In our engagement with Parliament and the new Government, the LGA has been making the case that councils play a vital role in steering economic development.
This should include delivering good-quality housing supported by vital infrastructure, addressing homelessness, and delivering on our net zero ambitions.
There have been a number of opportunities to push for councils to have the powers, flexibilities and funding they need to ensure everyone has access to high-quality, energy efficient, safe and secure homes, accompanied by the necessary infrastructure to build strong and vibrant communities.
Through our lobbying on the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, we have been clear that a genuinely ‘plan-led system’ must underpin planning reform, to ensure communities can continue to shape the places in which they live.
We have made the case that councils want to work with government to ensure that the new infrastructure levy is a success.
Empowering councils to bring vacant properties back into use is also an encouraging step, but these powers should be simple, inexpensive, and effective for councils to use.
Meanwhile, the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill was introduced into Parliament in June, and had its Committee Stage in September. The Bill intends to improve the regulation of social housing to strengthen the rights of tenants.
The LGA has made the case that councils are determined that tenants should have the security of a safe and well-maintained home, with any issues quickly and satisfactorily addressed.
We welcome proposals that will strengthen the role of the regulator to enable tenants to better hold their landlord to account on consumer issues. Of course, it will be important that any new requirements or responsibilities for councils are proportionate, risk-based, align with proposals being brought forward in both the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Building Safety Act 2022, and are fully funded.
On the first day back for Parliament after the summer recess, MPs heard from Cllr Darren Rodwell, Vice Chair of the LGA’s Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board, as he provided evidence to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee on reforming the private rented sector.
The panel, which featured other council representatives, agreed that everyone deserves a safe, decent, warm and affordable place to live, as this is critical to the health and wellbeing of communities.
Cllr Rodwell made the point that, while the vast majority of landlords are good, it is grossly unfair that private rented sector tenants – many of whom would be unlikely to be able to access social housing because of insufficient supply to meet demand – can expect lower-quality standards in their accommodation.
The LGA recognises the need for measures to improve living conditions in the private rented sector, and a stronger regulatory framework and a legally enforceable Decent Homes Standard framework will help close the gap in housing quality.
As the Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, the only one with a borough-wide licensing scheme, Cllr Rodwell described such schemes as a good tool for tackling area-specific issues in relation to poor-quality accommodation.
However, he made the point that councils lack the flexibility at present to use licensing to full effect, as the schemes are subject to approval by the Secretary of State, and he pushed for councils to be able to do more to improve standards in the private rented sector.