Guidance document covering the following:

• Legal history of ringfencing
• The Ealing Ruling
• Department of Environment Ringfence Circular
• CIPFA Publications
• Best Practice

Following approval by Parliament, the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations have become law, introducing new requirements on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in the social rented sector. The regulations come into force on 1^st October 2022 and there is an expectation that landlords will be fully compliant from this date.

DLUHC has published a guidance document with advice for landlords and tenants on the regulations.

DLUHC White Paper setting out government policy for the private rented sector (PRS) as part of the wider levelling up agenda. This includes plans for a Renters Reform Bill which will include the following:

• Abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and introduction of a simpler tenancy structure
• Application of the Decent Homes Standard to the PRS for the first time
• Introduction of a new Property Portal to help landlords understand their obligations
• Introduction of a housing ombudsman covering all PRS landlords

The White Paper sets out a 12-point action plan which includes measures to strengthen local councils’ enforcement powers as well as proposals to make it illegal for landlords to have blanket bans on renting to families with children or those in receipt of benefits.

The White Paper signals a plan for major reform of tenancy law, moving all tenants onto a system of periodic tenancies, meaning that a tenancy will only end if a tenant ends it or a landlord has a valid reason (defined in law) for obtaining possession. Notice periods for rent increases will be increased and tenants will have stronger powers to challenge these.

It will also be easier for tenants to have pets, a right which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse.

This policy paper sets out the initial thinking and approach to be adopted by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) when implementing the changes to consumer regulation set out in the Social Housing White Paper.

A new scheme developed by the Housing Association Charitable Trust (HACT) in partnership with Arctica Partners may be of interest to councils putting together funding packages for energy efficiency and decarbonisation works.

Retrofit credits is a UK based carbon credits scheme that enables organisations to offset their carbon emissions by investing in social housing. The scheme involves using a tested methodology to measure both the carbon savings and social value created through retrofit activity. To ensure the environmental integrity of the issued credits, this has been developed under the Verified Carbon Standard, the world’s leading certification programme for emission reduction projects.

It is anticipated that the scheme has the potential to generate significant funding for retrofit schemes in social housing. The scheme is currently being piloted but will be formally launched in 2023.

This joint webinar included the following:

• Update from BEIS on current policy and funding
• Discussion of retrofit work and issues so far…
• Case study – Six Towns Housing
• Research Project Lewes and Eastbourne Councils