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Welsh government launches consultation on housing adequacy and rent controls
The government in Wales has today (6 June) launched a consultation on housing adequacy, rent controls and landlord behaviour in setting rents as it looks to better understand the sector in Wales.
The green paper consultation is seeking views on its proposals for what it described as a “right to adequate housing”, including plans for rent controls and affordability.
Julie James, minister for climate change, said the consultation aims to support her government’s commitment in the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru to publish a white paper to include proposals for a right to adequate housing.
The paper will take views on the establishment of a system of rent controls in the private rental market with the aim of making them affordable for people on local incomes, and look at new approaches to making homes affordable.
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Ms James, said: “The Welsh government recognises the pressure the rising cost of living is placing on already struggling household budgets.
“This includes rental costs for tenants. We are committed to helping tenants; committed to ensuring that we strive to deliver adequate housing and that access to private renting is fair: one main aspect of this is affordability.”
It is hoped that evidence submitted as part of the consultation will allow the Welsh government to better understand the rental market in Wales, in particular what factors influence landlord behaviour in setting rents and taking on tenants.
It will also ask what tenants consider to be an affordable and adequate property.
The consultation will run over the summer until 15 September, and a number of workshops will also be held around Wales with stakeholders, to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to give their views.
Ms James added: “Increasing housing availability is critical to addressing rising rent increases, which is why we have committed to delivering 20,000 low-carbon social homes for rent over the next five years.
“However, I am keen that all tenures work more cohesively together in the future, and therefore we are keen to look at how the supply of new build affordable private rental properties could be delivered.”
The Welsh government recently confirmed to Inside Housing that it does not have any plans in place to introduce mandatory qualifications for housing professionals in the country.
The government in Wales was asked about its approach to professionalising the sector after amendments to the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill in England were announced earlier this year.
The changes will require around 25,000 managers to receive an appropriate-level housing management qualification regulated by Ofqual equivalent to a Level 4 Certificate or Level 5 Diploma in housing, or a foundation degree from the Chartered Institute of Housing.
But there are no plans in place for such a requirement in Wales.
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