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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

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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
4 Recommendation Sixth Report - Protecting the homeless … Not Addressed

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 set out how it intends for the sector to transition … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government details its existing measures to protect renters and manage the exit from restrictions, including tapering measures and longer notice periods, but does not commit to publishing a specific exit plan for the private rented sector as requested.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
9 Conclusion Sixth Report - Protecting the homeless … Not Addressed

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 similarities—especially the principle of ‘In for Good’—this is undermined by … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government outlines its ambition to end rough sleeping and details various support measures and funding allocations, including the Cold Weather Fund. However, it does not directly address the committee's specific criticism regarding the inability to use Everyone In funding for individuals with no recourse …
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
20 Conclusion Sixth Report - Protecting the homeless … Not Addressed

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 AI summary
The government's response mirrored the committee's conclusion, expressing concern about the lack of robust data on rent arrears without committing to any specific action to address this issue.
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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…