Policy & Governance update: July 21 | The Almshouse Association

Each month, the Association posts a news summary of the latest Policy and Governance legislation that could impact / requires action from our member charities, with links to further information where applicable. Please find below our July 21 Summary:

Affordable Homes Update

The Government continues its drive for home ownership under new “affordable” homes scheme as First Homes. Purchasers of the new scheme must prove to have less than £80,000 pa income or in London £90,000 to qualify. This is relevant as the reality is it reduced the affordable housing aspect of section 106 to a maximum of 75% available for affordable for social rented.

Minister of State for Housing, Christopher Pincher, submitted a Written Statement on affordable homes. The statement issues changes to planning policy, which will come into effect on 28 June 2021. The issues covered in the statement include:

The definition of a First Home
- Eligibility criteria for First Homes
- Setting developer contributions for First Homes
- The remaining 75% of affordable housing secured through developer contributions
- Plans, development management and transitional arrangements
- Level of discount
- Exception sites
- Delivering Shared Ownership homes

Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government

Meeting the UK’s housing demand – The Built Environment Committee has launched a call for evidence – closing 10 September – on the demand for new housing in the UK and how barriers to meeting this demand can be overcome. It will consider the key factors shaping the type, tenure and quality of housing needed in the UK. The inquiry will also examine a range of challenges to meeting that demand including skills shortages in the construction industry and some specific aspects of the planning system. The Committee will report by the end of the year and make recommendations to the Government.
Regulator of Social Housing Corporate Plan 2021-2024 – Members who are RPs may be interested in the Regulator of Social Housing’s Corporate Plan 2021-2024, which outlines how the regulator plans to deliver its purpose over the next three years.
Housing Ombudsman’s Insight report shows significant increase in complaints – The Housing Ombudsman has published its latest insight report covering January to March 2021. It shows a significant increase in the number of enquiries and complaints received compared to the same quarter in 2020, going up by 73%.

“The learning highlights an important lesson that communication is key. Our Complaint Handling Code states that landlords should keep residents regularly updated and informed even where there is no new information to provide. In one case featured about a repairs issue relating to damp and mould, the landlord failed to keep the resident informed so he contacted other agencies including the Ombudsman service and then also failed to keep those agencies informed. We made a finding of service failure.”

The top three areas of complaint over the three-month period were:
– Repairs 45%
– Tenant behaviour 13%
– Complaint handling 11%

Planning

Historic England – Listed Building Consent – Historic England has published guidance on listed building consent. The note gives both general advice for owners of listed buildings about listed building consent as an application process and on how to judge whether proposals need consent, how to achieve certainty on the need for consent and how to make informed applications. It also gives advice on works which may or may not need listed building consent, depending on how the works are proposed to be carried out.
The Association is still seeking to work with Historic England on producing a specific guide focused on almshouses.
London Mayor declares a “retrofit revolution” to tackle the climate emergency – The Mayor of London has declared a “retrofit revolution” in London, announcing a new package of measures to make buildings more energy efficient. A new £3.5m “centre of excellence” will help social housing providers access funding to make their homes fit for the future and protect the most vulnerable from cold, damp homes.

The Almshouse Association is in discussions with the Mayor’s Office to ensure that London almshouse charities can access this fund if needed.

Coronavirus

Everyone working in care homes to be fully vaccinated under new law to protect residents – The Department of Health and Social Care has announced that people working in CQC-registered care homes will need to be fully COVID-19 vaccinated with both doses. The new legislation means from October – subject to Parliamentary approval and a subsequent 16-week grace period – anyone working in a CQC-registered care home in England for residents requiring nursing or personal care must have two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine unless they have a medical exemption. It will apply to all workers employed directly by the care home or care home provider (on a full-time or part-time basis), those employed by an agency and deployed by the care home, and volunteers deployed in the care home. Those coming into care homes to do other work, for example healthcare workers, tradespeople, hairdressers and beauticians, and CQC inspectors will also have to follow the new regulations, unless they have a medical exemption.

Each almshouse charity will need to assess the risk and vulnerability of their residents and may make its own policy with this regard. The Almshouse Association team will be happy to discuss if you have any queries.

Wales

Heritage partnership agreements – The Welsh Government has published a summary of responses to its consultation on agreements for the management of the historic environment. A heritage partnership agreement (HPA) is a voluntary arrangement for the long-term management of one or more designated historic assets.
Social Housing in Wales – Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change, announced a commitment to deliver 20,000 new low carbon homes for rent within the social sector during this term. Social housing will be defined as within the recognised TAN2 affordable housing definition. It will only include social homes for rent, intermediate homes for rent and shared ownership schemes. The Almshouse Association is seeking to work with the Welsh government to make them more aware of almshouses and their position in the affordable housing sector.
Welsh Government extends measures to protect businesses from eviction until end of September 2021 – The Welsh Government has announced that the moratorium against forfeiture for the non-payment of rent will now be extended until September 30, 2021. It was originally due to end on June 30, 2021.

Posted 5 July 21