English Councils Breaking Law In 'Secretly' Relocating Homeless People

Councils across England are systematically breaking the law by relocating hundreds of homeless people outside of their boroughs without notifying the authorities receiving them. An investigation found that schools are being overwhelmed, with northern cities such as Bradford having received at least 290 households from 31 different boroughs in the past two years, many of them from London, Kent and Essex. If a homeless person is moved elsewhere in the country, local authorities are legally supposed to notify the council in charge of where they are being placed so social, medical and educational support can be put in place. Read more on the Guardian website.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jul/01/english-councils-breaking-law-in-secretly-relocating-homeless-people

UK Could Be Breaking International Law Over Cladding, Says UN

The UN has warned Britain that its failure to strip combustible cladding from high-rise buildings containing tens of thousands homes may be a breach of international law. In a fresh headache for the housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, the global body is demanding answers about the UK government’s delayed programme to fix hundreds of blocks wrapped in flammable panels and with other fire safety problems. Leilani Farha, the UN’s special rapporteur on adequate housing, wrote to the government to express “serious concern about allegations of multiple violations of the human right to adequate housing, of which safety is a key component – contrary to international human rights law”. Read more on the Observer website.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jun/28/uk-could-be-breaking-international-law-over-cladding-says-un

Council Breaks Homeless Housing Law

Oxford City Council has broken a law against housing homeless families in B&Bs for more than six weeks. The local authority said this was due to an "unexpectedly high number" of homeless families in September and high rents charged by private landlords. It is the first time it has broken the rule - imposed under government legislation - since 2004. The government said the long-term use of B&Bs to house families was "both unacceptable and unlawful". Read more on the BBC website.