How is the increasing size of the private rented sector affecting UK Government policy? How are private landlords and letting agents regulated? How secure are private tenants in their housing? What are the main aspects of the debate around affordability and rent control? And how are private rented sector policies affecting Government housing policies more broadly?
Debate Pack
There will be a General Debate on the subject of housing on 9 April 2019. This landing page provides links to a selection of relevant Library papers.
Research Briefing
The Tenant Fees Bill will abolish most upfront fees for tenants in England and cap security deposits at the equivalent of five weeks’ rent where the annual rent is less than £50,000. This paper provides background to the Bill, including information on current practice in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It explains the Bill's provisions and summarises reactions from tenants, landlords and letting agents. This paper has been updated to include issues raised during Public Bill Committee and subsequent Parliamentary stages. Consideration of Lords amendments is scheduled to take place on 23 January 2019.
Research Briefing
This Commons Library briefing paper provides the background to Karen Buck's Private Members' Bill on housing fitness, and explains its provisions and amendments made at Committee Stage. The Bill is seeking to require that residential rented dwellings in England are fit for human habitation at the start of the tenancy and thereafter.
Debate Pack
On 6 December 2018, there will be a Westminster Hall debate on the use of section 21 evictions in the private rented sector. The debate is scheduled to start at 1.30pm and the Member sponsoring this debate is Karen Buck MP.
Research Briefing
This briefing paper provides an overview of the statutory rights of occupiers of social housing in England to succeed to a tenancy on the death of the previous sole or joint tenant. The rules in regard to secure council tenancies changed in April 2012.
Research Briefing
Social landlords in England have had discretion not to offer a 'lifetime' tenancy to new tenants since 1 April 2012. The Housing and Planning Act 2016 contains provisions which would limit local authorities' ability to offer longer-term tenancies in certain circumstances. The Government has said that these provisions will not be implemented "at this time".
Research Briefing
This briefing paper explains the Government's proposals for the future funding of supported housing. On 9 August 2018 it was announced that Housing Benefit will continue to meet residents' rent payments in all supported housing. The paper also covers the requirement on providers to reduce rents up to 2019/20.
Research Briefing
This introductory guide provides sources of statistics on constituency level statistics.
Research Briefing
The Secure Tenancies (Victims of Domestic Abuse) Bill [HL] 2017-19 completed its Public Bill Committee stage in the House of Commons on 27 March 2018. It is a short Bill which will ensure that certain victims of domestic violence retain a right to a 'lifetime' secure tenancy when fixed-term tenancies become mandatory for English housing authorities under the Housing and Planning Act 2016. This paper provides background on the Bill's progress to date.
Debate Pack
This pack has been produced ahead of the debate to be held in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 6 March from 2.30-4pm on cladding and remedial fire safety work. The debate will be opened by Steve Reed MP.
Debate Pack
There will be a debate, entitled "The effect of Universal Credit on the private rented sector". This will be led by Stephen Lloyd MP and will take place in Westminster Hall at 9.30am on Tuesday 9th January 2018. This landing page brings together relevant material to inform the debate.
Research Briefing
This Commons Library briefing paper provides background on the 2015 Government's intention to apply Local Housing Allowance rates to tenants in receipt of Housing Benefit in the social rented sector. On 25 October 2017, the Prime Minister said that this change would not go ahead as previously planned.
Debate Pack
Getting a mortgage is very difficult. High house prices and more restrictive lending conditions make qualifying for a mortgage difficult, especially for first time buyers. An e- Petition which attracted over 147,000 signatures calls on lenders to include an applicant's history of rent payments in their lending decision process. The Debate will be led by Paul Scully MP.
Research Briefing
Finding accommodation when leaving prison can be difficult. This note outlines the support available to people leaving prison and the relevant duties of local authorities. It also considers how a prison sentence affects a person's ability to receive Housing Benefit.
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