Section: Housing Legislation
Housing Bill Update
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An amendment to the Housing Bill will give local authorities the power to issue Management Orders, which will allow them to renovate and let out private sector homes that have been left empty for more than six months. Homeowners will retain their ownership of the dwelling and benefit from any profits.
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A clause inserted into the Bill will stop tenants from delaying the Right to Buy (RTB) process, with the hope of profiting from rising house prices. Under the RTB scheme, the sale price is set when the tenant first registers an interest in buying. In a rising house price market, delaying completion can be in the tenant's favour.
Current RTB rules set a time limit on tenants to complete their purchase within 12 months. After this, the landlord issues two consecutive Notices to Complete, which can extend the time limit to complete to 16 months.
The new clause in the Bill will let landlords serve the first Notice to Complete after three months. This will reduce the total time a tenant has to complete a purchase to seven months.
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An amendment to the Bill introduces a compulsory scheme to protect private tenants' deposits. This aims to prevent deposits being withheld without good reason, which is known to be a widespread problem.
Asylum Seekers Confined to the North
A number of amendments were made to the Asylum & Immigration Bill, including one aimed at easing the pressure on housing in London and the South-east.
The amendment will require asylum seekers who have been dispersed to the North and Midlands to apply for housing in those areas if they are granted leave to remain in the UK.
Legal Update
Reporting on April-June 2004
- Allocations & Transfers
- Antisocial Behaviour
- Home Loss Payments
- Homelessness & Asylum Seekers
- Housing Associations
- Housing Benefit
- Housing Grants
- Housing Legislation
- Housing Management
- Private Sector
- Repairs & Improvements
- Right to Buy
- Security of Tenure
- Travellers and Gypsies
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