HOUSING SUPPLEMENT. Weekly Parliamentary Round up 5 11 July 2013

Transcription

1 HOUSING SUPPLEMENT Weekly Parliamentary Round up 5 July 2

2 CONTENTS PARLIAMENT COMMONS ORAL ANSWERS 8.7.: One bedroom Homes 8.7.: New Homes Bonus 8.7.2: Affordable Housing 8.7.2: Affordable Housing 8.7.2: Bedroom Tax 8.7.2: Social Housing COMMONS WRITTEN ANSWERS 4.7.: Housing Benefits: Social Rented Housing 4.7.: Empty Property 4.7.: Right to Buy Scheme 8.7.2: Families in Temporary Accommodation 8.7.: Rent Arrears 8.7.: Social Rented Housing: Barnsley 8.7.: Housing Benefit 8.7.: Housing Benefit: Greater London 8.7.: Housing Benefit: Private Rented Housing 9.7.: Affordable Housing 9.7.: Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing 9.7.: Social Rented Housing: York 9.7.: Housing Benefit.7.: Housing.7.: Landlords: Urban Areas COMMONS WRITTEN QUESTIONS 9.7.: Under Occupancy () 9.7.: Under Occupancy (2) 9.7.: Under Occupancy () LORDS WRITTEN ANSWERS 8.7.: Housing: Private Rented Sector () 9.7.: Housing: Private Rented Sector (2).7.: Housing Benefit.7.: Housing: Private Rented Sector WHAT S COMING UP In Parliament Events

3 COMMONS ORAL ANSWERS 8.7.: One bedroom Homes [DCLG] 22. Mrs Emma Lewell Buck (South Shields) (Lab): What assessment he has made of the availability of one bedroom homes. [6446] The Minister for Housing (Mr Mark Prisk): There are. million single bedroom properties in the social rented sector. Overall the social rented sector shrank by 42 homes between 997 and 2. Mrs Lewell Buck: In South Tyneside there are 26 households currently living in two bedroom properties who are affected by the bedroom tax but just 22 onebedroom homes are available more than eight households per vacancy. How can the Minister justify a policy that punishes tenants for under occupancy when the vast majority are simply unable to move? Mr Prisk: May I take the opportunity to welcome the hon. Lady? I think that this is the first chance we have had to debate since she was elected in May. She was a keen fighter on what she calls a bedroom tax. The question Government Members have is this: if the Labour party is so opposed to this measure why is her party leader refusing to repeal it? 8.7.: New Homes Bonus [DCLG] Mark Pawsey: The new homes bonus is an effective tool in encouraging local communities to create new homes but it benefits equally authorities that initially opposed new housing after development consent is granted on appeal. It is important to support communities that through their local plan demonstrate a positive attitude towards development so does the Secretary of State agree that such authorities should receive an enhanced level of new homes bonus? Mr Pickles: My hon. Friend introduces a whole new concept of worthy and unworthy councillors and that is perhaps a step too far. I am comfortable with the thought that when people object to me as Secretary of State I can point to my hon. Friend who is a much harder man : Affordable Housing [DCLG]

4 Dr Thérèse Coffey (Suffolk Coastal) (Con): In the spirit of reducing red tape will my right hon. Friend look again at the rules that the Homes and Communities Agency issues on the minimum size of houses that attract affordable housing finance? Frankly these houses are rather large. One of two particular cases was that of a property built 6 inches too narrow which was not allowed to be taken into social housing because of that mistake. The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Don Foster): Let me assure my hon. Friend that we have recently undertaken a review of housing standards not least to try to reduce the plethora of different standards which are burdensome and expensive. Space and room size have been considered. We will be consulting on the outcome of the review in the near future : Affordable Housing [DCLG] Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) (Lab): The Department s affordable rents policy is putting housing benefit expenditure up. Over at the Department for Work and Pensions Ministers are trying unsuccessfully to cut housing benefit. Meanwhile the cuts in housing benefit that they are making have resulted in an 86% increase in homelessness applications in my borough of Westminster. Does the Department ever speak to the Department for Work and Pensions and if so could they not possibly agree on a single policy rather than two contradictory ones? The Minister for Housing (Mr Mark Prisk): We have a clear policy which is to ensure that we reverse the loss of social housing that we saw under the last Labour Government and that the social housing sector is managed better than it was in the past. Labour needs to realise that there are a million spare bedrooms in the social housing sector and a quarter of a million families in overcrowded accommodation. They would love the luxury of a spare bedroom. We are prepared to make those reforms; the hon. Lady s party is not : Bedroom Tax [DCLG] Natascha Engel (North East Derbyshire) (Lab): May I give the Minister another chance to answer the question put by my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mrs Lewell Buck) and give him another example? Fifty one per cent. of council tenants in my constituency are in rent arrears because they cannot afford to pay the bedroom tax. There are no smaller properties for them to move into so what are

