Government to Fast-Track Landlord Migrant Checks

The government is accelerating plans to force landlords to check their tenants are in the UK legally, David Cameron has announced.  In a speech, setting out a series of measures designed to crack down on illegal immigration, the prime minister said he would go further than a West Midlands pilot, which is currently testing proposals to make landlords check their tenants are not illegal migrants. Mr Cameron said he would expand the initiative nationwide, saying that the Liberal Democrats had previously limited the government to piloting the scheme. Read more on the Gov.Uk website.

Labour Highlights Rise in Number of Families ‘Illegally Housed’ In UK

Nearly 90,000 children will be forced to spend Christmas in emergency temporary accommodation as the costs of the housing crisis escalate to £2.8bn over the course of this parliament, Labour has claimed. Shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds said that new figures, which show a dramatic increase in the number of families with children “illegally housed” in bed and breakfast accommodation, highlight the failure of the government to deal with the housing crisis. Reynolds spoke out after homelessness statistics from the CLG showed that 60,940 families will be spending Christmas in emergency temporary accommodation. This includes 87,420 children and marks an increase of 20% since 2010. Read more on the Guardian website.

'Right to Rent' Checks Start In West Midlands

Landlords in the West Midlands who fail to check whether prospective tenants are in the country legally will face a £3,000 fine, under a new rule expected to be rolled out across the UK. The Birmingham, Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Wolverhampton area is the first where the check must be made. Landlords now must ask to see evidence of a person's identity and citizenship. In cases where a passport cannot be produced, landlords can request further checks via a government website.  Read more on the BBC website.

Council Seizes Dozens of Illegally Occupied Properties

A London council successfully recovered 71 properties which were either unoccupied or illegally occupied during 2013. In November alone, Newham Council took possession of 11 properties, two of which were recovered through court orders and nine which were retrieved through proactive casework by council officers. The local authority says that the reclaimed homes have now been made available for people on its housing waiting list. Read more on the Newham Council website.

Three Million ‘Ghost’ Tenants Living In Rented Homes

More than three million people are living unofficially in rented properties without the landlords’ knowledge, and this could put their business and property at risk, according to insurance firm Direct Line for Business.  The company warned that landlords’ insurance policies and potentially their buildings cover could be invalidated if a property is occupied by multiple occupants who are not listed on the tenancy agreement. According to the company, there are 3.3 million people across the UK living in rented accommodation who are not listed on the tenancy agreement.  Read more on the Housing Excellence website.