Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Deferred
Issue guidance discouraging out-of-area property acquisition and consult on placement distance limits.
Recommendation
The Government must issue guidance to discourage local authorities from acquiring properties outside of their authority boundaries to use as temporary accommodation. Where this is not possible, the local authority must notify prospective host local authorities before it purchases any properties out-of-area. The Government should consult on introducing a limit on the distance of all out-of-area placements. (Recommendation, Paragraph 62)
Government Response Summary
The government deflected the recommendation, stating the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) is developing a long-term homelessness strategy and will review its purpose after publication, but did not address the specific requests for guidance on out-of-area property acquisition, pre-purchase notification, or consulting on distance limits.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
33. The Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG), chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, includes ministers from across government and is focused on developing a long-term strategy to get us back on track to ending homelessness. This includes ministers from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Home Office, Department for Education, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Health and Social Care, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Justice, Cabinet Office, and His Majesty’s Treasury. 34. In line with the practice of successive administrations, detailed minutes of ministerial meetings - even those that are declared publicly - are not normally disclosed. It is right that ministers have the space needed to discuss and develop policy which is subject to collective agreement. 35. As well as the work of the IMG we are also working closely with the homelessness sector to deliver a number of lived experience forums, to ensure that the voices of those with lived experience are reflected in the homelessness strategy. 36. We will review the purpose of the IMG after publication of the homelessness strategy.