Tenants Pile On Pressure Over Lack Of RTB Announcements

A petition has been set up as tenants from across the country are joining a growing movement, calling for more details on the Voluntary Right to Buy. The government and National Housing Federation struck a deal to make the policy work, which was to create a pilot scheme to iron out any issues. Since the pilots, there has been silence over the policy from government – until recently. Both Sajid Javid and housing minister Alok Sharma referenced the scheme in their keynote speeches to the National Housing Federation conference this year. This has left tenants even more frustrated, with no further details being given out. Read more on 24housing.

47 Days and 47 Years – Charity Urges More Action on Homeless Health

As the government marks 47 days in office, St Mungo's Broadway has launched its 'Homeless Health 47' petition to highlight that the average age of someone who dies while homeless is just 47. The charity is asking people to sign the petition which urges Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt to "prioritise homeless health and drive urgent change in this Parliament". Howard Sinclair, St Mungo's Broadway Chief Executive, said: "Almost twice as many people who use homelessness services have long term physical health problems and mental health diagnoses compared to the general public, and the average age of people who die while homeless is 47.  The 47 figure is also significant for us in that when we surveyed our clients last year, 47 per cent had a significant medical condition.” Read more on the St Mungo’s website.

Reeves Urges Public to Back Petition Against Bedroom Tax

More than 100,000 people to date have signed a Labour Party petition against the so-called Bedroom Tax in advance of Opposition efforts to have the measure abolished if it wins a Commons vote. Rachel Reeves, shadow work and pensions secretary, has thrown down the gauntlet to LibDem MPs, urging them to vote against the under-occupation penalty following a debate that will be held in Parliament tomorrow (17 December). A largely symbolic gesture, even should it win the vote, Labour MPs nevertheless hope that a majority in favour of axing the bedroom tax will force the Government’s hand. Read more on the Housing Excellence website.

Nottingham City Council Signs Up To Fight 'Bedroom Tax'

In an attempt to fight the Government's housing benefit cut – dubbed the "bedroom tax" – Nottingham City Council has started a petition calling on the policy to be scrapped.  One week after it was launched, more than 750 people have already signed. The Government has given the city council money to alleviate the impact of this scheme – £274,000 this year and £696,000 next year – but the authority has said is not enough to help all affected households and may not continue beyond next year.  Read more on the Nottingham Post website.

Petition Calls for Rethink on Direct Payment

Private landlords have set up a petition urging the government to rethink its approach to making housing benefit payments direct to tenants. A petition started on the government’s e-petition website by landlord portal BTLExpert argues payments should switch to landlords if tenants fall behind on rent.

Under the government’s welfare reforms payments will be combined into a single benefit, universal credit. The element of this that covers housing costs will be paid direct to the tenant, rather than to the landlord.  The petition says this will increase the likelihood of private landlords refusing to take tenants who are claiming housing benefit, increasing pressure on councils and housing associations. Read more on Inside Housing.

Students Protest at Homes Move

More than 3,000 students have signed a petition against proposed changes to housing regulations. Nottingham City Council is consulting on proposals to force landlords to seek planning permission before converting a property for multiple occupation. The University of Nottingham's Students' Union has accused the authority of "discriminating" against students. They believe it is part of a plan to drive students from houses in popular areas like Lenton into purpose-built accommodation elsewhere in the city. The consultation had been due to end last month, but has been extended to May 31. The council says the move would enable it to manage the delivery of mixed and balanced communities in neighbourhoods throughout the city and drive up standards of accommodation.

MPs Oppose Benefit Cuts for Unemployed

More than 50 MPs have signed a petition calling for the government to drop plans to cut housing benefit for the unemployed. Labour MP for Stretford and Urmston Kate Green tabled an early day motion which criticises a proposal announced in June’s emergency Budget to cut housing benefit by 10 per cent for those who have been claiming jobseeker’s allowance for more than a year. Fifty-six MPs from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Greens, Social Democratic and Labour party, Plaid Cymru and the Democratic Unionist Party have signed the motion since it was tabled on 13 January. The motion says the planned cut, which will apply from 2013, ‘will penalise people who have made every attempt to find work but who still remain unemployed’. Read more on Inside Housing.

Number 10 Responses To Online Decent Homes Petition

The Prime Minister’s Office has formally responded to the NFA’s e-petition calling for all ALMOs who qualify immediately to receive all the Decent Homes funding promised to them. The petition attracted 560 signatories. Read the responses on the Number 10 website.

Number 10 Rejects Overcrowding Petition

The government has rejected calls to update the definition of overcrowding despite strong support for a petition on the Number 10 website. More than 2,500 people signed the online petition set up by housing charity Shelter, calling for a new standard to ‘reflect modern expectations of space and privacy’. The government has responded, saying it is ‘committed to tackling overcrowding’ but must ‘ensure that we have the right processes in place to support overcrowded households’ before making any changes to statutory standards. The legal definition of overcrowding in England has remained unchanged since 1935, and counts children under 10 as half a person, and living rooms and large kitchens as acceptable places to sleep. CLG figures showed there were 654,000 overcrowded households in England in 2008/09, which Shelter says is the highest level for over 14 years. Read more on the Inside Housing website.