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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

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

4 items
2 Recommendation Sixth Report - Protecting the homeless … Rejected

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 during a public health emergency. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government rejects issuing specific guidance, stating it previously clarified that rules regarding No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) have not changed. Local authorities must continue to use their own judgement within legal powers, and it remains a matter for them to decide based on …
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
8 Recommendation Sixth Report - Protecting the homeless … Rejected

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 how useful the data would be. Without transparent data, it … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government rejected the recommendation to collect and publish data on the number of people with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) and those estimated to be homeless, stating it is not possible to provide an accurate figure due to various complexities in data collection.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
11 Recommendation Sixth Report - Protecting the homeless … Rejected

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 that they can and should use their legal powers under … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government rejected the call to re-commit to 'Everyone In' and issue new clear guidance to local authorities, stating its position remains unchanged and local authorities must continue to use their own judgment regarding support for those with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF). It …
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
23 Recommendation Sixth Report - Protecting the homeless … Rejected

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 rent. (Paragraph 94) Protecting the homeless and the private rented … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government rejected the recommendation to review its decision on freezing Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates by maintaining them at the 30th percentile in cash terms, instead reaffirming its commitment to keeping rates at current cash levels for 2021-22.
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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…