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Morning Briefing: Rudd announces Universal Credit changes to help domestic abuse survivors
Amber Rudd has today announced changes to Universal Credit aimed at helping domestic abuse survivors
In the news
The work and pensions secretary said in a piece for The Sun that payments will now be paid directly to the “main carer” – who is usually a woman.
It follows concerns that Universal Credit was exacerbating domestic abuse by allowing controlling partners to have power over household income.
In other news, The Guardian reports that 11 councils in England are refusing requests by the Home Office to share data about rough sleepers over fears it could lead to their deportation.
Children and families secretary Nadhim Zahawi told Newsnight last night that unregulated supported accommodation for 16 and 17-year-olds may become subject to licensing to eliminate a “rogue element” in the sector.
But he said full regulation would be a “knee-jerk reaction” to concerns about the quality and safety of some of the housing.
In Wales, the BBC reports that a row has broken out over comments by Welsh housing minister Julie James, first reported by Inside Housing in May, about the quality of homes built by the private sector.
The Home Builders Federation Wales has written a letter to Ms James asking her to explain what prompted the warning that developers are building “the slums of the future”.
And in Scotland, the Daily Record runs an interview with Trust Housing Association’s chief executive Rhona McLeod focusing on a proposed merger with Wishaw & District Housing Association.
A story from Oldham has highlighted the scale of demand for affordable housing in the North West.
Manchester Evening News reports that the council received 13,000 enquiries for a development of 18 Rent to Buy homes.
Meanwhile, Manchester City Council is trialling a scheme banning new homes from becoming short-term lets, per the BBC.
In housing market news, FT Adviser runs a story pointing to figures released on Tuesday which show the number of people choosing to remortgage rose nearly 20% in the year to May.
Oxford City Council has insisted controversial plans to build “thousands” of new homes on green belt surrounding the city are necessary, according to the Oxford Times.
And finally, Sky News reports that a Norwich council estate is among six contenders for the Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize for the UK’s best new building.
On social media
Another symptom of #HousingCrisis: new data from #EnglishHousingSurvey reveals almost 1/3 of #PRS tenants struggle to pay their rent. More than 1m on low income living in PRS, who in previous generations would have had a #SocialHousing tenancy. #ukhousing t.co/2GpF3JwAsF
— Paul Hackett (@PaulHackett10)Another symptom of #HousingCrisis: new data from #EnglishHousingSurvey reveals almost 1/3 of #PRS tenants struggle to pay their rent. More than 1m on low income living in PRS, who in previous generations would have had a #SocialHousing tenancy. #ukhousing https://t.co/2GpF3JwAsF
— Paul Hackett (@PaulHackett10) July 18, 2019
Really inspiring that a council can develop well-designed social housing to @PassivhausTrust standards, tackling both environmental & housing crises at once. Good work @NorwichCC #ukhousing #affordablehousing t.co/y9ZsZJ4jEw
— Imogen Blood (@ImogenBlood)Really inspiring that a council can develop well-designed social housing to @PassivhausTrust standards, tackling both environmental & housing crises at once. Good work @NorwichCC #ukhousing #affordablehousing https://t.co/y9ZsZJ4jEw
— Imogen Blood (@ImogenBlood) July 17, 2019
What’s on
- The Homes Fit for Heroes Centenary Conference takes place in London today
- MPs will hold an adjournment debate about giant housing association Sanctuary Housing towards the end of the day
