Housing – Government action

UK Government actions:

• In July 2022, the UK Government published a response to its consultation on raising accessibility standards for new homes, recognising the importance of suitable homes for older and disabled people and committing to significantly raising minimum accessibility standards.
• In June 2022, the UK Government published its A Fairer Private Rented Sector white paper, setting out plans to halve the number of poor-quality homes by 2030 and improve the quality of private rented housing, especially in parts of the country with the highest proportion of substandard housing.
• Between June and August 2022, the UK Government consulted on its proposal to bring section 36 of the Equality Act 2010 into force, which would require property owners to make reasonable adjustments to common parts of let residential properties.
• In April 2022, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 introduced a new criminal offence of trespass directed against unauthorised encampments in England.
• In December 2020, the Home Office introduced new rules to allow for ‘leave to remain’ to be refused or cancelled for people from outside the European Economic Area who are sleeping rough, which could lead to their removal from the UK.
• In September 2020, the UK Government announced over £12 billion for affordable housing, including an £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme.
• In 2020, the UK Government gave additional funding to local authorities in England to increase the provision of accommodation in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
• In March 2019, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 came into force, requiring all landlords in England to ensure that their properties are fit for human habitation.
• In April 2018, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 strengthened the duties on local authorities to prevent and relieve homelessness in England.
• In June 2017, a public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire was announced. The report from phase 1 of the inquiry was published in October 2019.

Welsh Government actions: Housing is devolved to the Welsh Government, though some associated aspects, such as housing benefit, are reserved.

• In December 2022, the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 came into force, which will affect how tenants rent, manage and live in homes in Wales.
• In January 2021, the Welsh Government published its Building Safety Regime for Wales white paper following the Grenfell Tower fire.
• In November 2020, the Welsh Government accepted in principle the recommendations of the Homelessness Action Group.
• In March 2020, the Welsh Government announced £10 million in support for rough sleepers and routes into permanent housing in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, followed by £50 million in August 2020.
• In October 2019, the Welsh Government published its homelessness strategy, setting out its approach to prevent and address homelessness.
• In September 2019, the Welsh Government launched Action on Disability: The Right to Independent Living Framework and Action Plan, including commitments to improve the system for housing adaptations and establishing an accessible housing register standard.
• In March 2019, Rent Smart Wales was established to handle the registration and licensing of landlords and letting agents.
• In January 2019, the Abolition of the Right to Buy and Associated Rights (Wales) Act 2018 came into force, aiming to protect social housing stock.
• In January 2019, the Welsh Government launched its Nation of Sanctuary – Refugee and Asylum Seeker Plan, committing to improve housing support for refugees and people seeking asylum.
• In June 2018, the Welsh Government published Enabling Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, including a focus on ensuring sufficient residential and transit sites.