5 they supposed to do? Mr Foster: Let me repeat to the hon. Lady the information we gave earlier: we have already provided 5 million in discretionary housing payments to local councils. [Interruption.] Hon. Members are saying from a sedentary position that it is all gone but may I remind them that last year more than million of discretionary housing payment was not used by local councils? They could use it more efficiently : Social Housing [DCLG] Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD): We need more social housing and more affordable housing but does the Secretary of State understand the anger in north Leeds at the fact that Labour run Leeds city council is bringing forward plans to concrete over much of our green belt with hundreds if not thousands of new homes? The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Nick Boles): The protections in the national planning policy framework for the green belt are very very clear and very very strong. Only in exceptional circumstances can development take place on the green belt and the local authority will need to consult extensively with the local community to gain its support for any proposed change in the green belt. COMMONS WRITTEN ANSWERS 4.7.: Housing Benefits: Social Rented Housing Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the likely effect on housing benefit expenditure of the 65 additional affordable rent homes announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in his oral statement on 27 June 2. [64] Steve Webb: No assessment is available at this point. The Chief Secretary's announcement of 65 new affordable homes represents an important contribution to the increase in housing supply the country needs. The majority of these new homes will be for affordable rent with the remainder for shared ownership. As affordable rent is up to 8% of market rent these new homes

6 will generate housing benefit savings for tenants who otherwise typically live in more expensive private rented accommodation. However as with the current programme some of the funding for these new homes will come through conversions of social rented homes to affordable rent when they become vacant and the sale of social rented homes on the open market. This may incur some housing benefit costs and the net effect on housing benefit expenditure will only be known once we have the outcome of the competitive bidding process for the new programme. 4.7.: Empty Property Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the number of unoccupied residential properties in (a) Brigg and Goole constituency (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) the UK. [6] Mr Foster: Annual statistics on total numbers of vacant dwellings and those vacant longer than six months in each local authority district in England are published in the Department's live table 65 which is available at the following link. data sets/live tables on dwelling stockincluding vacants Data for Brigg and Goole constituency are not collected centrally. The constituency falls within the local authorities of North Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire. As set out in the written ministerial statement on 8 September 22 Official Report columns WS the Department no longer publishes statistics at a regional level. Figures for the rest of the United Kingdom are a matter for each devolved Administration. The number of long term empty homes in England has fallen by nearly 2 between 2 and 22 and by over 48 since : Right to Buy Scheme Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Pudsey of June 2 Official

7 Report column 22 on right to buy scheme which local authorities have refused his Department's offer to help promote the Right to Buy. [6529] Mr Prisk [holding answer 8 June 2]: After the important measures announced at Budget I wrote to all stock owning local authorities offering support to inform tenants of their Right to Buy. This includes delivering Right to Buy tenant roadshows in partnership with them in the local area. To date Right to Buy events have been held in Hammersmith and Fulham Wandsworth Croydon Basildon Milton Keynes Bournemouth Doncaster and Swindon. Others following initial contact such as Brighton and Hove Cannock Chase Crawley Enfield Harlow Havering Kingston upon Hull Leeds Leicester Manchester Norwich Sheffield Southampton Southwark and Wigan have declined to organise such events. I would urge them together with like minded authorities to rethink and ensure that their tenants are well informed. Should they change their minds we stand ready to help organise. I visited the excellent Basildon roadshow and have seen at first hand the value tenants place on receiving advice and help to explore home ownership further. I would encourage all stock owning local authorities to consider the needs of their tenants and work with my Department to help inform tenants about the Right to Buy : Families in Temporary Accommodation 2. John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of the number of families with children living in temporary accommodation. [6447] Mr Prisk: On April this year there were 445 families with children in temporary accommodation. Under the last Government the number reached : Rent Arrears 25. Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the level of rent arrears owed to local authorities and registered social landlords following the introduction of the underoccupancy penalty. [6449]

