Housing

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

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

Justice Committee seeks further information about the stay on evictions that is due to expire on 11 January 2021

Letter to Lord Chancellor asks if government will legislate to limit evictions in Tier 2 and Tier 3 areas when current stay expires, and seeks clarity on exception to stay where rent arrears accrued before March 2020

Housing Ombudsman seeks views on plans to strengthen its role, including proposals to raise residents’ awareness of its services and the support it offers to landlords

Consultation launched further to proposals outlined in the social housing white paper published earlier this month

Welsh Government accepts Homelessness Action Group’s final recommendations on steps it needs to take to end homelessness

Housing Minister confirms that her Department will move forward to implement all of the report's recommendations together with those in the Group's previous two reports

Many councils have serious concerns about whether they can provide adequate emergency accommodation during the cold weather, warns LGA

New report highlights that some councils face a choice between leaving people sleeping rough, or using night shelters which risk spreading COVID-19

Government confirms that EEA and Swiss citizens are to only have online access to evidence of their immigration status, and will no longer be issued with biometric cards

Ending of physical proof is in line with government's 'wider direction of travel' to make its products and services 'digital by default', says Minister

Home Office has a long way to go before it delivers what it promised on the provision of accommodation and essential services for asylum seekers, MPs warn

Public Accounts Committee report on early stages of new service contracts finds Department’s lack of preparation and failure to share data meant elements of new services were ‘set up to fail’

Bill to introduce further regulation of supported accommodation sector receives first reading in the House of Commons

Bill would require developers to disclose intention to use dwelling as supported accommodation, establish suitability test for proposed accommodation, and introduce fitness test for landlords