Consultation: Suitability of accommodation
Neil Puffett
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
What is it all about? In light of pressure on social housing stock, the Localism Act 2011 enables local authorities to end the main homelessness duty by arranging an offer of suitable accommodation in the private rented sector, without requiring the applicant’s agreement. However, issues remain about how “suitable” accommodation is defined.
The matter has been brought into sharp focus in recent months with reports that councils in London are considering moving families who cannot afford to live in the capital into private accommodation in other parts of the country.
Charities and children’s rights organisations have raised concerns about the situation, which they argue is linked to the introduction of housing benefit caps.
What are the main points? Where a family is homeless through no fault of their own, is eligible for assistance and is in priority need, local housing authorities have a duty to secure accommodation for them, known as the main homelessness duty. Changes to the homelessness legislation will give local authorities freedom to make better use of good-quality private rented sector accommodation that can provide suitable accommodation for households owed the main homelessness duty.
The act includes protections to ensure that the accommodation in the private sector will be available for a sufficient period of time to provide certainty for households.
In considering “suitability”, local authorities must consider whether the accommodation is affordable for the applicant, its size, condition, accessibility and location.
The consultation seeks views on areas that should be considered important in determining whether accommodation is to be regarded as not suitable.
It also seeks views on whether existing provisions on location and suitability should be strengthened so that households are placed nearer to where they have previously lived where possible. The consultation states that the government considers that it is not acceptable for local authorities to make placements hundreds of miles away, without proper regard for the disruption this may cause.
Who can have a say? The consultation is open to anybody, but key national interest groups will be engaged directly during the consultation process.
When does it close? The consultation runs until 26 July.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/homelessnessorderconsult
