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Morning Briefing: government to open rogue landlords’ database to tenants
The government is set to open a rogue landlord database, Labour plans an outsourcing overhaul, and all your other major housing news this morning
A national database set up to expose the country’s rogue landlords could be open to prospective tenants under new government plans.
The database was launched in 2018 but has so far only got 10 names on it, including those that have been banned for failing to make property habitable or convicted of serious offences.
Currently the list is open to local authorities only, but under new rent reforms it will be opened up to tenants.
Commenting on the plans, communities secretary James Brokenshire said: “This database has the potential to ensure that poor-quality homes across the country are improved and the worst landlords are banned, and it is right that we unlock this crucial information for new and prospective tenants.”
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Over the weekend, The Guardian reported on plans by Mr Brokenshire that will ban segregated play spaces in all new housing developments across England.
Mr Brokenshire said that he was appalled by the examples of segregation he had seen and linked the issue to wider concerns about ‘poor doors’. He said housing associations and developers should open spaces up in estates that are currently segregated.
A new London Plan from the mayor – which revealed how developers and local authorities can plan new housing – will outlaw any segregation by tenure.
The changes come after a series of stories in The Guardian earlier this year which revealed that a number of developments across the country had segregated areas present on their estates.
Labour has unveiled plans to push councils to take back in house local services such as rubbish collection, cleaning and school dinner provision, which could reverse 40 years of outsourcing in local authorities.
The plans will be revealed in a speech today by John McDonnell, Labour’s shadow chancellor, who will say that it is time to end the scandal of the taxpayer being ripped off by private companies, The Guardian reports.
It will come as part of a Labour report that will list seven key attractions of in-sourcing, including lower costs, public sector ethos, economies of scale, greater accountability and better risk management.
Construction website Construction Enquirer has a story today on new guidance from the government for house builders to develop homes to protect wildlife.
The guidance, which is backed by Mr Brokenshire, has called for the creation of “hedgehog highways” and specially installed bricks that will allow birds to nest peacefully during the year.
It also calls on builders to think about the longer-term impact of their developments on the local ecosystem during and after construction.
In local news, two Welsh cities have joined calls for a cross-border economic “powerhouse” encompassing south-east Wales and the West of England.
The BBC reports that Cardiff, Newport and Bristol now want to come together to create a “Great Western Powerhouse” to boost industry and improve transport links.
On social media
Speculation about a potential Boris Johnson cabinet is already rife:
The Sunday Times is reporting that it seems likely Michael Gove will head up a “beefed-up” @mhclg under Johnson’s government, with a priority to tackle the housing crisis #ukhousing @ShippersUnbound t.co/gewSm8CIZa
— Carl Brown (@carlbrownIH)The Sunday Times is reporting that it seems likely Michael Gove will head up a “beefed-up” @mhclg under Johnson’s government, with a priority to tackle the housing crisis #ukhousing @ShippersUnbound https://t.co/gewSm8CIZa
— Carl Brown (@carlbrownIH) July 21, 2019
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