Housing

Overcrowding is at the highest rate seen in both the social rented and private rented sectors, according to latest English Housing Survey

MHCLG survey also includes data on under-occupation that shows that the proportion of under-occupied households has increased for owner-occupiers and declined for renters over the last 20 years

Law Commission launches consultation on reforming structure of devolved tribunals in Wales

Proposed reforms include replacement of separate tribunals with single unified first-tier tribunal, broken down into chambers catering for similar claims

Lord Chancellor provides Justice Committee with further information about stay on evictions that is due to expire on 11 January 2021

Letter to Committee Chair sets out process by which courts will determine whether one of permitted exemptions to stay applies

Call for action to improve housing outcomes for women and children experiencing domestic abuse

Scottish Government working group highlights six areas which, acted on together, could significantly reduce domestic abuse-related homelessness

ONS reports highest annual number of deaths of homeless people in England and Wales since records started in 2013

New statistics also reveal that one in seven of the deaths were suicides

Modification of unsuitable temporary accommodation rules in Scotland to rectify drafting issues in Unsuitable Accommodation Order  

New statutory instrument amends errors and provides more clarity on the terms used in the Order to support local authorities in their duty to provide temporary accommodation

Ban on enforcement of eviction action in Wales until 11 January 2021

Scottish Government confirms that it will introduce licensing scheme for short-term lets from April 2021

However, Minister says that local authorities will have until April 2022 to establish a scheme, and existing hosts will have until April 2023 to apply for a license

Welsh Government announces it will take immediate action to amend Renting Homes Fees Act to prevent certain social sector tenancy charges from contravening the Act’s core provisions

Minister says that unintended problem has come to light for certain assured shorthold tenants with 'starter tenancies', 'market rent tenancies' or tenancies for supported accommodation

Ban on enforcement of eviction orders in Scotland from 11 December 2020 to 22 January 2021

New statutory instrument

Scottish Domestic Abuse Protection Bill needs to be strengthened to improve housing rights of those who have experienced domestic abuse

Chartered Institute of Housing calls for courts to be given more flexibility to grant extended Protection Orders beyond proposed three-month maximum

Scottish Government launches £10 million fund to offer interest-free loans to tenants who are struggling with rent arrears

Tenant Hardship Loan Fund designed to help people who have had their finances or employment impacted by COVID-19 and who don't have other means of housing support

Homeless Link welcomes almost six-fold increase in Housing First capacity in England since 2017

However, new report finds there is more to do if approach is to become viable and accessible to all those who need it

Government announces extra £68 million funding for Disabled Facilities Grants in England

New funding is in addition to the £505 million paid to councils in May 2020

Scottish Government announces temporary ban on enforcement of evictions from rented properties for six-week period until 22 January 2021

However, Housing Minister advises that evictions may still proceed in cases of serious anti-social or criminal behaviour, including in cases of domestic abuse

MHCLG issues ‘initial guidance’ to local authorities on managing applications for social housing or homelessness assistance from EEA citizens from 1 January 2021

Letter to chief executives advises that the guidance should be considered pending updates to the Allocation Guidance and Homelessness Code of Guidance

All political parties in Scotland urged to back proposals for ten-year plan to end homelessness

Homelessness is 'neither inevitable nor an insolvable problem', says Everyone Home Collective