Major Backlash Over Permitted Development Rights Expansion

A government consultation that sought views on extending PDR to include more types of schemes and cut application decision times has received strong opposition from a number of groups. Responding to the consultation, which closed on 29 January, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) warned that the proposals “risk delivering poor-quality homes that undermine people’s health, well-being and quality of life”. The policy, which allows developers to bypass the planning system on certain sites, has been linked with a proliferation of inadequate housing in recent years, with the government’s own review into PDR acknowledging its negative effects. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/government-receives-major-backlash-over-permitted-development-rights-expansion-69396?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60 

All Section 106 Homes To Be Subject To New Shared Ownership Model

The government has said that it expects from April that all homes delivered with funding from Section 106 developer contributions will need to follow its new shared ownership model, which allows buyers to purchase smaller initial stakes in properties and staircase in 1% chunks. The new details came as part of a consultation opened by the government today calling for responses to its new shared ownership plan. This includes previously unseen details about how the plan will work, such as how shared owners can buy 1% stakes in their purchased homes, as well as protect new shared owners from hefty repairs bills for the first 10 years. Download the consultation from the GovUK website.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/new-model-for-shared-ownership-technical-consultation?utm_source=480c7867-aaf7-4cb0-8a59-890a109d294b&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=daily 

Housing: Construction – Parliamentary Written Answer

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has he made of the effect of the First Homes scheme on the level of Section 106 contributions to social and affordable (a) rent and (b) shared ownership.

Christopher Pincher: We have recently consulted on both the design of First Homes policy and options for its implementation. The consultation closed on 1 May and we are currently analysing the responses. As part of this we are considering the implications for other tenures. We will publish a response to the consultation in due course.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-05-12/46154

‘Biggest Changes To Building Safety In A Generation’

The government has published its response to ‘Building a Safer Future’, the consultation it launched in June 2019 seeking views on proposed changes to the building safety system. These are based on recommendations from Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, and include the establishment of a new Building Safety Regulator via the Health and Safety Executive, as announced in January. Housing secretary Robert Jenrick said that an initial update would be published in May to implement a number of the new measures concerning high-rise flats. All new blocks of flats taller than 11m will require wayfinding signage and sprinkler systems. Read more on Social Housing.

https://www.socialhousing.co.uk/news/biggest-changes-to-building-safety-in-a-generation-as-government-publishes-suite-of-measures-65953

Social Housing In Gateshead Could Be Brought Back Under The Council's Control

Housing services in Gateshead could be coming back under council control. Gateshead Council's cabinet has agreed to consult on proposals to bring housing services back inhouse. This follows an independent review of housing in the borough, currently provided by Gateshead Housing Company. This means the council is now beginning a formal consultation on bringing back responsibility for the management and maintenance of the housing stock to the authority. Coun John Adams, cabinet member for housing said: “The Gateshead Housing Company was set up in 2004 to help unlock funding through the Government’s Decent Homes Programme which has now ended.” Read more on the Gateshead Chronicle website.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/social-housing-gateshead-could-brought-17978719

Pincher Plays Safe Over Building A Safer Future

Housing Minister Christopher Pincher is playing safe over Building a Safer Future, hinting only at Government’s response to the consultation being published “shortly”. Kate Green (Lab – Stretford and Urmston) put a series of written Commons questions to draw out detail of the independent fire safety review. She had the same answer off Pincher each time. Pincher said: “The Government has been considering the feedback received from its Building a Safer Future consultation carefully. “We will be shortly publishing our response to this consultation, setting out details of the new regulatory regime, to be legislated for in the Building Safety Bill, that will ensure residents are, and feel, safe in their homes.” Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/pincher-plays-safe-over-building-a-safer-future/

