Housing

Scottish Government publishes statutory guidance for landlords on updated standards for private rented homes from 1 March 2024

Guidance sets out requirements for all private rented properties to have central heating, a kitchen with adequate space and facilities, and common areas that are safe to use and properly maintained

Round-up of recent Upper Tribunal housing case law

More than 3,000 people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in England in November 2022, up 26 per cent from 2021

New DLUHC statistics highlight that this represents the first increase in rough sleeping figures since 2017

More than 75,000 households were initially assessed as owed a homelessness prevention or relief duty in England between July and September 2022

New DLUHC figures also show that number of households threatened with homelessness due to service of a Section 21 notice was up by more than a third on same period in 2021

Ombudsman makes two findings of severe maladministration for housing association’s failure to deal with rodent and subsequent maggot infestations

Cumulative lesson for the sector is that it needs to get better at recognising and responding appropriately to residents with vulnerabilities, says Ombudsman

Bringing into force measures to enhance conditions and protections for tenants living in the private sector in Northern Ireland

New statutory rules

Civil society organisations, unions, and metropolitan mayors join renters in call for Housing Secretary to freeze rents

Open letter to Michael Gove also recommends more support for low income mortgage holders to protect them from losing their homes in the cost of living crisis

Ombudsman finds council at fault after man with health problems was left street homeless for six months during Covid-19 pandemic

Liverpool City Council ordered to pay compensation of £2,600 and review its procedures for homelessness referrals

Housing Ombudsman highlights that ‘extraordinary’ year of increased demand has led to an almost 80 per cent increase in requests for formal investigations

Surge in casework levels will support move into 'phase of significant expansion', which will continue through 'increased awareness and improved access to Ombudsman services'

Review of government’s Tenancy Mediation Pilot finds that mediation was offered too late in the process and suffered from a lack of specialist legal advice

MoJ and DLUHC publish findings from post-implementation review of initiative designed to help settle possession claims without a substantive hearing

Department for Communities confirms that Northern Ireland’s Housing Executive rent levels will increase by 7 per cent in 2023/2024

Increase equates to an average rise of £4.86 per week, bringing average weekly rents up to £74.35

Citizens Advice calls for government to bring regulation of health hazards such as damp and mould in the private rental sector in line with its proposals for social landlords

New report highlights need for tougher regulation to help protect the more than 1.5 million children in England living in cold, damp or mouldy private rented homes

Ombudsman makes finding of severe maladministration for housing association’s failure to deal with drainage issues that left a disabled resident without a functioning toilet

Clarion Housing ordered to pay resident more than £2,000 in compensation and to carry out a review of its repairs processes to identify areas for improvement

More than 70 MPs and Peers sign open letter to Housing Minister urging immediate action to support rising number of homeless Ukrainian refugees in Britain

Correspondence includes call to introduce extended and harmonised financial support as well as appointment of a new Refugees Minister

Miscellaneous amendments to regulations providing for rules of procedure which apply in Scottish tribunals

New statutory instrument

Government launches consultation on the council tax valuation of Houses in Multiple Occupation

DLUHC says that its objective is to ensure that HMOs are valued as a single dwelling other than in exceptional circumstances, helping to ensure that liability for council tax remains with the landlord

Government launches consultation on directing Social Housing Regulator to set revised regulatory standards on tenant involvement and mutual exchange

Views sought on strengthened requirements for social landlords to consider tenants' views and to assist those who would otherwise be unable to use mutual exchange service