Housing – Government action

UK Government actions

• In March 2021, the UK Government published the outcome of its consultation on measures to criminalise trespassing when setting up an unauthorised encampment.
• 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 November 2020, £676 million of funding was announced to tackle rough sleeping and homelessness, and £87 million to provide long-term accommodation for rough sleepers.
• In September 2020, the UK Government launched a public consultation on raising accessibility standards for new homes.
• In September 2020, the UK Government announced over £12 billion for affordable housing, including a £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme.
• In 2020, the UK Government announced over £265 million for local authorities to increase the provision of accommodation in response to the pandemic.
• In March 2020, the Coronavirus Act introduced provisions to extend the notice periods that certain tenants in England and Wales are entitled to receive when a landlord is seeking to recover possession of their homes. In August 2020, these notice periods were extended with some exceptions.
• In December 2019, the Queen’s Speech included a commitment to bring forward a Renters’ Reform Bill, which would include abolishing the use of ‘no fault’ evictions.
• 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 June 2017, a Public Inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire was announced. The report from phase one of the inquiry was published in October 2019.

Read our assessment of the UK Government’s progress on housing.

Welsh Government actions

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

• In January 2021, the Welsh Government published its Building Safety Regime 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 and August 2020, the Welsh Government announced £50 million in support for rough sleepers and routes into permanent housing in response to the pandemic.
• In October 2019, the Welsh Government published its Homelessness strategy, setting out the approach to preventing and addressing 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 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 asylum seekers.
• In 2019, the Welsh Government committed to incorporate the right to adequate housing into statutory guidance which will accompany the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, but this has not yet been published.
• In June 2018, the Welsh Government published Enabling Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, including a focus on ensuring sufficient residential and transit sites.
• In February 2018, the Welsh Government published its Rough Sleeping Action Plan, aimed at reducing rough sleeping.

Read our assessment of the Welsh Government’s progress on housing.