Housing minister announces review of allocations as part of Social Housing Bill

More details on the changes in the bill were also revealed during a first reading in the House of Lords yesterday.

In the written statement on the proposals in the bill to “reduce unnecessary bureaucracy”, Mr Pennycook said: “It streamlines the outdated consents process, so that councils do not have to seek approval from the secretary of state when they want to take certain actions to manage their social housing stock.

“And it repeals a number of unimplemented provisions from the Housing and Planning Act 2016, including the requirement for local authorities to sell high-value social homes, grant flexible (fixed-term) tenancies and charge higher-income tenants higher rents.”

The bill also outlined plans to protect tenants who are victims of domestic abuse.

Mr Pennycook added: “At present, landlords and courts only have limited means to remove a perpetrator from a tenancy while allowing the victim-survivor to remain securely in their home.

“This can leave victims facing additional hardship, instability and an increased risk of homelessness. 

“The bill will give landlords and the courts new and strengthened grounds to address domestic abuse and, in joint tenancy cases, remove a perpetrator from the tenancy where there has been domestic abuse, allowing victims to remain in their home or move to suitable alternative accommodation where this is available.”

Chloe Fletcher, head of policy and external affairs at the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), said: “CIH welcomes the first reading of the Social Housing Bill, showing the government’s fast action and continued commitment to [supporting] social housing in this country.

“Legislative change to safeguard much-needed social homes and security of tenure [is] positive, and we congratulate the government on making them a priority in this parliamentary session.”

In addition to the Social Housing Bill, there were additions to the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, and the long-awaited Remediation Bill to speed up building safety work for people living in homes with unsafe cladding.

The King’s Speech also promised the introduction of the delayed duty of candour proposals under the Hillsborough Law.

You can read the sector’s response here, and Inside Housing’s five major takeaways here.