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
18 Recommendations
8 Conclusions
2 Reports
6 Oral sessions
10 Letters
6 Events
Activity timeline 21 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
26 Jan
2021
Correspondence
19 Jan
2021
Correspondence
18 Jan
2021
Oral evidence
17 Dec
2020
Oral evidence
14 Dec
2020
Oral evidence
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
11 results
Clear
3 Recommendation Accepted
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
Government Response
The government committed to working with partners across government, including the Home Office, to consider the role of immigration policy and practice in ending rough sleeping, building on existing initiatives, effectively forming a collaborative effort similar to the requested task force.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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5 Conclusion Accepted
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
The government outlines its existing policy response, detailing various measures taken to prevent evictions, restrictions, and the tapering down of protections, implying this addresses the eventual need for policy as the evictions ban cannot be extended indefinitely.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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6 Recommendation Accepted
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
Government Response
The government declined to deliver a new specific financial package for rent arrears, stating that its existing 'unprecedented package of financial support' (including increased LHA and Universal Credit) has already been effective in helping tenants.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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10 Conclusion Accepted
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
Government Response
The government responds by reiterating that rules for No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) have not changed, and local authorities must use their judgment within the law. It confirms that substantial homelessness funding can be used to support anyone, including those with NRPF, as long as local authorities act within the law.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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15 Recommendation Accepted
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
The government provides an update, confirming allocations for 3,348 homes through the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, but reports that some projects faced delays beyond March 2021. They commit to updating the committee in due course once all units from the October 2020 allocations are complete, and also mention a new round of funding.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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16 Recommendation Accepted
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
Government Response
The government confirms an increased Homelessness Prevention Grant of £310 million for 2021-22, which local authorities can use to prevent various forms of homelessness, including supporting those in temporary accommodation and preventing evictions, thereby addressing wider homelessness.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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18 Conclusion Accepted
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
The government outlines its existing protective measures for renters and justifies its policy on evictions for substantial rent arrears, arguing it prevents market disruption and further tenant debt, implying its current framework addresses the committee's concerns without addressing the specific change in definition.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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19 Recommendation Accepted
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
Government Response
The government detailed its existing exit plan for the private rented sector, stating that it will begin tapering down eviction protections from 1 June 2021, with most measures ending by 30 September 2021, while continuing longer notice periods for tenants.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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21 Conclusion Accepted
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
The government asserts it has an "unprecedented package of financial support," including increased Local Housing Allowance, Universal Credit, and an extended furlough scheme, which it believes is effective in protecting tenants from rent arrears and preventing evictions, committing only to continued monitoring.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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22 Recommendation Accepted
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
Government Response
The government highlights its existing "unprecedented package of financial support," including increased LHA, Universal Credit, and the furlough scheme, arguing these measures are effective in preventing hardship and supporting tenants with rent, thus declining to introduce a new, specific financial package.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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24 Recommendation Accepted
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
The government declined to temporarily boost funding for discretionary housing payments, instead reiterating its existing 'unprecedented package of financial support' (including increased LHA and Universal Credit) which it states has been effective in preventing homelessness.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Government Response AI assessment · 26 of 18 classified
Accepted 11
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 3
Not Addressed 3
Rejected 4
Total 18 recs + 8 conclusions
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