23rd October 2019
Quick Links
HOUSING LAW NEWS & POLICY ISSUES
 

Building affordable rented homes
On 21 October 2019 the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee questioned housing associations and regional housing groups on what is preventing them from building more social and affordable rented homes. It examined how housing associations currently fund new homes, and how vulnerable the current mixed funding model is to market slowdown. The Committee also asked about impact of the introduction of Affordable Rent, Right to Buy and Right to Acquire on levels of provision and affordability for housing association tenants. For details of the session, click here. To watch the session on Parliament TV, click here.

Shared ownership
On 17 October 2019 the MHCLG announced plans for a new national model for shared ownership which, it says, “will help thousands of lower earners step onto the housing ladder”. Social tenants moving into new homes will be able to buy an initial share of as little as 10 per cent (reduced from a minimum of 25 per cent). Thereafter residents will be able to buy their home in 1 per cent portions (reduced from 10 per cent). For the announcement, click here.

Housing and Planning Act 2016 (Commencement No. 11) Regulations 2019
These regulations bring into force on 25 October 2019 sections 122 and 123 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016. These provisions give the Secretary of State the power to make regulations imposing duties on private landlords of residential premises in England for the purpose of ensuring that electrical safety standards are met during tenancies, and to provide for the enforcement of those duties. For the regulations, click here. For the 2016 Act, click here.

Leasehold and commonhold reform
On 17 October 2019 the House of Commons Library published a briefing paper considering trends in leasehold ownership and ongoing problems associated with the sector. The Government has committed to legislate in this area "as soon as Parliamentary time allows". The paper has been updated to include new statistics released in September 2019. For the paper, click here.

First-time buyers
On 15 October 2019 the MHCLG announced that latest mortgage data from UK Finance showed that the number of first-time buyers obtaining a mortgage during August 2019 was 35,010 which is the highest monthly total since August 2007. The figures follow the Ministry’s own research revealing 87 per cent of the public would prefer to buy, rather than rent, a home. It also found that 57 per cent of people support the building of new homes in their own community, up from 28 per cent in 2010. For more information, click here.

Domestic abuse: support for survivors
On 21 October 2019 the MHCLG announced plans to insert into the Domestic Abuse Bill, currently proceeding through Parliament, a new legal duty on local authorities to deliver “life-saving” support to survivors of domestic abuse. In advance of this new duty coming into force in 2021, the Government has also announced a further £15 million in funding to run services protecting survivors of domestic abuse in 2020 to 2021. This is a 20 per cent increase on 2019 to 2020. For the announcement,  click here.

Building regulations and fire safety
On 21 October 2019 the MHCLG published its response to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee report ‘Building regulations and fire safety: consultation response and connected issues’. The MHCLG document sets out progress to date and response to the individual recommendations in the Select Committee report. For the response, click here. For the Select Committee’s report, click here.

Rough sleeping – London
On 21 October 2019 the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced that the rough sleeping budget had more than doubled to £19.2m. Last year, 8,855 people were seen sleeping rough on the streets of London by outreach workers – more than double the number in 2010/11. The Mayor says that this is due to factors such as a lack of genuinely affordable housing for Londoners, welfare reform, cuts to health and social services, and the government’s failure to tackle the root causes of homelessness. The £19.2m funding will be used to support and expand the Mayor’s ‘Life Off The Streets’ programme. For the announcement, click here.

Rough sleeping – Wales
On 15 October 2019 the Homelessness Action Group published a report on preventing rough sleeping in Wales and reducing it in the short-term. The report sets out recommendations for reducing rough sleeping in the very short term and for preventing rough sleeping in the longer term. Julie James, Minister for Housing and Local Government, committed to immediate action in response to the Group’s short-term recommendations to help more rough sleepers off the streets this winter. For the report, click here. For the Minister’s cabinet statement concerning it, click here.

Help to Buy – Wales
Between 15 and 22 October 2019 the Welsh Government published updated documentation relating to Help to Buy. It includes: a list of accredited conveyancers; buyers’ information leaflet; change of ownership form; buyers’ guide; post-sale information leaflet; housebuilder and developer guide; post-sales instruction form; post-sales guide; and application form. For all the documents, click here.

Empty homes – Wales
On 10 October 2019 the National Assembly for Wales Equality, Local Government and Communities  Committee published a report examining the impact of empty properties on communities and how local authorities can tackle the problem. The report lists 13 recommendations, including that the Welsh Government should encourage local authorities to explore the impact of appointing a dedicated officer with responsibilities for empty properties. For the report, click here. For the Assembly’s press release, click here. For comment by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, click here.

Letting fraud: three convicted
On 17 October 2019 the Ilford Recorder reported that three men had been convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court following an investigation led by the National Trading Standards eCrime Team, which found that an online property letting business was being used as a vehicle for fraud that led to a loss of at least £50,000 for tenants and landlords. All three defendants pleaded guilty to money laundering, having knowingly allowed their bank accounts to be used to launder the proceeds of lettings frauds between December 2013 and September 2015. The proceeds specifically relate to rental payments received for properties that were never available to rent. For the full report, click here.

Make Sure you Keep Up to Date with Housing Law Week

Don’t miss out on your weekly updates!
Sign up here now to ensure you receive your own free copy of Housing Law Week straight to your desktop each week.

