Rented housing

This briefing paper considers how affordable housing is defined in England and looks at key trends in the affordability of different tenure types. It examines the supply of affordable housing and the role of Housing Benefit in enabling households to access and retain affordable housing. The paper has been updated to include new data on housing affordability.

The Renters' Reform Bill 2019-20 was announced in the Queen’s Speech on 19 December 2019. No date is available for presentation of the Bill.

The Housing and Planning Act 2016 (HPA 2016) received Royal Assent on 12 May 2016. This briefing paper outlines progress in implementing the Act's provisions. Several key measures in the Act will not be taken forward, such as 'pay to stay' and mandatory fixed-term tenancies for local authority landlords in England.

An overview of the ban on most letting fees that came into force in June 2019. Letting fee complaints are also explained.

This Briefing Paper provides information on which claimants are affected by the reduction in Housing Benefit/housing element of Universal Credit when under-occupying a social rented home. The policy is often referred to as 'the removal of the Spare Room Subsidy' or the 'bedroom tax'. The benefit reduction has been in place since 1 April 2013. The paper has been updated to include some of the more recent legal challenges to the under-occupation deduction.

This briefing paper sets out the legal framework in England and Wales for controlling standards in HMOs. It considers the powers available to local authorities to carry out enforcement work.

This paper provides background on the use of section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 to evict assured shorthold tenants on a 'no-fault' basis. The Government is consulting on its abolition; the paper considers the implications for landlords and tenants and early reactions to the Government's proposals.

This briefing paper provides an overview of Right to Rent checks which must be carried out by private landlords/agents in England. The checks were introduced by the Immigration Act 2014. Breaches may, in some circumstances, amount to a criminal offence after changes introduced by the Immigration Act 2016 on 1 December 2016. The checks are controversial and have been subject to legal challenge.

This briefing paper outlines the legal position and potential remedies available where people find themselves living next door to tenants of private landlords or owner-occupiers who exhibit anti-social behaviour (ASB). The briefing focuses on the legal position in England.

This briefing paper provides an overview of the remedies available to social landlords to deal with tenants who exhibit anti-social behaviour. The paper focuses on England but some of the same legislation applies in Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland operate under different legislative regimes. The Home Office updated guidance for frontline professionals dealing with ASB in August 2019.

The HHSRS is a risk based assessment tool which is used by environmental health officers to assess the risk (the likelihood and severity) of a hazard in residential housing to the health and safety of occupants or visitors. The Government commissioned a review of the HHSRS at the end of 2018. On 11 July 2019, the outcome of this scoping exercise was announced - there is an intention to carry out further work to update the system and make it easier to understand. This paper provides an overview of the HHSRS and considers some reviews and reports on its operation.

An explanation of the assistance available to assist long leaseholders of social landlords in paying for major works. In August 2014 the Coalition Government introduced a cap on the amount that can be recovered from these long leaseholders where the work has been carried out with funding from central Government. The cap has been referred to as "Florrie's law." The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has recommended the introduction of a Code of Practice for social landlords.

There will be an Estimates Day debate in the House of Commons Chamber on 2 July 2019 on the spending of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The debate will be opened by Layla Moran MP.

On 13 June 2019 there will be a general debate on social housing. This debate will take place in the main chamber.

This briefing paper provides a summary of the different approaches adopted by the Governments in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in regard to some key areas of private rented sector policy. It has been updated to include the announcement on 15 April 2019 on 'no fault' evictions.