Celebrities And Campaigners Call For A New Rough Sleeping Strategy

Over fifty leaders of health and homelessness organisations, celebrities, politicians and campaigners are calling on the Prime Minister to put an end to rough sleeping, particularly for those people with mental health problems. Five years ago, statistics showed that 1,768 people were seen sleeping rough in England on any one night. That figure has now more than doubled to 3,569. There was a 30% increase in the last year alone. Signatories to an open letter from St Mungo’s Stop the Scandal campaign include Grayson Perry, Rory Bremner, Phil Spencer, Dr Mark Porter, Chair of the BMA and Paul Farmer, CEO of Mind. Read more on the St Mungo’s website.

Right-To-Buy Will Hit Affordable Homes

Rural housing campaigners are warning that the government's plan to extend right to buy legislation could decimate the provision of affordable housing. Ministers intend to allow housing association tenants in England to buy their homes at a discount. But the plans have been criticised by rural housing groups, who say they will further restrict the already scarce supply of affordable homes.

The government says it is listening to the concerns of campaigners. Exact details of the scheme will be announced in the autumn. Read more on the BBC website.

Landlords’ Multi-Billion-Pound Fuel Poverty Hit

The government’s fuel poverty strategy has left social landlords responsible for funding billions of pounds of improvement works, senior housing figures have warned. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has published proposals to scrap its legally binding target to eradicate fuel poverty by 2016. Instead, it has set a new target of ‘as many fuel poor homes as is reasonably practicable’ to meet a minimum ‘C’ energy performance certificate ranking by 2030. The new targets have been condemned by fuel poverty campaigners as a reduction in ambition. Social landlords have also questioned whether they are achievable given the strategy also confirms plans to reduce the energy company obligation, which funds most work to make homes more energy efficient. The exact cost to social landlords of meeting the target is hard to pin down – estimates range between £7.2bn to £27bn. Read more on Inside Housing.

Court Fees for Rent Arrears Eviction to Rise By 150%

Social housing tenants evicted from their home due to rent arrears are set to be hit by a 150% increase in court fees. The standard county court fee for a rent arrears possession case will rise from £100 to £250 from 22 April.  The costs are initially met by the landlord but are then included on top of the tenant's rents arrears. Bedroom tax campaigners have accused the government of heaping more misery on tenants hit by the controversial under-occupation policy. Read more on 24dash.