Serious concerns about government housing policy

By Roy Kennedy

The localism bill returns to the Lords tomorrow and the focus will on be housing. There is widespread concern at a number of the proposed changes, and myself and other Labour colleagues in the house of lords will be seeking to pass amendments to curtail some of the worst aspects – which seek to weaken the homelessness duty that local authorities have, along with proposals to allow local authorities to issue flexible tenancies instead of secure open ended tenancies. In addition to a very damaging proposal that will prevent tenants from dealing directly with the housing ombudsman, complaints will only be accepted if they come following a referral from a local MP, local councillor or tenant’s panel.

As someone who grew up in social housing I have thought long and hard about these proposals and reflected on what the implications would have been for families if they had been law when I was growing up. My conclusions are that they would have just added to the pressures and provided instability and uncertainty, and that in turn can affect people’s health and their ability to learn or work to the best of their ability.

On the homelessness proposals, we are seeking to define the suitability criteria for private rented accommodation that households can be placed in and also introduce a sunset clause that would mean the provisions expired after three years if the government did not publish a report that assessed the impact of the new policies as well as holding a debate and affirmative vote in both houses of parliament.

The proposals for flexible tenancies are causing great concern and we are seeking to ensure that people who are over 60 or have a long term illness or disability would be exempt and that tenants moving on from one secure tenancy are granted another, as the bill as presently drafted does not guarantee this important right. We are also seeking to make clear that there is a presumption that a flexible tenancy will be renewed on expiry.

Another major area of concern is the proposal to prevent tenants themselves making a complaint direct to the Housing Ombudsman. The proposal at present will mean that tenants will only be able to seek redress through the Ombudsman if their complaint is referred there by a local MP, a local Councillor or a Tenants Panel. This proposal risks the process becoming remote and the tenant feeling even less empowered in seeking to have their complaint resolved. Our proposal will preserve the tenants right to refer matters direct to the ombudsman or if they wish to have it referred by an elected representative.

So far the ConDem government has not shown much willingness to listen to proposals that have been put forward by the Labour frontbench and others on homelessness, flexible tenancies, housing ombudsman complaints and other matters. Although called the localism bill, in many parts it does the exact opposite and gives considerable additional powers to the secretary of state. Labour members of the lords will this week seek to work with other in the house and amend the bill in a positive way to give tenants much needs rights and protections.

Roy Kennedy is a Labour member of the House of Lords and frontbench spokesperson