Briefing: Localism Bill - Report Stage and Third Reading
By: James Bevan Published: May 2011
- Briefing: Localism Bill - Report Stage and Third Reading (PDF 187.2 KB)
Summary
At a time when the housing safety net is needed more than ever, these reforms critically damage it by:
- Undermining the legal duty towards homeless people
- Removing security in social housing (reducing incentives to work)
The Government failed to address critical concerns at committee stage and Shelter wants to see these proposals removed from the Bill entirely or at the very least substantially reformed.
However, the Bill could also provide a vital opportunity to deliver much needed reforms by adding clauses to increase protection for tenants in the private rented sector (PRS).
The Bill could also be improved by helping to enable local people to fully engage in planning decisions and hold their local authority to account.
