Government To Implement Hackitt Review In Full

The MHCLG has confirmed it will take forward all of the recommendations to “create a stronger and more effective regulatory framework” which would improve building safety standards across the country. In May, Dame Judith published her much-anticipated Building a Safer Future review which called for an overhaul of regulatory regime for tower blocks. The report said that current building regulations were “not fit for purpose” and put forward a number of recommendations, including the creation of a new joint competent authority to oversee better management of safety risk in buildings. Read more on Inside Housing.

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Implementation Dates For Housing Act Policies

Regulations introducing Starter Homes are due to come into force in the summer. Housing and Planning Act implementation dates:

·         Starter Homes, in force this summer

·         Secure tenancies, in force this autumn

·         Higher Value Asset sales, in due course, no detail is given on the timing

·         Brownfield registers, spring

·         Housing association insolvency regime, regulations will come before parliament in February

·         Self-build and custom building regulations, 31 October

·         Planning obligations and affordable housing, remains under review

Read more on Inside Housing.

Minister Casts Doubt Over Higher Value Levy Date

Housing minister Gavin Barwell has admitted councils need “plenty of time” to prepare for the higher value asset levy, raisings doubt over whether it will be introduced from April next year as expected. The government was widely expected to implement the policy from April next year but detailed regulations required to implement the measure have not been published. A CLG civil servant also admitted that the Right to Buy extension has been delayed by the Brexit referendum vote. Speaking at a CLG committee session, Mr Barwell said the government has not made any decisions about when councils will be expected to make the payment but details of the “controversial policy” would require “quite a notice period” before being introduced. Read more on Inside Housing.

Whither Universal Credit?

In a recent speech, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Ian Duncan-Smith, insisted that UC implementation was proceeding according to the timetable set out in December 2013. However, this timetable is extremely light on detail.  The 10 pathfinder areas currently beginning to accept claims from couples are expected to add new claims from families in the autumn.  Then "once those extensions have been tested, Universal Credit is expected to become available across more areas in the North West of England." No indication is given as when exactly this might happen. "During 2016" the December 2013 statement continues, "current assumptions are that Universal Credit will be widely available across Great Britain and during 2016 and 2017, the majority of all legacy cases will be moved over to the new scheme." However, detailed plans are not currently available and DWP and HMRC continue work on their schedules to widen the delivery of Universal Credit up to the end of 2017.  Read more on the ARCH website.