8 Mr Prisk: The Government is closely monitoring the situation and has commissioned an independent evaluation. We expect the interim findings to be published early next year. 8.7.: Social Rented Housing: Barnsley Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the social housing in Barnsley East constituency is currently unoccupied. [6676] Mr Prisk: Data for Barnsley East constituency are not collected centrally. The constituency falls within the local authority district of Barnsley. Data on dwelling stock by tenure and district can be found in live table at the following link. Taken together the local authority and private registered provider tenures comprise the social housing dwelling stock. data sets/live tables on dwelling stockincluding vacants Data on vacant dwellings by tenure and district can be found in live table 65 at the same link. This table brings together figures on vacant dwellings in England drawn from several separately published sources. A comparison of the latest available figures shows the proportion of the social housing dwelling stock that is vacant in Barnsley as at April 22 and can be seen in the following table. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer of December 22 Official ReportHouse of Lords column WA29. on the steps this Government has taken to help get empty homes back into use. Table. Vacant dwellings as a percentage of dwelling stock social housing tenures Barnsley local authority district April 22 Local Private registered Total social authority provider( 2) housing Vacant dwellings Dwelling stock

9 Vacant dwellings as a percentage of dwelling stock ( ) Private registered providers refer to private registered providers of social housing in England that are registered with the social housing regulator (Homes and Community Agency's Regulation Committee). This term excludes local authority registered providers. (2 )The figures in this table relate only to general needs self contained social rent housing. Supported housing and/or housing for older people rental stock which represents just under 2% of all private registered provider rental stock in 2 is excluded. This is because the data return collects most information by private registered provider rather than geographic area. Only a subset of information is broken down by geographic area and this includes the number of vacant units of general needs self contained stock but not the number of vacant units of supported housing or housing for older people. A small number of bed spaces owned by small private registered providers may also be included. Source: Department for Communities and Local Government Homes and Communities Agency. 8.7.: Housing Benefit Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress he has made in ensuring that women's refuges qualify as supported exempt accommodation as part of his Department's changes to appropriate definitions. [664] Steve Webb: Lord Freud wrote to providers and others in April about protecting supported housing such as refuges and hostels from the unintended consequences of reform. This work is being assisted by key organisations in the sector. We will bring forward proposals at the earliest opportunity. Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department plans to make of any over or underspend of discretionary housing payment allocations by councils in (a) Scotland (b) England and (c) Wales in 2 4; what information his Department is seeking from those councils to make that estimate; and how frequently that estimate will be reviewed. [6642] Steve Webb: It would not be appropriate to make estimates of discretionary housing payment expenditure in the way suggested. The Department allocates discretionary housing payment funding on the basis that local authorities will use it to support housing benefit recipients in year with a range of housing related issues. Local authorities are able to add to the contribution from central Government by up

10 to 5%. In previous years a number of local authorities have opted to add their own funding to the scheme. Early indications are that a proportion of authorities are planning to add authorities have returned unused funding to the Department at the end of the financial year. Around million was returned at the end of 22. Local authorities are required to provide the Department with six monthly reports on their discretionary housing payment expenditure. The reporting requirement has been increased for this year to include details of why the need has arisen and what the payment was awarded for. Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to Regulation 2D(5) and (7) of the Housing Benefit Regulations 26 for what reasons the weeks protection rule is not being replicated under universal credit; and if he will make a statement. [6952] Steve Webb: This provision in housing benefit introduced in 986 allows a more generous level of support for people who have not claimed in the preceding 2 months and who could afford their rent when they took on the commitment. It was designed to provide protection for people on higher incomes who lose their jobs allowing them a buffer period before their rent support is reduced to the local housing allowance level. We do not believe that this differential level of support should be carried forward into universal credit. It would be incompatible with universal credit design principles and would add complexity and administrative costs to the calculation process. Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to Regulations 2D(5) and (7) of the Housing Benefit Regulations 26 what estimate he has made of the number of households affected by the omission from universal credit of the weeks' protection. [648] Steve Webb: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. 8.7.: Housing Benefit: Greater London Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the roll out of the household benefit cap in Bromley Croydon Enfield and Haringey; and if he will make a statement. [642] Mr Hoban: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided to the right hon. Member for East Ham (Stephen Timms) on July 2 Official Report columns 44 W on the benefit cap.