Treasury Confirms Discounts On Council Borrowing For Housing Projects

Councils are offered a discount on borrowing for housing projects from the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB). In October, the Treasury hiked the PWLB rate by one percentage point, with councils fearing a hit to housing plans. But the Budget pitched PWLB as going back to its pre-October rate. And the Treasury is also pitching plans to cut the PWLB interest rate for all borrowing, but only after it has introduced measures to ban councils borrowing to invest in commercial property. A wider consultation on changes to the PWLB is underway, with Government saying that once a “workable system” is designed and implemented, cuts to the interest on all new loans from the PWLB will come. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/treasury-confirms-discounts-on-council-borrowing-for-housing-projects/

Government To Consult Over Future For New Homes Bonus

The government is to consult over the future for the New Homes Bonus, pitching the continued prospect of rewards for councils “ambitious” over housing delivery. In a written statement to the Commons, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said the consultation would include moving to a new, more targeted approach incentivising homes where they are needed most. And where councils were ambitious over delivery there will continue to be rewards, he said. A new round of allocations of the new homes bonus for 2020-21 amounts to £907m. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/government-to-consult-over-future-for-new-homes-bonus/

Law Society Calls For An End To Section 21

Section 21 has been dealt a further blow with the Law Society backing the government’s intention to abolish so-called ‘no fault’ evictions. But highlighting the need for balance between the rights of tenants and landlords, the Society has also recommended the widening of Section 8 – the powers of a landlord to regain their property in specific circumstances. The Law Society was responding to the MHCLG consultation A New Deal for Renting through its housing law committee. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/law-society-says-end-section-21/

£900m New Homes Bonus Funding Confirmed

A further £900m for the New Homes Bonus in 2020 to 2021 has been confirmed by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick. Outlined in a consultation document, the announcement from government sets out an increase in Core Spending Power for local authorities – expected to rise terms by 4.3% to £49.1bn in 2020 to 2021, an increase of £2.9bn. Local authorities across England will be encouraged to submit views to the government’s funding proposals for the sector in the next financial year. Read more in an MHCLG consultation.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/836539/Local_Government_Finance_Settlement_2020-21_Technical_Consultation_.pdf

MHCLG To Consult On Mandatory Accessible Housing Standards

MHCLG is to consult on mandatory accessible housing standards in building regulations – ensuring new properties are built with good accessibility standards to reflect the needs of older and disabled people. The commitment comes in the Spending Review with Government having been warned of an accessibility crisis. And the Review also accounts for disabled adults to be direct beneficiaries from funding for adult social care services. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/mhclg-to-consult-on-mandatory-accessible-housing-standards/

Consultation on a New Homes Ombudsman

The Government has committed to legislating so that developers of market tenure homes must belong to a New Homes Ombudsman, and is currently consulting on the details of how such an Ombudsman would work. This proposal is a response to the perceived failure of industry-led schemes to protect the interests of homebuyers and would apply to new home purchased directly from developers. It is not currently intended to cover existing homes, new affordable homes or those purchased through agents. It is relevant to housing associations developing market homes for cross-subsidy, however. Read more on the NHF website.

https://www.housing.org.uk/latest-updates/consultation-on-a-new-homes-ombudsman/

MHCLG Launches Section 21 Consultation

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched its consultation on abolishing so called ‘no-fault’ evictions and improving Section 8 grounds. It will run for 12 weeks and closes on 12 October 2019. The Government is proposing the removal of Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) from the Housing Act 1988. This would mean that all landlords – private and social – will only be able to offer assured tenancies.  Download the consultation from the MHCLG website.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/a-new-deal-for-renting-resetting-the-balance-of-rights-and-responsibilities-between-landlords-and-tenants

MHCLG Consults On Widening Access For Rogue Landlords’ Database

The MHCLG has launched a consultation on widening tenants’ access and reviewing the scope of offences that lead to inclusion on the Rogue Landlords Database. The consultation will close on 12 October 2019. The database contains information relating to housing offences committed by landlords and property agents. Currently, local authorities must make an entry if a landlord or property agent has received a banning order. However, they have discretion on database submissions for offenders that have had two or more civil penalties within a 12-month period. The database is currently only accessible to local authorities as part of their enforcement strategy, but the consultation is seeking views on widening this access to the general public. Download the consultation from the MHCLG website.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/rogue-landlord-database-reform

