The briefing paper (Introducing a voluntary Right to Buy for housing association tenants in England) sets out the story so far, summarises the findings of the first VRTB Pilot research (see our briefing here) and confirms the latest position.
Extended VRTB Pilot
The Government announced in the November 2016 Autumn Statement that there would be a “large-scale regional pilot of the Right to Buy for housing association tenants”. This extended pilot is expected to assist over 3,000 tenants into home ownership.
The second pilot will test one-for-one replacement and portability: two features of the VRTB agreement that the first Pilot didn’t test.
On 8 March 2017, the then Housing Minister, Gavin Barwell, confirmed that he was working with the National Housing Federation (NHF) to “identify the most effective location or locations for the regional pilots” and that he hoped to announce a decision “shortly”.
We await further announcements to confirm when and where the second pilot will take place.
And what about the main scheme?
There is still no announcement from the Government on the roll out of the main VRTB scheme. Inside Housing previously reported that the Government had not requested any high-value asset payments from local authorities, suggesting that the VRTB will not be rolled out until at least April 2018.
Keep watching this space.
If you would like more information on the background to the VRTB, the current position and pilots, please contact Emma Holmes or Jonathan Cox
It is anticipated that as lockdown restrictions ease, and particularly with children and young adults returning to education, cases of meningitis will start to rise.
As we continue to emerge from lockdown measures and deal with local measures and the short and long term economic impact of Covid-19, local authorities will need to re-assess how services will be delivered for years to come.
The Government first announced plans for a shared ownership right to buy in October 2019. At the time the sector raised concerns about the impact the plans would have on housing associations ability to borrow. An election and a pandemic later the Government announced, during the CIH Housing Festival last week, the return of the right to shared ownership as part of its Affordable Homes Programme (AHP).
Two final pieces of the possession jigsaw have been published on 15 September 2020. Mr Justice Knowles’ working group on possession proceedings has issued its guidance on the “overall arrangements” for possession proceedings.
One change proposed by the Building Safety Bill is the introduction of a duty holder regime, which will see statutory responsibility for the safety of higher risk buildings placed on key individuals
Throughout this pandemic, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been publishing various “Statements on Coronavirus” (Statements) which provide guidance on consumer rights during this time.
A recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the UK means new measures are being put in place in an effort to reduce the risk of a second wave. Whilst the impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt, it is important to remain focused on the sector’s road to recovery.
Sometimes half an hour at a conference gives you the reality that has been staring you in the face all along. That was my experience watching “Change is on the Horizon”
Following our recent e-briefing on Possession Notices, Helen Tucker and Emilie Pownall from our housing litigation team discuss the impact of the changes on social landlords.
Not only has the possession stay been extended until 20 September, the notice periods to be given to tenants has been extended in certain circumstances with some important exceptions.
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