P&G update:13.06.22

The Almshouse Association regularly posts a news summary of the latest Policy and Governance legislation that could impact/requires action from member charities, with links to further information where applicable.

Our latest update can be found below and previous updates are listed at the bottom of the page.

GOVERNMENT

• Social Housing Regulation Bill introduced to Parliament – The Social Housing Regulation Bill was introduced to Parliament on June 8^th. The Bill will look to introduce a number of measures already explored by the Association to reform social housing standards. These changes would only apply to Registered Providers of Social Housing in England.
  
  More information on the introduction of the Bill can be found here. 

• Government outlines timetable for Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund – Almshouse charities that are Registered Providers may be interested in applying for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) to help with improving energy efficiency. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has now published an indicative timeline for how the second wave of the fund will be rolled out:

It should be noted that there are certain requirements which may make it difficult for individual almshouse charities to access this fund independently, such as the requirement to retrofit a minimum of 100 dwellings. This means it would be necessary to form consortiums to bid for funding. Members may wish to consider funding in one of the subsequent stages of the SHDF in the coming years and spend the next year developing relationships which could lead to consortiums.

More information on the SHDF can be found here.

• Consultation and call for evidence on electrical safety in the social rented sector – A consultation has opened on electrical safety standards in the social rented sector. The consultation concerns plans to introduce mandatory safety checks on electrical installations at a minimum of five-yearly intervals. This will mirror the requirement in the private rented sector, and mandatory Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) on all electrical appliances that are provided by social landlords as part of a tenancy. These proposed changes would affect almshouse charities who are also Registered Providers of Social Housing.
  
  Members should note that the Association already recommends that all members carry out the necessary safety checks on electrical installation every five years as part of quinquennial inspections.
  
  Members can contact the Association on this issue or respond on their own here.

WALES

• £4m fund announced to help with rising energy costs – Welsh Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt has launched a £4m fuel voucher scheme to help the most vulnerable households with the rising costs of energy bills. The scheme will target individuals on pre-payment meters and those not connected to the mains gas network.
  
  Vouchers ranging from £30 in summer months and £49 in winter will be provided up to three times over a six-month period.
  
  More information can be found here.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Research project investigates rural homelessness – The University of Kent is conducting research into rural homelessness and is seeking the views of those who provide housing to those in rural areas.
  
  Members operating in these areas may like to contribute and provide the insight of the almshouse movement. The survey can be found here.

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RECORD OF PREVIOUS 2021/22 Policy and Governance updates:

posted 13 June 22