Regulator Launches Consultation On 2020 Rent Standard

The Regulator of Social Housing has launched a 12-week consultation on a revised Rent Standard that will come into effect from 1 April 2020. The consultation is as a result of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Direction to RSH, which was published in February 2019, following the Government’s consultation in autumn 2018. The Regulator is also required to have regard to the Government’s Policy Statement on rents, which was published alongside the Direction. Read more on the GovUK website.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/regulator-launches-consultation-on-2020-rent-standard

Housing: Construction – Parliamentary Written Answer

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure proposed new permitted development rights do not adversely affect the quality of housing with respect to (a) size and (b) safety regulations.

Kit Malthouse: Our recent consultation, “Planning Reform: Supporting the high street and increasing the delivery of new homes” sought views on new permitted development rights to help deliver more homes. All homes, whether granted permission through a national permitted development right or on a planning application are required to meet Building Regulations, including fire safety. We are currently considering the responses received to the consultation. Decisions will be taken in due course on the consultation proposals to be taken forward.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-02-04/216359

Landlords Reveal Why They Use Section 21

Critics are calling for Section 21 evictions to be banned, arguing that they tilt the balance of power towards landlords. However, some landlords may leave the sector for fear they have no power over their own property. Of the landlords who responded to a survey, 73% said they have had to serve a Section 21 notice, with more than half (56%) using it because their tenant was in rent arrears. The Government has put forward a consultation on a proposed introduction of a specialist “Housing Court”. It believes this will provide greater access to justice for both landlords and tenants and give landlords confidence to offer longer, more secure tenancies by making it easier for responsible landlords to regain possession of their tenancy, should they need to.  Read more on the Property Reporter website.

https://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/landlords/landlords-reveal-why-they-use-section-21.html

Social Rented Housing: Rents – Parliamentary Written Answer

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan that the one per cent reduction in rents for social landlord properties each year will continue after 2020.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Government announced plans in October 2017 to set a long term rent deal for councils and housing associations. The proposal is for increases to social housing rents to be limited to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 1 per cent for 5 years from 2020. The Government consulted on these proposals in the Autumn. Details of the consultation are available online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/rentsfor-social-housing-from-2020-to-2021  We are currently analysing the feedback and we aim to publish our response to the consultation by the Spring.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2019-01-15/HL12830

Housing Targets Will Not Be Reduced

The government intends to change the calculation of local housing need to stop councils citing the lower 2016 household projections issued by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as a reason to reduce totals. A consultation that runs until 7 December proposes that for the short term, the 2014-based data will be used to assess local housing need. National planning guidance would make it clear that the lower numbers in the ONS’ 2016-based projections “do not qualify as an exceptional circumstance that justifies a departure from the standard methodology”. The consultation said the 2016-based ONS projections had “led some areas to reconsider the number of homes they were planning for”. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/housing-targets-will-not-be-reduced-based-on-lower-household-projections-58804

Social Rented Housing: Consultation Papers – Parliamentary Written Answer

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 10 of his Green Paper: a new deal for social housing, Cm 9671, which states that Ministers in his Department met and talked with almost 1,000 residents of social housing at events across England, if he will publish his Department’s analysis of the views that those residents expressed to ensure that Members are aware of the concerns that their constituents raised.

Kit Malthouse: The Green Paper ‘A new deal for social housing’ reflects the views of residents that Ministers met during 14 listening events and a further 7,000 people sending their views online. The key messages from residents are set out in the Green Paper: that we must ensure homes are safe and decent; provide swift and effective resolution of disputes; empower residents to ensure their voices are hear and strengthen the regulatory framework; tackle the stigma faced by residents; and deliver the affordable homes this country needs. The Green Paper is currently out for public consultation, closing on 6 November 2018, and Ministers are holding a further 8 events around the country to engage with social housing residents directly.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-10-08/175850