This submission focuses on the solutions to homelessness and, in particular, the further steps the Government can take as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) to end rough sleeping by 2024 in line with its 2019 election manifesto commitment.
The Government has been asking for views about section 21, or no fault, eviction notices in a consultation. In our response, we describe why we think the Government should remove the option for landlords to use this type of eviction, in order to help people remain in their homes and prevent homelessness. We also outline some of the support that we think should be made available to vulnerable people who are living in the private rented sector.
Section 21 notices allow landlords to evict their tenants with no reason given, and sometimes with little notice. The end of a tenancy is now the biggest cause of statutory homelessness, and we think that landlords should have to give an appropriate reason (such as wanting to move into the property) when they end a tenancy. At St Mungo’s we have been calling for reform to this system since launching our Home for Good campaign in October 2018.
We hope that, following this consultation, the Government will reform the renting system to prevent unfair evictions, and provide vulnerable tenants with the support they need to keep their homes.
In this submission we comment on the draft DCLG Homelessness Code of Guidance, which sets out how local authorities should carry out their new duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act.
The Government has committed to halve rough sleeping in the current parliament and to end rough sleeping by 2027. In this consultation response, we recommend changes to the draft guidance so that the Homelessness Reduction Act can successfully prevent and tackle rough sleeping.
This report outlines the findings of an independent expert panel who assessed the strengths and weaknesses of current homelessness legislation in England. It recommends legislative changes in order to prevent and tackle homelessness more effectively.
St Mungo’s was part of the independent panel of experts which also included lawyers, homelessness charities, academics, local authorities and housing associations. The panel found that current legal duties to prevent homelessness are too limited and help frequently comes too late to keep someone in their home.
The group was convened by Crisis and chaired by Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick of Heriot-Watt University.
This report presents findings from research undertaken by St Mungo’s as part of the No First Night Out project, which seeks new approaches to prevent individuals from sleeping rough for the first time. No First Night Out is a tri-borough project working across the London boroughs of Tower hamlets and Hackney and the City of London Corporation. This report is intended for us by anyone working to prevent rough sleeping including local authorities, homelessness agencies and relevant central government departments.