Impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) on homelessness and the private rented sector

Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 16 Apr 2020 Closed: 9 Jun 2021 Parliament page
The HCLG Committee has launched an inquiry into the Impact of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) on homelessness and the private rented sector. It will consider both the immediate and long-term impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the homeless, rough sleepers and those in the private rented sector. The Committee expects … Read more
15 Recommendations
11 Conclusions
2 Reports
6 Oral sessions
10 Letters
6 Events
Activity timeline 27 events
25 May
2021
Report published
31 Mar
2021
Report published
23 Mar
2021
Correspondence
23 Feb
2021
Correspondence
8 Feb
2021
Correspondence
5 Feb
2021
Correspondence
28 Jan
2021
Oral evidence
28 Jan
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual meeting
26 Jan
2021
Correspondence
19 Jan
2021
Correspondence
18 Jan
2021
Oral evidence
18 Jan
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual meeting
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
28 Jan 2021
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Oral evidence
Eddie Hughes · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Penny Hobman · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
18 Jan 2021
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Oral evidence
Baroness Casey of Blackstock · Rough Sleeping Taskforce
17 Dec 2020
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Oral evidence
Abeo · NACCOM Fiona Colley · Homeless Link Henry St Clair Miller · NRPF Network Sam · NACCOM Steve Douglas · St Mungo's T · St Mungo's Tracy · St Mungo's
14 Dec 2020
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Oral evidence
Ben Beadle · National Residential Landlords' Association Ben Beadle · National Residential Landlords Association Cllr Rachel Blake · Local Government Association Dr Cecil Sagoe · Shelter Giles Peaker · Anthony Gold Solicitors Joe Lane · Citizens Advice Liz Davies · Housing Law Practitioners Association Simon Mullings · Housing Law Practitioners Association
29 Jun 2020
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Oral evidence
Caitlin Wilkinson · Generation Rent Chris Norris · National Residential Landlords Association Ruth Ehrlich · Liberty
11 May 2020
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Formal evidence; Oral evidence
Jamie Carswell · London Councils John Hall · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Jon Sparkes · Crisis Luke Hall · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Recommendations & Conclusions
26 results
1 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
We recognise the enormous success of the early stages of the Everyone In programme, made...
We recognise the enormous success of the early stages of the Everyone In programme, made possible through cross-sector collaboration, substantial funding, and joint working towards a clear goal.
Government Response
We recognise the enormous success of the early stages of the Everyone In programme, made possible through cross-sector collaboration, substantial funding, and joint working towards a clear goal.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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2 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
We recommend the Government immediately issues clear guidance to local authorities stating that they can...
We recommend the Government immediately issues clear guidance to local authorities stating that they can and should use their legal powers under the Local Government Act 1972 and NHS Act 2006 to find accommodation for those otherwise ineligible for support … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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3 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
We recommend that the Government creates a cross-Government task force to resolve the conflict between...
We recommend that the Government creates a cross-Government task force to resolve the conflict between the commitment to end rough sleeping and the current policy on the no recourse to public funds condition. This will require collecting data on the … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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4 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
We call on the Government to publish an exit plan for the private rented sector...
We call on the Government to publish an exit plan for the private rented sector from national and local restrictions. Now the Government has published its roadmap for how to exit national restrictions, hopefully for the final time, it should … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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5 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
The Government will eventually have to come up with a policy response, because it cannot...
The Government will eventually have to come up with a policy response, because it cannot keep extending the evictions ban forever more.
Government Response
Protecting renters from eviction The Government has introduced an unprecedented set of measures to prevent people from losing their homes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures taken included … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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6 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
We call on the Government to deliver a specific financial package—we prefer discretionary housing payments—to...
We call on the Government to deliver a specific financial package—we prefer discretionary housing payments—to support tenants to repay rent arrears caused by covid-19, in consultation with the Local Government Association and appropriate bodies representing renters and landlords. We received … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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7 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
We recognise the enormous success of the early stages of the Everyone In programme, made...
We recognise the enormous success of the early stages of the Everyone In programme, made possible through cross-sector collaboration, substantial funding and joint working towards a clear goal.
Government Response
We recognise the enormous success of the early stages of the Everyone In programme, made possible through cross-sector collaboration, substantial funding, and joint working towards a clear goal.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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8 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
We do not accept the Government’s reasoning for why it cannot produce figures on the...
We do not accept the Government’s reasoning for why it cannot produce figures on the number of people subject to the no recourse to public funds condition. The cost and administrative burden of doing so are not sufficient arguments, given … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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9 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
There are substantial differences between a well-established severe weather emergency protocol, which provides short-term accommodation,...
There are substantial differences between a well-established severe weather emergency protocol, which provides short-term accommodation, often in night shelters or other communal spaces, and providing long-term accommodation in self-contained en-suite units with significant wraparound support. While there can be some … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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10 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
Everyone In by definition has finished.
Everyone In by definition has finished. The Government believes Everyone In continues to exist, but by its own admission it is no longer helping everyone. The principle of Everyone In was that everyone, no matter what their normal eligibility for … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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11 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
We call on the Government to return to the spirit of the early pandemic and...
We call on the Government to return to the spirit of the early pandemic and re- commit to Everyone In. This requires providing legal clarity for local authorities. We recommend the Government immediately issues clear guidance to local authorities stating … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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12 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
No recourse to public funds has been an obstacle to reducing rough sleeping for a...
No recourse to public funds has been an obstacle to reducing rough sleeping for a long time: the pandemic has just shone a spotlight on its impact. If the Government is serious about meeting its manifesto commitment to end rough … Read more
Government Response
The Government is committed to ending rough sleeping. The Department will be working with partners across Government, including the Home Office, to build on recent progress and consider what more … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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13 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
We recommend that the Government creates a cross-Government task force to resolve the conflict between...
