents, click here

Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 – Regulations relating to safeguarding property in abandoned dwellings
The purpose of the regulations is to ensure a contract holder’s personal property is dealt with appropriately by a landlord. The Welsh Government is consulting on: the content of the regulations, including the specific requirements to be placed on landlords; the draft guidance on the regulations; and the draft guidance on section 220 of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (abandonment). The consultation closes on 6 April 2018. For the consultation document, click here For details of how to respond, click here

Strengthening consumer redress in housing
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has published a consultation seeking views on improving redress in the housing sector, including exploring the option of a single housing ombudsman. It covers the following issues: the current complaints and redress landscape, how it is working and if more can be done to improve it; what standards and services should be expected of a redress scheme/an ombudsman; how to fill the existing gaps between current services; and whether a single ombudsman service is needed to simplify access to redress across housing, and if so, what form that should take and what its remit should be. The consultation closes on 16 April 2018. For the consultation document, click here

Electrical safety in the private rented sector
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has published a consultation seeking views and comments on the recommendations made by the Private Rented Sector Electrical Safety Working Group. The working group has recommended introducing five-yearly mandatory electrical installation checks for private rented property and that other safety measures be encouraged as good practice and set out in guidance. The consultation invites views and comments to gather additional evidence on the recommendations made by the working group. Any legislation brought forward as a result of this consultation will be subject to appropriate assessment. The consultation closes on 16 April 2018. For the consultation document, click here

HOUSING LAW ARTICLES & PUBLICATIONS
 

The rent control you’ve never heard of (part 1) 15 February 2018 and part 2 16 February 2018 Heather Spurr Shelter Blog. To read these articles click here

Children Act and Housing – (not) joining the dots Giles Peaker Nearly Legal blog 18 February 2018. To read this article click here

The story of No 20: how does a London family home end up empty in 2018? Simon Usborne The Guardian 20 February 2018. To read this article click here

Government plans fall short of 600 extra low-cost rented homes a week needed Daniel Wright Joseph Rowntree Foundation 18 February 2018. To read this article click here

Affordable homes shortage 'equivalent to size of Leeds’ Dan Box BBC News 18 February 2018. To read this article click here

Vulnerable people 'trapped in homelessness' due to law Sam Francis BBC News 14 February 2018. To read this article click here

How many properties in your street are owned by BVI companies? And does it really matter? James Edwards Bindmans LLP Insight 16 February 2018. To read this article click here

Government consults on single ombudsman for housing market Luke Cross Social Housing 19 February 2018. To read this article click here (subscription or log-in required).

HOUSING LAW DIARY
 

23 February 2018                     
Consultation closes on rent a room relief (see Housing Law Consultations)

7 March 2018                           
Consultation closes on draft order extending coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to Registered Social Landlords (see Housing Law Consultations)

13 March 2018                         
Consultation closes on Domestic Private Rented Sector minimum level of energy efficiency (see Housing Law Consultations)

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RECRUITMENT

Featured Job of the Week


Financial Inclusion Officer


Job Ref: FIC4154
Full time
Location: Hemel Hempstead (HP2 4XH)
Salary: £31,086 pa
Closing date: 25th February 2018

Hightown Housing Association Limited is a charitable housing association providing a wide range of housing and support services for families and single people including people with special needs.

The Financial Inclusion Officer will be part of the Income Recovery Team, providing a highly professional, customer focussed service to tenants and applicants for Hightown’s rented housing. The post holder will:
  • support tenants to maximise their incomes; including carrying out benefits checks
  • work with tenants in arrears to make and adhere to repayment plans
  • provide practical support to tenants on a range of issues to help them establish and maintain a tenancy.
  • build positive working relationships with external agencies, such as the Department for Work and Pensions, CAB and debt support agencies.

Candidates should have:

  • experience of working in a busy office environment.
  • knowledge of welfare benefits, welfare reform and services to support with debt.
  • excellent organisational, time management and communication skills.
  • commitment to high standards of service to customers
  • car owner and qualified driver with access to own vehicle.

The Benefits
We offer a range of benefits which include:

  • Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days per year, rising with service, plus statutory bank holidays
  • Workplace pension scheme
  • 45 pence per mile mileage for the first 5,000 miles
  • Life assurance of three times your annual salary
  • Comprehensive training and development support
  • Annual bonus based on satisfactory performance
  • Free on-site parking and gym

Further details and How to Apply

Please visit the Hightown Housing Association website at www.hightownha.org.uk/careers and complete the online application form.

Closing date: Sunday 25th February 2018

Interview date:
To be confirmed

This recruitment process will be carried out online so please check your emails regularly. Please also quote the reference number of the job when applying.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.
 
 
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