The Social Justice and Social Security Committee has started considering amendments this week, specifically relating to the part 5 homelessness prevention provisions and part 6 fuel poverty provisions. We have been working alongside other stakeholders to draft amendments relating to homelessness prevention and these have been lodged as Scottish Government amendments to the Bill.
Today (20th March), the committee will consider and debate amendments and we have briefed MSPs beforehand as to which amendments we would support. We are supporting amendments on homelessness prevention which relate to the removal of the intentionality test, protections of persons experiencing domestic abuse, providing of clarity on the duties and actions of relevant bodies, information sharing and co-ordination among relevant bodies, and including additional bodies in the duty to ask and act. If you’d like to see a more detailed list of the amendments we have briefed committee members to support then please get in touch.
The deadline for amendments to be lodged with the Local Government, Housing and Planning is not until the 23rd of April. Amendments lodged with this committee will relate to all the parts of the Bill other than parts 5 and 6.
We are continuing our work with Scottish Government to secure an exemption for Mid-Market Rent homes from private sector rent controls where provided by an RSL or its subsidiary. Our team are regularly meeting with Scottish Government officials to evidence the fact that external rent controls are not needed and that they will have a detrimental effect on the supply of MMR homes if they are not made exempt. We are also making officials and politicians clear on the impact of proposals to restrict rent increases in the first 12 months of a tenancy and working to remove this requirement for RSLs. An initial MMR exemption has been lodged.
Alongside this, we are working with MSPs and Scottish Government to work on amendments related to an independent appeals process for the Scottish Housing Regulator. This follows from our research into the regulatory framework and subsequent evidence given to the Local Government, Housing and Planning committee last year where we asked for such a process. Our suggestion is that the existing review process outlined in the SHR guidance is retained alongside an independent appeals mechanism to offer an informal method of resolution prior to escalation to appeal.
You may have also seen the BBC story on government amendments to the Housing Bill to mirror Awaab’s Law, largely focusing on timescales for delivering repairs. SFHA has been in discussions on this representing member views and will continue to be. At this stage of the Bill it will be for the Committee to decide whether any of these go forward and there will be a long policy development process if they do. We’ll continue to update you as this moves forward but if any questions in the meantime please do contact Susie Fitton: SFitton@sfha.co.uk or Jen Gracie: JGracie@sfha.co.uk
