Social Rented Housing: Rents – Parliamentary Written Answer

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to Clauses 19 to 22 of the draft Welfare Reform and Work Bill, whether the compulsory one per cent annual reduction of rents in social housing will apply to housing association tenants on affordable rents.

Brandon Lewis: Clause 19 of the draft Welfare Reform and Work Bill requires registered providers of social housing in England to reduce the rents payable by their individual tenants by 1% per annum for four years from 1 April 2016. The reductions will apply to rented social housing, including Affordable Rent properties. Exceptions are set out in clause 20 and in subsequent regulations. We intend to clarify how rents for new tenancies starting after 1 April 2016 will be set, and how the reductions will apply to these tenancies.  

 

Housing Bill Will Be Introduced In October

A bill to extend the Right to Buy to housing association tenants will be published in October. The CLG has confirmed that the Housing Bill, which would implement the controversial policy, will be introduced in Parliament next month. The National Housing Federation is currently in talks with the government in an attempt to secure more flexibilities under the extended Right to Buy scheme. It is understood this could involve a plan under which associations pledge to build more low-cost homeownership properties – a key priority of the Conservative government – in return for Right to Buy being adopted voluntarily. Read more on Inside Housing.

Housing Bodies Gain ASB Powers

The Home Office has published a draft bill on tackling anti-social behaviour that will change the powers available to housing bodies.  The new range of measures are designed to give victims of crime and anti-social behaviour more of a say in how offenders are dealt with, and simplify the options that are available to the police and other bodies.  Key tools for housing providers will be an injunction for the prevention of nuisance, and a community protection notice. Download a copy of the draft bill from the Home Office website.