New social housing reforms to crack down on rule breakers

An overhaul of how social housing is allocated – to make the system fairer and not available to those who abuse it – has been announced by the government.

Measures which could ban those who blight communities and repeatedly make their neighbours’ lives hell through anti-social behaviour or evict them through a ‘three strikes and you’re out’ policy, are part of a new consultation.

At the same time, new measures will prioritise households who have a close connection to the UK and their local area.  The government is not proposing to change the rules or guidance on reasonable and additional preference that local housing authorities follow to prioritise allocations, such as being homeless or needing to move on welfare grounds.

The government is seeking views from the public, councils, social housing tenants and providers and wants to bring forward the reforms as soon as possible.

The reforms include new UK and local connection tests to determine social housing eligibility, with applicants required to demonstrate a connection to the UK for at least 10 years and their local area for at least 2 years. Prospective tenants on higher incomes could also no longer qualify for social housing, although existing tenants will not be affected.

As part of the reforms, people who have unspent convictions for certain criminal anti-social behaviour or have been subject to certain civil sanctions could be disqualified from social housing for up to 5 years.

This sits alongside measures which could disqualify terrorist offenders from benefiting from social housing.

Changes will be delivered by secondary legislation under Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996 at the earliest opportunity.

Access to most social housing is managed by local housing authorities, who only allocate homes to people who are eligible and who qualify.

Housing Minister Lee Rowley said: “We are proposing further steps to make the allocation of social housing fairer for people. If you abuse the system, making peoples’ lives a misery or actively work against our British values, you are making a choice – such choices will have consequences and our proposals seek to stop such people getting a social home.

“The message is clear: play by the rules, pay in and we will support you. If you choose not to, this country is not going to be a soft touch.

“The public want to know decent and hardworking people that have contributed to this country will be prioritised for new social tenancies. People already living in social homes want to know that anyone moving near them will be respectful of their neighbours with their communities protected from those who persistently break the law.

“That is why it is right that the finite resource of social housing is allocated fairly and local law-abiding citizens in need have more access to a home in their own communities.”

Responding to the announcement, Councillor Darren Rodwell, Housing spokesperson for the Local Government Association (LGA) said: “The vast majority of social housing lettings go to UK nationals and many councils already have policies relating to anti-social behaviour, criminal behaviour, rent arrears and income thresholds in their allocation policies. The LGA has raised concerns that restricting eligibility criteria for social housing and extending qualification periods could result in a rise in homelessness.

“With almost 1.3 million households on council housing waiting lists and record numbers in temporary accommodation, this is symptomatic of our wider housing shortage. We are calling on the government to use the Budget to grant councils the flexibilities needed to resume their historic role as a major builder of affordable homes.

“This can be done by implementing our six-point plan for social housing, including further reform of Right to Buy by allowing councils to permanently retain 100 per cent of receipts.”

The consultation will run until 26 March and can be accessed via an online survey.