Overview

This bill aims to protect social housing tenants in England facing threats to their personal safety by ensuring they retain secure tenancies when forced to relocate. It mandates that local authorities and social housing providers cooperate to provide equivalent or better alternative accommodation, and clarifies the types of threats covered.

Description

The bill amends the Housing Act 1985. It introduces a new right for social housing tenants to a new secure tenancy if their current home poses a threat to their safety or that of their household. This threat includes violence from domestic abuse (even if the perpetrator doesn't live at the same address), escalating neighbour disputes, or targeted youth/gang violence. Local authorities must assess these threats, considering police advice, and offer suitable alternative accommodation. If the tenant needs to move outside their current landlord's area, other social housing providers have a duty to cooperate in finding suitable housing to uphold the tenant's right to a new secure tenancy.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending figures. However, it is likely to increase costs for local authorities and social housing providers due to the need to find and provide alternative accommodation for affected tenants. The extent of the financial impact will depend on the number of tenants requiring relocation under the new provision.

Groups Affected

• Social Housing Tenants: Beneficiaries; guaranteed continued secure tenancy if facing safety threats.
• Local Housing Authorities: Increased responsibilities in assessing threats and finding alternative accommodation; potential increase in costs.
• Registered Social Landlords: Increased responsibilities for cooperation in finding alternative accommodation outside of their own properties; potential increase in costs.
• Police: Their advice will be considered in threat assessments.

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