News summary of the latest Policy and Governance legislation that could impact and/or may require action from our member charities, with links to further information where applicable.
HOUSE OF COMMONS QUESTION: RENTERS REFORM BILL
It is clear from the answer to a question tabled in The House of Commons yesterday that the new Renters Reform Bill carries implications across the housing sector, and could include almshouses. We will monitor the situation closely and engage with any further consultation.
QUESTION:
Julian Sturdy (Con) (York Outer): (100940) To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if the Government will set up an independent review of the living standards maintained by housing associations.
RESPONSE:
Dehenna Davison (Con) (Bishop Auckland): This Government is clear that all social landlords have a legal obligation to ensure their homes are decent and fit to live in under the Decent Homes Standard which we have committed to reviewing. We will also introduce a Renters Reform Bill in this Parliament and we will legislate to introduce a legally binding Decent Homes Standard for the first time. We have consulted on this proposal and are currently reviewing the responses. This is a key plank of our ambitious mission to halve the number of non-decent homes across all rented tenures by 2030, with the biggest improvements in the lowest performing areas.
Our Social Housing Regulation Bill will bring in a rigorous new regime where the Regulator of Social Housing will proactively inspect landlords and will have the power to issue unlimited fines. It will be able to intervene cases where tenants’ lives are being put at risk and, in the very worst cases, it will have the power to instruct that properties are brought under new management.
The Secretary of State recently wrote to all local authority Chief Executives and council leaders and all providers of social housing on ensuring quality in social housing. The letters are available here.
RIGHT TO BUY
An ambiguous response was received from a direct question about an extension to the Right to Buy policy as below.
QUESTION:
Tulip Siddiq (Lab) (Hampstead and Kilburn): (101031) To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether it remains his Department’s policy to extend the right to buy to housing association tenants.
RESPONSE:
Lucy Frazer (Con) (South East Cambridgeshire): Any announcements will be made in the usual way.
The Almshouse Association will continue to monitor this aspect with interest.
13 December 2022