We recommend that the Government creates a cross-Government task force to resolve the conflict between the commitment to end rough sleeping and the current policy on the no recourse to public funds condition. This will require collecting data on the … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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14 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
No formal review of the Government’s manifesto commitment to end rough sleeping has yet happened,...
No formal review of the Government’s manifesto commitment to end rough sleeping has yet happened, due to the pandemic. We recommend the Government appoints a successor to Baroness Casey within the coming months to lead the review. This important work … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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15 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
We ask the Government to update us on whether it has achieved its target of...
We ask the Government to update us on whether it has achieved its target of delivering 3,300 housing units by March 2021 through its Next Steps Accommodation Programme.
Government Response
In May 2020, the Government announced the decision to accelerate delivery of the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and in recognition of the need for … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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16 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
There has been a lack of recent focus from the Government on wider homelessness, including...
There has been a lack of recent focus from the Government on wider homelessness, including those suffering in cramped, poor quality temporary accommodation for long periods of time during the pandemic. The Government must ensure its increased homelessness funding does … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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17 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
The Government will fail in its homelessness objectives if it continues to oversee the delivery...
The Government will fail in its homelessness objectives if it continues to oversee the delivery of just a few thousand social rent homes a year. The ongoing shortage of social housing is a clear, long-term obstacle to finding suitable accommodation … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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18 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
The Government is in danger of breaking its pledge that no one should lose their...
The Government is in danger of breaking its pledge that no one should lose their home as a result of the pandemic. We have seen no satisfactory evidence for why the Government changed the definition of substantial rent arrears to … Read more
Government Response
Protecting renters from eviction The Government has introduced an unprecedented set of measures to prevent people from losing their homes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures taken included … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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19 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
We call on the Government to publish a proper exit plan for the private rented...
We call on the Government to publish a proper exit plan for the private rented sector from national and local restrictions. The Government has tinkered regularly with the eviction framework, usually at the very last minute. Now the Government has … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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20 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
We are concerned by the lack of robust data available to the Government on the...
We are concerned by the lack of robust data available to the Government on the value of rent arrears and how it equates to months of arrears, and by the impact this lack of data may have on policy-making.
Government Response
We are concerned by the lack of robust data available to the Government on the value of rent arrears and how it equates to months of arrears, and by the … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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21 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
The Government appears to lack a clear strategy to deal with rising rent arrears.
The Government appears to lack a clear strategy to deal with rising rent arrears. We are very concerned that the Government is waiting until there is a clear crisis emerging before intervening, rather than heading off a growing rent arrears … Read more
Government Response
This Government has provided an unprecedented package of financial support to protect renters whose income has been affected throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. To help prevent people getting into financial hardship, … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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22 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
We call on the Government to deliver a specific financial package to support tenants to...
We call on the Government to deliver a specific financial package to support tenants to repay rent arrears caused by covid-19, having considered the examples in Scotland and Wales as well as many other international examples. This should be one … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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23 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
The Government should review its decision to freeze Local Housing Allowance rates by maintaining the...
The Government should review its decision to freeze Local Housing Allowance rates by maintaining the 30th percentile in cash terms only, and instead keep rates indexed at the 30th percentile long-term. This will help households across England to afford their … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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24 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
We also call on the Government to temporarily boost funding to discretionary housing payments to...
We also call on the Government to temporarily boost funding to discretionary housing payments to meet the needs of the tens of thousands of households who are receiving no extra income from welfare increases due to the benefit cap. This … Read more
Government Response
This Government has provided an unprecedented package of financial support to protect renters whose income has been affected throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. To help prevent people getting into financial hardship, … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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25 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
The Government must introduce the Renters’ Reform Bill urgently.
The Government must introduce the Renters’ Reform Bill urgently. The Government does not want to introduce the Renters’ Reform Bill until the pandemic has finished, but this is at odds with the approach the Government has taken with NHS reforms. … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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26 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting the home…
We reiterate our offer to conduct pre-legislative scrutiny of the Renters’ Reform Bill, should the...
We reiterate our offer to conduct pre-legislative scrutiny of the Renters’ Reform Bill, should the Government choose to publish the Bill in draft. (Paragraph 99) 40 Protecting the homeless and the private rented sector: MHCLG’s response to Covid-19
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Correspondence 10 letters
23 Mar 2021 To committee Letter from the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing to the Chair dated 17 March 2021 following up his appearance before the Committee on 28 January
Parliament page
23 Feb 2021 To committee Letter from the National Residential Landlords Association to the Chair dated 9 February 2021 concerning the impact of Covid-19 on homelessness and the private rented sector
Parliament page
8 Feb 2021 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to the Chair dated 29 January 2021 concerning priority vaccinations for homelessness staff
Parliament page
5 Feb 2021 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Rough Sleeping and Housing dated 4 February 2021 following up his appearance before the Committee on 28 January
Parliament page
26 Jan 2021 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Secretaries of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Health and Social Care dated 25 January 2021 concerning priority vaccinations for homelessness staff
Parliament page
19 Jan 2021 To committee Letter from the Minister for Housing to the Chair dated 8 January 2021 concerning protections for renters during lockdown
Parliament page
8 Jul 2020 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Minister for Housing dated 8 July 2020 concerning the impact of COVID-19 on homelessness and the private rented sector
Parliament page
9 Jun 2020 To committee Letter from the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing to the Chair dated 3 June concerning numbers of rough sleepers accommodated during the COVID-19 pandemic
Parliament page
5 Jun 2020 To committee Letter from the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing to the Chair dated 26 May 2020 concerning his appearance before the Committee on 11 May
Parliament page
2 Jun 2020 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing dated 2 June 2020 concerning estimated numbers of rough sleepers in emergency accomodation
Parliament page