Jowell's Mayoral Pledge to Tackle Rogue Landlords

Labour's Tessa Jowell has announced plans to establish mandatory licensing for the private rental sector to help deal with rogue landlords if she is elected mayor of London next year. She says the government is making it harder for London's local authorities to introduce borough-wide licensing schemes. But the CLG tells us it has already "introduced a range of powers for councils to tackle rogue landlords backed by £6.7m of government funding".  Read more on the BBC website.

Tessa Jowell: I Will Tax Owners of Empty Homes in London

Punitive tax penalties would be imposed on the owners of empty homes under a plan unveiled by Tessa Jowell, the senior Labour MP hoping to become Mayor of London. Writing for The Independent, the former Olympics Minister pledged to tackle the "scandal" of London's 22,000 empty homes, saying they could house 55,000 people - about half the 114,000 Londoners living in temporary accommodation such as bed and breakfast. Her proposal comes amid amounting controversy over the huge gains made by people who “buy to leave” homes empty, knowing their property will rise in value. Read more on the Independent website.

Councils Asked To Reveal Numbers of Displaced LHA Claimants

Labour’s Shadow Housing Minister and Shadow Minister for London have written to all London councils asking them to clarify how many homeless people are being housed outside the capital.  The London borough of Newham revealed on Tuesday that it had written to over 1,000 housing associations around the country – including one in Stoke-on-Trent – in an attempt to find temporary accommodation for homeless families.  Jack Dromey MP and Tessa Jowell MP have written to all London boroughs in a bid to see the “full picture”.  Mr Dromey, who has also written to Housing Minister Grant Shapps on the matter, said: "Britain is facing a growing housing crisis and the Government appears to be completely out of touch with the impact on families.”  Reacting to Newham Council’s move to seek temporary accommodation in Stoke-on-Trent, Grant Shapps told the BBC it was “unfair and wrong” and that councils had been advised “not to do this”.  Read more on 24dash.