11 8.7.: Housing Benefit: Private Rented Housing Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what payments his Department has made to each local authority since 2 to ameliorate the effects of housing benefit caps on private sector tenants; and how much he expects to spend in this manner in (a) the current financial year and (b) [6282] Steve Webb: The Government increased its contribution to discretionary housing payments (DHPs) by 6 million over the spending review period to help support tenants affected by the reforms to housing benefit including the caps to local housing allowance (LHA) rates. In addition to an increase in DHPs a further 49 million transitional funding was made available over the spending review period for local authorities to provide targeted support for claimants affected by the housing benefit reforms to LHA. Details of the DHP allocations for each local authority are available in Housing Benefit Circulars S2/2 (for 2 2) S4/22 (for 22 including carry over from 2 2) and S/2 (for 2 4). Details of the transitional funding for each local authority are available in Housing Benefit Circular S/22 (for 22 ). Copies of these circulars have been placed in the Library. 9.7.: Affordable Housing Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of how many affordable homes (a) have been provided under section 6 of the Town and Country Planning Act 99 in each financial year from 2 to 22 and (b) will be provided under that section in each financial year from 2 4 to [64] Mr Prisk [holding answer 2 July 2]: It is estimated for affordable homes were provided funding partly or entirely through section 6. This figure is not available for more recent years. Of these 2958 dwellings there were 49 new affordable homes provided entirely through section 6 in 2. This means no grant was required in addition to the

12 developer contribution. 42 dwelling were provided entirely through section 6 in 2 2. Statistics on additional affordable homes are published in Table on the Department's website at: The Department does not publish specific forecasts of affordable housing building. However we announced in the recent spending review that construction is planned to start on 65 affordable homes between 25 6 and It is not possible to provide a breakdown of how many will be provided either partly or entirely through section 6 because it is contingent on the outcome of the competitive bidding process. ] 9.7.: Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government () how many people have been required to leave their homes in the North of England since the introduction of the under occupancy penalty; [6599] (2) what estimate he has made of the number of people required to leave their homes and move into private rented accommodation as a result of the introduction of the under occupancy penalty in the north of England. [664] Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions. No assessment has yet been made about the number of people who have moved as a result of the removal of the spare room subsidy. This measure is not about forcing people to move but as with people not in receipt of benefits it is reasonable to expect claimants to make a contribution towards rent where they have additional rooms in a property. A consortium has been commissioned to monitor the effects of the policy in a selection of local authorities over the next two years. The research will include claimants' responses to the policy measure. Initial findings will be available in 24 and the final report is due in late 25. Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes containing two or more bedrooms under local authority or housing association control were lying empty in the north of England

13 immediately prior to the introduction of the under occupancy penalty tax. [66] Mr Prisk: DCLG does not hold information centrally on the number of vacant local authority or private registered provider (housing association) properties with two or more bedrooms. 9.7.: Social Rented Housing: York Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many additional social rent dwellings were provided by York local authority area in 29 and in each year since then. [6877] Mr Prisk: Statistics on additional affordable housing provided in each local authority area are published in the Department's live tables 6 (additional social rented homes) and 8 (all additional affordable homes) which are available at the following link. data sets/live tables on affordable housingsupply 9.7.: Housing Benefit Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much in unspent discretionary housing payments has been returned to the Exchequer by each local authority in Wales in the last five financial years; and what comparative assessment he has made of the proportion of such payments returned by local authorities in (a) Wales and (b) England. [6476] Steve Webb: The following tables show the amount of unspent Government contribution towards discretionary housing payments for each local authority in Wales for the last five financial years. While the Department has not made any comparative assessment between the proportions that has not been used between Wales and England the tables also include this information. Government funding unspent Government funding unspent 2 G o Government funding unspent

14 9 v e r n m e n t f u n d i n g c a r r i e d f o r w a r d i n t o 2 2 Blaenau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly

15 5 5 Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Isle of Anglesey Merthyr Tydfil

