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Queen’s Speech 2022: sector responds to new housing bills
What does the social housing sector think of the housing bills that came out of today’s Queen’s Speech? Jack Simpson finds out
Today saw the official opening of parliament and the annual Queen’s Speech setting the government’s legislative agenda for the next 12 months.
From the Social Housing Regulation Bill to the Renters’ Reform Bill, there was a lot to digest. Figures from across the housing sector have responded to the new legislation promised in the speech, with many welcoming the arrival of these crucial bills after years of delays.
However, many raised concerns that the government missed an opportunity to bring in more legislation to protect vulnerable people, particularly with the prospect of a cost of living crisis hitting the country.
Kate Henderson, chief executive, National Housing Federation: “Every person in this country deserves to live in a safe, secure, good-quality and affordable home; and to have a voice and clear route to redress if their home isn’t up to standard. We fully support the government’s aim to strengthen tenants’ rights through the Social Housing Regulation Bill and housing associations stand ready to work with their residents and the government to ensure every home delivers on the high standards they expect.
“We agree with the government’s strategy to address the huge disparities in the economies of towns and cities across the country through levelling up, and we welcome the decision to give local communities, who know their area best, more powers over regeneration.
“Housing associations also share the government’s net zero ambition and will do everything in their power to support the transition to cheaper, cleaner and more secure energy.
“We face a grave affordable housing crisis which continues to worsen, with 4.2 million people currently in need of social housing in England. We look forward to working with the government to ensure any changes to the planning system deliver the number and type of affordable homes the country desperately needs.”
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Matthew Walker, chair, PlaceShapers: “We are very pleased to see both the Social Housing Bill and the Levelling Up and Regeneration bills published in the Queen’s Speech today.
“Almost five years on from the tragedy of Grenfell we will do all we can to ensure the Social Housing Bill creates a regulatory regime that ensures residents voices are clearly heard and listened to.
“PlaceShapers members are already working with communities across the country to help support levelling up. This agenda requires a place-based, locally sensitive approach that responds to the needs of communities. The commitment to fund regeneration in the Levelling Up Bill will now allow us to do far more.”
Mayor of London spokesperson: “Today’s Queen’s Speech does not go anywhere near far enough to address the cost of living crisis facing millions of Londoners and families across the country.
“The mayor welcomes the government’s decision to finally introduce long-promised legislation to ban Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions.
“The government should have used the Queen’s Speech to address the eye-watering costs of renting by giving the mayor powers to introduce a two-year rent freeze in London”
“This commitment is testament to the dogged work of tenants and campaigners who have been waiting three long years for ministers to honour their previous promises.
“However, the government should have used the Queen’s Speech to address the eye-watering costs of renting by giving the mayor powers to introduce a two-year rent freeze in London, as a first step towards delivering rent controls that would make renting more affordable.
“In the face of a mounting cost of living crisis, giving the mayor powers to curb spiralling rents would have a big impact and help build a better and fairer London for everyone.”
Matt Downie, chief executive, Crisis: “This Queen’s Speech provides some hope for renters anxious about being turfed out of their home in the midst of the cost of living crisis and recognises the urgent need to address poor-quality social housing with tenants’ voices at the heart of this reform.
“But let’s be clear, this speech gives with one hand while taking with the other. The plan to introduce legislation that has the potential to criminalise anyone forced to sleep rough is nothing short of shameful and flies in the face of any effort to tackle rough sleeping for good. What’s more, we need urgent action to pull struggling families back from the brink.
“We cannot end homelessness with this mismatched plan. The government must take action to provide direct support to families hit by the cost of living crisis and plans to introduce punitive legislation must be scrapped, if the government wants to truly end rough sleeping for good.”
Alicia Kennedy, director, Generation Rent: “We can’t level up without dramatic improvements to the quality of rented homes. Reforming tenancies and raising standards in the private rented sector are essential first steps towards this so the government’s recommitment to a Renters Reform Bill is hugely important.
“Renters have been waiting three years for the government to abolish these insidious Section 21 evictions. Finally, legislation looks to be on its way.
“But we can’t rest until the changes are passed into law. Now it’s the details that matter.
“It is essential that any new tenancy regime reduces the number of unwanted moves and gives renters the confidence to challenge poor practice by landlords.
“The plans also appear to address the desperate lack of regulation of private landlords, with a new ombudsman, a property portal and a requirement to meet the Decent Homes Standard. We need more detail on each, but they are essential measures if private renters are to exercise their rights effectively.”
“The plan to introduce legislation that has the potential to criminalise anyone forced to sleep rough is nothing short of shameful and flies in the face of any effort to tackle rough sleeping for good”
Ben Beadle, chief executive, National Residential Landlords Association: “We welcome the government’s acceptance that reforms to the rented sector need to strengthen the ability of landlords to tackle anti-social tenants and those with repeated rent arrears. We will continue to work to ensure that these and other grounds for possession are fair and workable.
“Whilst we support proposals for an ombudsman to cut the number of possession cases needing to go the court, this cannot be a substitute for proper court reform as well. At present it can take almost a year for a private landlord to repossess a property through the courts where they have a legitimate reason to do so. This is simply not good enough.”
Bjorn Howard, chief executive, Aster Group: “The social housing sector has been eagerly anticipating the government setting out how it will reform the planning system and, crucially, how the Levelling Up Bill will ensure the continued delivery of affordable homes. This Queen’s Speech marks a welcome and much-needed sign of progress on these vital issues.
“Housing needs at a local level are incredibly specific and varied so we must match this by being more dynamic and diverse in the methods we use to deliver new homes”
“Clear direction from Westminster is crucial at this time. The cost of living crisis and record-high house prices have produced an even more challenging environment for those on lower incomes, making access to affordable housing more important than ever. As a housing association we are ready to work with the government to help channel the levelling-up agenda so the right mix of housing is delivered.
“Housing needs at a local level are incredibly specific and varied so we must match this by being more dynamic and diverse in the methods we use to deliver new homes. For example, many towns and villages would benefit from community land trusts – a currently under-used method of housing delivery where developments are led by the local community and people who will live there.
“We also welcome the government’s intention to bring forward new social housing legislation. We put our customers’ voice at the heart of every strategic decision we make and we’re constantly looking for ways to improve and enhance the services we offer to them. The framework that this bill sets out will be an essential benchmark that helps us to continuously evolve our offering to the people living in our homes.”
