Housing powers devolved to Wales

Parliament has approved a legislative competence order that will transfer a range of powers over housing from Westminster to Cardiff.

As well as giving the Welsh assembly the ability to suspend the right to buy, the order will allow it to look at the regulation of social landlords, homelessness provision, bringing empty homes back into use, and security of tenure.

The approval of the LCO follows a three-year process. The coalition government initially indicated it would allow it to proceed, then asked for it to be amended, then back tracked to allow it go forward.

John Puzey, director of Shelter Cymru, said: ‘Reaching this milestone is a real achievement, especially after such a long and difficult process.

‘The continuing impact of the recession and the severe spending cuts announced in the recent UK budget are likely to leave many more people in Wales in financial difficulty and facing the threat of homelessness.

‘At least now we have the reassurance that the Welsh government has greater scope and flexibility to act to protect vulnerable people.’