New Measures To Tackle Rogue Landlords And Overcrowded Housing

Proposals will help councils tackle the problem head-on and bring an end to ruthless landlords who exploit their tenants and charge them extortionate rents to live in cramped conditions. A new discussion paper sets out plans to improve standards of the England’s shared homes by extending mandatory licensing to smaller and medium sized properties. Where a landlord fails to obtain a licence they are liable to pay a potentially unlimited fine. While the vast majority of landlords comply with the law and provide a good service, some unscrupulous owners are exploiting the most vulnerable people in our society by providing illegal and unsafe homes. Download a copy of the discussion paper from the CLG website.

Council Plans to Fine 'Buy-To-Leave' Investors

"Buy-to-leave" investors could be fined up to £60,000 in an assault on empty housing being considered by a London council. The charge on the growing phenomenon of vacant homes in high-value areas, exemplified this year by the scandal of empty mansions on the Bishop's Avenue in north London, has been proposed by Islington council. Close to 300 of homes built in the area since 2008 still have no one on the electoral roll, which the council says may mean they are vacant.  Owners would be obliged to ensure properties are occupied "regularly throughout the year" or face a charge as high as £60,000, a discussion paper set before the council suggests. On request, owners would be expected to supply evidence such as utility bills to prove someone lives there. The fines would help fund affordable housing elsewhere and would be written into planning agreements. Read more on the Guardian website.

Creating a Fair and Flexible Private Rented Sector

Housing Minister Kris Hopkins has emphasised the need to create a fairer, more flexible private rented sector, raising standards of property conditions and rooting out the rogue landlords. He called on landlords and tenants alike to come forward and offer their views on what more the government can do to tackle this problem, and further boost the growing sector. In particular, the minister asked for views on possible measures including:

·         tackling ‘retaliatory eviction’ where a minority of landlords evict their    tenants in response to a request for repairs to the property

·         requiring landlords to repay rent where they have let a property that  contains serious hazards and/or have illegally evicted a tenant

·         the need for various safety measures in rented homes, such as smoke  and carbon monoxide alarms and regular electrical checks

Download a copy of the discussion paper from the Gov UK website.

HCA Opens Discussion on Fees for Regulation

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has published a discussion paper seeking views from providers, tenants, lenders and others on introducing a fee charging scheme for regulation. The move would bring social housing providers into line with organisations in other sectors where fee charging is common.  The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 gave the Regulator the power to raise fees to cover the costs of its work. The Regulator is seeking views from the sector about switching from the current grant-in-aid arrangement, to a system where the Regulator recovers part or all of the cost of regulation through fees charged to Registered Providers. Read more on the HCA website.

HCA Reviews Regulatory Framework

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has opened the debate on how the social housing sector should be regulated as it becomes increasingly diverse.  The HCA has published a discussion document which invites feedback on proposed changes to the core Regulatory Framework that are designed to ensure effective regulation of registered providers and the protection of social housing assets in a more complex and risky operating environment.  These changes will enable the regulator to deliver its statutory objectives more effectively whilst maintaining the confidence of investors, tenants and other key stakeholders in the sector at a time when providers are diversifying into a broader range of activities and the number of new companies registering to provide social housing is increasing.  Read more on the HCA website.