Maria Caulfield, Member of Parliament for Lewes, is encouraging local residents to take part in a government consultation on social housing reforms with two big changes planned.
Firstly 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 the new consultation.
At the same time, new measures will change how social housing is allocated, requiring people to be a British citizen, Irish citizen, Commonwealth citizen with a right of abode in order to be able to apply for social or council housing.
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.
This sits alongside the £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme, helping to deliver more of the affordable, quality homes this country needs, which will unlock a further £38 billion in public and private investment in affordable housing. It builds on the government’s record since 2010 – with over 696,000 new affordable homes delivered, including over 172,000 for social rent.
Commenting on the proposals, Maria Caulfield MP said:
“I believe it is important that decent and hardworking people that have contributed to this country will be prioritised for new social tenancies. I would encourage everyone to share their views in the consultation”.
The consultation will close on the 26th March 2024. Details on how to respond can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-reforms-to-social-housing-allocations