UK Government's Social Housing Reforms: What You Need to Know
In August 2018, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published a green paper titled "A new deal for social housing," outlining five principles to create a new, fairer deal for social housing residents. The government's response to the call for evidence highlighted concerns about safety and quality, poor handling of complaints, and tenants feeling unheard. The government published a social housing white paper on 17 November 2020, which set out measures to reinforce the regulator's objectives, empower residents, and encourage investment in neighbourhoods. Although the white paper was generally well received, stakeholders expressed concerns over the pace of the proposed reforms, tenants' representation, and resource implications for social housing providers.
Section 20 - Why it matters, why it should be followed, and what to do when it isn’t.
This blog explores Section 20 of the UK's Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, which requires landlords to consult with tenants before spending money above a certain amount on major works or service charges. Here we discusses the steps landlords must take to adhere to Section 20 guidelines, as well as the repercussions for landlords who fail to comply. It also includes a case study of a housing provider that failed to follow the guidelines and the actions taken by the tenant to challenge the provider's compliance. The blog concludes with advice for tenants who believe their landlords are not following Section 20 guidelines and how they can challenge them in the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).