Law Change Poses Threat

Changes to rules about how councils should house homeless people have been branded as potentially ‘dangerous’ by councils and housing bodies. The reforms mean homeless people no longer have the right to refuse accommodation in the private rented sector offered to them by councils.  The Chartered Institute of Housing warned there could be ‘a cycle of revolving homelessness’ if the changes do not work properly. Homeless Link said it was ‘extremely concerned’ about the impact on vulnerable families without an increase in social and private housing supply. The criticisms came as the Communities and Local Government department sent councils a briefing document encouraging them to no longer prioritise homeless people in social housing lists. Read more on Inside Housing.