Details of a package of housing reforms emerged this week, as the government hurried to fulfil its promises before the next election.
It is understood that in addition to a new responsibility for councils to provide permanent housing for the homeless, the government is to start to deliver on the promise of housing benefit reform next week in response to consultation on the housing Green Paper.

The DSS is set to be reformed, with an emphasis on closer "partnership" working with councils. Pilot schemes to allow RSLs powers to verify housing benefit are under active consideration, despite previous reluctance. A firm announcement on the pilots will be made early next year.

But the government’s anxiety to meet its manifesto commitment to reinstate a statutory obligation on councils to provide permanent homes for homeless families has meant an unusually short housing bill is on the cards.

The legislation will deliver on Labout’s 1997 manifesto pledge to impose a duty on local authorities "to protect those who are homeless through no fault of their own and are in priority need".

Housing priority for those in need is to be dramatically widened to include children leaving care, former soldiers and released prisoners. Currently women with children, the mentally ill and elderly people get priority.

The government is thought to have introduced the rejig because it feels that housing people released from institutions will tackle social exclusion and cut crime rates.

The bill announced in the Queen’s speech will also require councils to conduct a street count annually of homeless people in their areas. This move intends to assist councils judge whether or not they have provided sufficient houses for the homeless.

The government is also set to confirm next week concessions revealed in Housing Today last month over its rent reform proposals (Housing Today, 2 November). A flexible rents package based on RPI-plus-a- half will be introduced, with a 75-25 earnings and capital values split.

Source

Housing Today