HOUSING LAW CONSULTATIONS
 

Sprinklers and other fire safety measures in new high-rise blocks of flats
On 5 September 2019 the MHCLG launched a consultation outlining the government’s intention to reduce the “trigger height” at which sprinkler systems would be required in new high-rise blocks of flats and asking for views on the trigger height options. It also seeks views on proposals to improve wayfinding signage within blocks of flats, and to install evacuation alert systems for use by fire and rescue services. The consultation closes on 28 November 2019. For the consultation document, close here.

Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme: Towards a more sustainable service
The government is consulting on proposals to change the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme. The aim of these proposals is to ensure that the Scheme is sustainable into the future, in order to maintain this vital service for those who need it. The key proposals in this consultation are:

  • contracting for individual courts rather than larger geographical areas
  • allowing providers to claim for the scheme fee in addition to the follow up Legal Help fee
  • the introduction of a set attendance fee for all schemes in place of the existing nil session payment
  • the introduction of reasonable costs for travel as part of the competition element of the bid.

The consultation closes on 3 January 2020. For the consultation document, click here.

Draft Housing Support Grant practice guidance – Wales
The purpose of this consultation is to seek views on the new draft practice guidance for the Housing Support Grant (HSG), which has been produced by the Welsh Government in partnership with external stakeholders. The guidance sets out the framework in which local authorities should operate and administer the grant. The consultation seeks views on whether the guidance:

  • explains what the grant is for
  • will help local authorities to provide support services to those who need them.

The consultation closes on 29 November 2019. To access the consultation documents, click here.

Statutory homelessness statistics online consultation survey
MHCLG is seeking views on its statutory homelessness statistics through an online consultation survey. The survey is open to anyone who uses the statistics. The survey closes on 31 October 2019.

MHCLG is using the survey to collect views from users of its statutory homelessness statistics to help ensure that it provides useful data and information to those interested in homelessness. If you use these statistics in any way you are encouraged to provide feedback on their format and content via the survey. MHCLG is also planning workshop style user events for its statutory homelessness statistics for spring 2020. The survey asks for suggestions for topics to be discussed at the user events. For the survey, click here.

HOUSING LAW ARTICLES & PUBLICATIONS
 

Young people's future health and the private rented sector Sarah Davis CIH Blog 16 October 2019 – to read the article, click here

‘I could just end up another dead homeless person under that bridge’ Eve Livingston The Guardian 16 October 2019 – to read the article, click here

Rent payments, unless orders and relief from sanction Giles Peaker Nearly Legal 16 October 2019 – to read the article, click here

Party conference season demonstrates the power of the housing sector speaking with one voice Jessica Levy NFH Blog 17 October 2019 – to read the article, click here

Security, freedom – and an inside loo: 100 years of council housing Various The Observer 20 October 2019 – to read the article, click here

Civil penalties, and appeals of appeals Giles Peaker Nearly Legal 20 October 2019 – to read the article, click here

Accommodation pending review – getting it wrong at s.189B stage Giles Peaker Nearly Legal 20 October 2019 – to read the article, click here

‘Van homes’ aren’t romantic – they are proof of our horrifying housing crisis Owen Jones The Guardian 21 October 2019 – to read the article, click here

Housing: recent developments Sam Madge-Wyld and Jan Luba QC Legal Action November 2019 – to read the article (subscription required), click here

Gypsy and Traveller Update Chris Johnson, Dr Angus Murdoch and Marc Willers QC Legal Action November 2019 – to read the article (subscription required), click here
HOUSING LAW DIARY
 

25 October 2019                                   
Sections 122 and 123 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 come into force (see Housing Law News and Policy Issues)

31 October 2019                                   
Closing date for submissions to the statutory homelessness statistics online consultation survey (see Housing Law Consultations)

28 November 2019                               
Closing date for submissions to the consultation on sprinklers and other fire safety measures in new high-rise blocks of flats (see Housing Law Consultations)

29 November 2019       
Closing date for submissions to the Welsh Government’s consultation on draft Housing Support Grant practice guidance (see Housing Law Consultations)
Advertise your vacancy to Housing Law Week Readers

Send details of the vacancy and a link to the vacancy on your website to info@limelegal.co.uk
RECRUITMENT

Featured Job of the Week

Citizens Advice Bradford and Airedale
and Bradford Law Centre


Job Opportunity: LAA Specialist Housing Worker

The Post-holder is expected to offer Housing law advice and representation to clients under a Legal Aid Agency contract (dealing with legal help and certificated matters) and provide advocacy as part of the housing possession court duty scheme.

Closing date: 9am Friday 8th November 2019

Interview date: Friday 15th November 2019

Application packs are available:

From: Naj Ilyas
Email: admin@bradfordcab.com

 
 
Environmental Health Officer
Test Valley Borough Council
Click here
for details
 
 
Neighbourhood Enforcement Officer
Bristol City Council
Click here for details
 
 
Housing Advisor
Bristol City Council
Click here for details
 
 
Accessible Homes – Project Co-ordinator
Bristol City Council
Click here for details
 
 
Housing Enabling Officer (Community Led Housing)
Brighton and Hove Council
Click here for details
 
 
Homeless Prevention & Assessment Apprentice
Dacorum Borough Council
Click here and insert ‘housing’ in the search bar
 
 
Tenancy Sustainment Officer
Adullam Homes Housing Association
Click here for details
 
 
Housing Officers
Crawley Borough Council
Click here for details
 
 
Lime Legal Limited, Greengate House, 87 Pickwick Road, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9B