16 8 5 Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys 264 Rhondda Cynon Taff Swansea Torfaen 24 Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham

17 Percentage of Government funding unspent Percentage of Government funding unspent 2 P e r c e n t a g e o f G o v e r n m e n t f u n d i n g c a r r i e d f o r w a r d Percentage of Government funding unspent

18 Wales England i n t o : Housing Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the introduction of the Single Local Growth Fund how the New Homes Bonus will be allocated between (a) local enterprise partnerships (b) county councils and (c) district councils by proportion. [694] Mr Prisk: Local authorities have a crucial role to play in supporting housing and wider economic growth but the local government finance system historically failed to reward housing and other growth. The coalition Government has put in place structural reforms to change the incentives for local authorities. From April 2 local authorities in England are retaining half of the business rates that are raised locally and the New Homes Bonus also provides funding for local authorities based on the homes that are built in their area. The Government's response to the Heseltine review (Cm 8587 March 2) outlined our plans to empower local enterprise partnership to drive forward locally led growth and enterprise. It also recommended the pooling of more financial resources to strengthen incentives for local enterprise partnerships and their partners to generate growth. In the spirit of joint working and greater collaboration we believe that there is scope for pooling of resources from central and local government.

19 As announced in Investing in Britain's future (Cm 8669 June 2) we intend that in million from the New Homes Bonus will be pooled within local enterprise partnership areas to support strategic locally led housing and economic development priorities. Councils' local plans will remain as the focus for where development should and should not go. The pooling complements the duty to co operate and the abolition of regional strategies introduced through the Localism Act. In particular we hope it will encourage local authorities to work together on new developments which might cross council boundaries and to help unlock the provision of cross local authority infrastructure. It also gives local authorities an indirect financial stake in new housing build near but outside their council boundaries; whereas before there was no mitigation for developments which placed strains or pressures on neighbouring councils. We will consult shortly on the mechanism to deliver the pooling arrangements. Source: Parliament: Commons Order Paper.7.: Landlords: Urban Areas Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress he has made following the Portas review on introducing a public register of high street landlords. [6666] Mr Prisk: We did not commit to this policy in the Government's response to the Portas review as we believe that local authorities are best placed to lead on this. We made it clear when responding to the Portas review we want local authorities to compile a public register of high street landlords to help Town Teams. We are also considering further solutions to improve the information that is available. Source: Parliament: Commons Order Paper COMMONS WRITTEN QUESTIONS 9.7.: Under Occupancy (For answer on 2 July) Stephen Timms (East Ham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the trends in the number of (a) one bedroom (b) two bedroom (c) three bedroom and (d) four bedroom and larger void social housing properties since the introduction of the under occupancy penalty; and if he will make a statement.

20 Source: Parliament: Commons Order Paper 9.7.: Under Occupancy (For answer on 2 July) Stephen Timms (East Ham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities in England and Wales have informed his Department that their housing rent arrears have increased following the introduction of the under occupancy penalty. Source: Parliament: Commons Order Paper 9.7.: Under Occupancy (For answer on 2 July) Stephen Timms (East Ham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of trends in social housing rent arrears since the introduction of the under occupancy penalty in April 2; and if he will make a statement. Source: Parliament: Commons Order Paper LORDS WRITTEN ANSWERS 8.7.: Housing: Private Rented Sector Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty s Government which local authorities are operating compulsory licensing schemes for private landlords in their areas other than by means of a selective licensing scheme.[hl299] The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): This information is not held centrally. Other than selective licensing the only other statutory licensing schemes for private rented housing relate to Houses in Multiple Occupation mandatory licensing for larger Houses in Multiple Occupation and a discretionary power to extend licensing to smaller types of Houses in Multiple Occupation. Source: Parliament: Lords Hansard 9.7.: Housing: Private Rented Sector

