Home / Sources / Select Committees / Housing, Communities and Loca… / Impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) on hom…
Index live
Select Committee · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

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

Status: Closed Opened: 16 Apr 2020 Closed: 9 Jun 2021 18 recommendations 8 conclusions 2 reports

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 to hold an evidence session … Show more

Clear

Reports

2 reports
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Sixth Report - Protecting the homeless and the private rent… HC 1329 31 Mar 2021 26 Responded
1st Report - Protecting rough sleepers and renters: Interim… HC 309 22 May 2020 0 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
12 Recommendation Sixth Report - Protecting the homeless … Deferred

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 sleeping by 2024, it must reform the no recourse to … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it will work with the Home Office to consider the role of immigration policy and practice as part of efforts to end rough sleeping, but does not commit to reforming the "no recourse to public funds" policy as recommended, instead deferring it …
Read full response →
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
14 Recommendation Sixth Report - Protecting the homeless … Deferred

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 should not be delayed any further. The review must focus … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that it has not been the right time to return to the planned independent review to end rough sleeping due to the pandemic. It does not commit to appointing a successor to Baroness Casey within months, but reaffirms its commitment to ending …
Read full response →
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
25 Recommendation Sixth Report - Protecting the homeless … Deferred

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. The Health Secretary told the House that the pandemic made … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government confirms its commitment to the Renters' Reform Bill and its reforms, including abolishing Section 21 evictions, but states it needs time to consider the pandemic's impact and will work with stakeholders in the coming months, indicating a deferral rather than urgent introduction.
Read full response →
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions
Date Witnesses
28 Jan 2021 Eddie Hughes · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Penny Hobman · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government View ↗
18 Jan 2021 Baroness Casey of Blackstock · Rough Sleeping Taskforce View ↗
17 Dec 2020 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 View ↗
14 Dec 2020 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 View ↗
29 Jun 2020 Caitlin Wilkinson · Generation Rent, Chris Norris · National Residential Landlords Association, Ruth Ehrlich · Liberty View ↗
11 May 2020 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 View ↗

Who gave evidence

25 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Abeo · Expert by Experience NACCOM 1
Baroness Casey of Blackstock · Former Chair Rough Sleeping Taskforce 1
Ben Beadle · Chief Executive National Residential Landlords' Association 1
Ben Beadle · Chief Executive National Residential Landlords Association 1
Caitlin Wilkinson · Policy and Public Affairs Manager Generation Rent 1
Chris Norris · Director of Policy National Residential Landlords Association 1
Cllr Rachel Blake · Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board Local Government Association 1
Dr Cecil Sagoe · Policy Officer Shelter 1
Eddie Hughes · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 1
Fiona Colley · Director of Social Change Homeless Link 1
Giles Peaker · Partner Anthony Gold Solicitors 1
Henry St Clair Miller · Head of NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Services NRPF Network 1
Jamie Carswell · Co-Chair, London Housing Directors’ Network London Councils 1
Joe Lane · Principal Policy Manager Citizens Advice 1
John Hall · Director of Homelessness Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 1
Jon Sparkes · Chief Executive Crisis 1
Liz Davies · Joint Head of Chamber, Garden Court Chambers Housing Law Practitioners Association 1
Luke Hall · Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 1
Penny Hobman · Director for Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 1
Ruth Ehrlich · Head of Policy and Campaigns Liberty 1
Sam · Expert by Experience NACCOM 1
Simon Mullings · Co-Chair Housing Law Practitioners Association 1
Steve Douglas · CEO St Mungo's 1
T · Expert by Experience St Mungo's 1
Tracy · Expert by Experience St Mungo's 1

Correspondence

10 letters
DateDirectionTitle
23 Mar 2021 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing to the Chair dated 17 M…
23 Feb 2021 To cttee Letter from the National Residential Landlords Association to the Chair dated 9…
8 Feb 2021 To cttee Letter from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Governmen…
5 Feb 2021 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Rough S…
26 Jan 2021 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Secretaries of State for Housing, Communities and …
19 Jan 2021 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Housing to the Chair dated 8 January 2021 concerni…
8 Jul 2020 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Minister for Housing dated 8 July 2020 concerning …
9 Jun 2020 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing to the Chair dated 3 Ju…
5 Jun 2020 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing to the Chair dated 26 M…
2 Jun 2020 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing dated 2 Ju…