Housing

People sleeping rough still at risk of criminalisation despite concessions, says Crisis

Homelessness charity welcomes removal of 'outlandish' elements of the Criminal Justice Bill but argues that remaining powers are 'unnecessary' and could lead to imprisonment and fines

Government says it is ‘not acceptable’ for social housing providers to increase service charges ‘as a means of boosting rental revenue’

Statement from DLUHC Minister made in response to allegations of widespread service charge abuse and a call for tighter controls and a regulator with a remit to investigate complaints

Ombudsman finds council relied on ‘gatekeeping’ of services to delay provision of interim accommodation until a homeless family’s situation became desperate

Tower Hamlets Council ordered to pay the family more than £1,300 compensation, decide if it now owes the family a main housing duty, and review their priority on the housing register

Government commits to ensuring that the Ombudsman has the skills and knowledge to handle disputes about whether landlords unreasonably refuse tenants’ requests to keep a pet

Assurance provided in DLUHC's response to the Animal Sentience Committee’s report on whether the Renters (Reform) Bill has due regard to the welfare of animals as sentient beings

Ending homelessness should sit alongside new First Minister’s ambition to end child poverty in Scotland ‘as a top priority’

Coalition of more than 30 housing and homelessness organisations also calls for appointment of a Cabinet Secretary to tackle the housing emergency

Government strengthens Homelessness Code of Guidance to reduce the number of care leavers found intentionally homeless

Changes made in support of mission to see an increase in the number of care leavers in safe, suitable accommodation and a reduction in homelessness for care experienced young people

Round-up of recent decisions of the Housing Ombudsman

Almost 35,000 households were threatened with homelessness and owed a prevention duty in quarter to December 2023

New DLUHC statistics also show that, of these, almost 6,000 had been served a section 21 'no-fault' eviction notice, an increase of 10.9 per cent over the previous year

Local authority concedes judicial review challenge to policy of not taking homelessness applications from people aged under 25

Consent order, which has been published in interests of promoting open justice, confirms that Manchester City Council has now abandoned policy

Amendment to Renters Reform Bill requiring an assessment of the county court possession system before abolishing section 21 evictions passed in House of Commons

With approval of government amendment introduced by Housing Minister Jacob Young, Bill was read a third time and will now progress to the House of Lords

Scottish Parliamentary Committees launch joint consultation on Housing (Scotland) Bill

Views sought on measures designed to prevent homelessness and strengthen tenants' rights

Increase in registered rents in Northern Ireland 2024/2025

New statutory rule makes provision for a 7.7 per cent increase

Government’s ‘inaction’ in abolishing section 21 evictions has led to tens of thousands of households unnecessarily facing homelessness

Calling on the government to pass the Renters (Reform) Bill unamended, Homeless Link highlights that section 21 evictions are continuing at a rate equivalent to 52 households a day

Growing crisis of homelessness and destitution among newly recognised refugees results from a failing system that is ‘dysfunctional by design’ and ‘discriminatory in delivery’

New Refugee Council report highlights evidence including a more than 200 per cent increase in homelessness among asylum seekers evicted from Home Office asylum support accommodation in two years

Government welcomes 'significant milestone' in its work to deliver decent homes for social housing residents in England

New regulatory regime will provide the Social Housing Regulator with powers to drive up standards and take action where providers fall short

Systemic failure is now impacting the delivery of homelessness services in some areas of Scotland

Scottish Housing Regulator reports situation requires it to have the highest level of engagement with local authorities about homelessness since it was set up in 2012

Crisis welcomes reports that MPs are seeking to remove clauses from Criminal Justice Bill that would criminalise rough sleeping

Chief Executive of homelessness charity urges Home Secretary to instead focus on 'real solutions' including increasing funding for support services and building more social homes