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MPs ask for clarity on ‘British workers’ housing allocation plan
MPs have urged the government to provide more clarity on its plan to favour UK nationals when allocating social housing.
Clive Betts, chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee, said there were “understandable concerns” that a proposed introduction of new qualification tests for housing risked pushing people into homelessness.
In a letter to social housing minister Baroness Scott on 25 March, Mr Betts asked the government to provide its assessment of the number of households that would be affected by the planned “UK connection test”.
He also asked if the government had considered which specific local authorities may be “acutely impacted” and if it had conducted an equality impact assessment for the policy.
The government is proposing six new tests to determine whether people qualify for social housing.
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They include a UK connection, a local connection, an income test, an anti-social behaviour (ASB) test, a terrorism test and a false statement test.
The plans were dubbed ‘British homes for British workers’ after they were reported in January. A government consultation outlining the six new tests closed on 26 March.
Mr Betts asked the minister how many local housing authorities already operate a form of local connection or residency test. He also asked if there would be exemptions for the ASB test for people with disabilities or survivors of domestic abuse.
He pressed the government to set out when it expected to respond to the consultation and when and whether legislation will be brought forward to implement the reforms.
Mr Betts said: “The basic facts are that there is not enough social housing available and that more homes for social rent need to be built.
“There are understandable concerns that the government’s proposed introduction of new qualification tests risks pushing people into homelessness.
“I hope the minister will be able to respond to the committee’s questions on the expected impact of the six tests.”
Under current rules, local housing authorities are meant to decide social housing allocation based on need, giving priority to those who are homeless, or living in overcrowded or poor conditions.
Refugees are allowed to claim social housing, but anyone who is not entitled to benefits is not, meaning most foreigners in the UK are already excluded. The latest government figures showed that 90% of the lead tenants in social housing are British citizens.
Housing sector bodies and charities hit out at the plans when they were first reported in January, with Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, describing the proposals as “scapegoating at its worst”.
A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said: “Social housing is a finite resource, and the public rightly expect us to make sure that decent and hardworking people who have contributed to this country can get a home in their local area.
“This is about rewarding good behaviour, prioritising local homes for local people and stopping offenders from blighting communities. That is why we are overhauling the system to make it fairer and to restrict access to those who abuse it.”
Inside Housing understands the department is reviewing responses to the consultation and will publish a full response in due course.
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