21 Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty s Government what assessment they have made of the practice of some letting agents in charging a letting fee for the routine renewal of an assured shorthold or similar tenancy; and whether they are considering proposals to ban or regulate such activity.[hl] To ask Her Majesty s Government what assessment they have made of the level of letting fees charged by letting agents for private housing tenancies; and whether they have plans to introduce regulation for such fees for instance by relating them to the rent charged for a property.[hl25] The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): We recognise that a minority of agents offer a poor service and engage in unacceptable practices which is why we are already changing the law to require all letting and managing agents to belong to an approved redress scheme. This will give tenants an effective way to address complaints. However we are unconvinced that regulating or banning specific fees is necessary because whilst landlords and letting agents are free to set their own charges they are prohibited from setting unfair terms or fees under existing consumer protection legislation. Where a consumer believes that agents are in breach of this legislation it is open to them to draw this to the attention of their local trading standards officer. Disproportionate regulation will just drive up rents and reduce the choice of accommodation on offer to tenants. Source: Parliament: Lords Hansard.7.: Housing Benefit Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty s Government whether they will issue new guidance to local authorities on the use of housing benefit to support homeless people in emergency overnight shelter accommodation. [HL844] The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): Guidance to local authorities on the administration of the Housing Benefit regulations is already available. There are no plans to amend it in this respect. A recent court judgement (OR v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Isle of Anglesey CC [2] UKUT 65) has prompted questions about the eligibility of people using night shelters for housing benefit. I would like to assure the noble Lord that there has been no change in the law. Housing Benefit rules have not been changed over the basic principle of entitlement.

22 The court case was about the facts of one individual case on whether the claimant was occupying a night shelter as his dwelling in accordance with the legislation. The Government believes that housing benefit can continue to be paid to users of shelters so long as the person s circumstances meet the housing benefit rules. It is for local authorities to make decisions after considering all the relevant facts. Information to clarify this point has been made available to local authorities and voluntary sector providers and a copy of the note has been placed in the Library of the House. The Government recognises the important contribution that night shelters can make to reducing rough sleeping and the associated costs to society. We have invested 47 million over four years (2/2 24/5) to help local authorities and the voluntary sector prevent and tackle homelessness including rough sleeping in England and a 5 million boost to the Homelessness Change Programme (bringing the total investment to 42.5 million). Source: Parliament: Lords Hansard.7.: Housing: Private Rented Sector Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town: To ask Her Majesty s Government when the public consultation on redress schemes for letting and management agency work will take place. [HL264] The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): Requiring all letting and managing agents to belong to an approved redress scheme will give tenants an effective way to address complaints and drive up standards in the private rented sector. We are keen to make rapid progress in putting schemes in place and will be engaging widely with landlord bodies tenant groups and the lettings industry over the summer. There is no need for consultation on the principle of such redress schemes as the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2 has already set out the statutory basis. Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty s Government what assessment they have made of the practice of some landlords and tenants in letting or subletting part of a privately owned domestic property by means of a licence in circumstances where they do not also live on the premises; and whether they are considering proposals to control such activity.[hl] Baroness Hanham: No such assessment has been made and we are not considering proposals to control the practice of letting or sub letting by licence by a landlord or tenant who does not live in the privately owned property.

23 A tenancy gives the person to whom it is granted an estate in land whereas a licence confers only a personal permission on the person to whom it is granted. The key factor for identifying whether someone has been granted a tenancy or a licence is whether he/she has been granted exclusive possession of the property (although there are other factors). Common examples of where an occupier is likely to have a licence rather than a tenancy are holiday lets/hotels and cases where the occupier lodges in the landlords own home. Source: Parliament: Lords Hansard WHAT S COMING UP In Parliament 5.7. CLG Committee looks at HCA The Commons Communities and Local Government Committee will hold an evidence session on the Regulation Committee of the Homes and Communities Agency with Julian Ashby Chair Regulation Committee of the Homes and Communities Agency Source: Parliament Events 5.7.: Benefit cap to be rolled out nationally from today From today the national roll out of the benefit cap will take place to cover an estimated total of 4 households limiting benefit payments to 5 a week or 26 a year. The cap will apply to combined income from the main out of work benefits: Jobseeker s Allowance Income Support Employment and Support Allowance and other benefits such as Housing Benefit Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit. Source: DWP 6.7.: Conference debates 'new social bar for housing associations' Think tank ResPublica will be holding a conference 'Raising the Roof: A new social bar for housing associations'. This is a full day thoughtleaders conference which will explore and identify a new 'social bar' for housing associations and set out the sector's ambitions for the future. Nick Hurd Minister for Civil Society will make keynote

24 remarks which will be followed by five plenary sessions to discuss topical issues. Source: Respublica