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Updated March 2010
New housing legislation plans Minister Ritchie has launched a public consultation on new housing legislation. The consultation document sets out plans for cutting social housing tenants' fuel bills, meeting housing need through private rented accommodation and enhancing measures to tackle anti social behaviour. The consultation period lasted until 26 February 2010 and proposals are available here. Housing Rights Serice and CHNI held a joint consultation event on the legislation on 8th February. You can read the feedback from this event and Housing Rights Service's response to the consultation below.
Housing benefit reforms The Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) has issued for consultation proposals to reform Housing Benefit. The DSD is currently considering implications for this locally and is inviting comments on the DWPs proposals. The deadline for responses is 22 February 2010. Housing Rights Service will be submitting a response and will also brief the Social Development Committee on 4 February 2010.
Housing Amendment Bill progress The Committee Stage of the draft Housing (Amendment) Bill has ended. The dates for the next two Assembly Stages will depend on the Executive Committee approving any amendments which the DSD Minister wants to table. It is aimed that the Bill will receive Royal Assent by Easter. Various interested groups have given evidence on its contents including Housing Rights Service. Housing Rights Service evidence on the Bill
Private rented sector strategy The DSD has completed its consultation on a new strategy for the private rented sector. Consultees were generally in favour of the proposal, which included a tenancy deposit scheme and a dispute resolution service. There was however a large body of support for the mandatory registration of landlords which was not being directly proposed by the DSD. The final strategy is due to be published in the Spring. The Minister has expressed her intention to introduce a tenancy deposit scheme but has not finalised any other details. Rent collection and arrears management policy seminar Some of the presentations from our recent seminar on sharing good practice in the areas of rent collection and arrears management are now available here.
Useful links Social Development Committee Forward Work Programme
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Response to Department for Social Development Consultation on the Housing Bill