'Fixed-Term Tenancies Will Take Social Housing Back To Victorian Era'

Labour has called on the Government to drop their ‘Victorian’ plans for families living in social housing ahead of the Report stage of the Localism Bill on the floor of the House of Commons. The Localism Bill will introduce flexibility for social landlords and councils to offer new tenants fixed-term tenancies (minimum of two years), which would see tenants' reassessed for eligibility at the end of the term. However, Labour and other housing campaign groups and charities, say the policy will see people lose their homes if their income rises above a certain level – discouraging hard work and putting a brake on aspiration amongst low-income families. Labour has tabled amendments to remove these proposals from the Government’s Bill. The Government claims flexible tenancies will enable better use of housing stock and go someway to reducing the spiralling housing waiting list. However, by its own admission in a consultation document on the reforms it said "a large majority of respondents expressed the view that two years would rarely or never be enough for a general needs social tenancy". Read more on 24dash.