Communities and Local Government Committee - Eighth Report

---

Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 21 April 2008.

CONTENTS

Terms of Reference

REPORT

SUMMARY

1  INTRODUCTION

Context
The social rented sector

The private rented sector

Conduct of the inquiry

2  THE EXPERIENCES OF TENANTS

Perceptions of rented housing

Mixed communities

Quality in the private rented sector

Denial of housing to benefit claimants

Housing benefit

Single room rate

Overcrowding and family homes

Definition of overcrowding

Tenant involvement

3  SOCIAL RENTING

Declining stock and increasing backlog

Funding social rented homes

Current policy

Implementation

Construction costs

Unit Costs

Increasing use of planning obligations

More flats, fewer houses

Use of grant support

Commuted payments

Regional patterns

Effects of Right to Buy

Sales of council houses and flats

'Pepper-potting' to achieve mixed communities

Role of social renting within an ageing society

Conclusion: the role of social renting

4  PRIVATE RENTING

Role of the private rented sector: encouraging mobility and choice
Law Commission's recommendations

Growth of private renting and the buy-to-let market

Buy-to-leave

Prospects for further buy-to-let investment

Effect of students and migrants on the private rented sector

Licensing of houses in multiple occupation

Regulation

5  HOUSING PROVIDERS

Social renting

Regulation of social housing

Role of local authorities

Housing Revenue Account

Surplus public sector land and 'infilling'

Coordinating management of homes

Role of housing associations

Effect of rent restructuring on provision of new housing80

Use of assets81

Role of housing associations in providing further services to the community

Worklessness, benefits and the role of social landlords

Choice-based lettings

Cost of housing benefit

Temporary-to-settled schemes

Private rented sector

Larger institutional investment

Tax reform

6  CONCLUSION

LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS

ANNEX: SUMMARY OF VISITS UNDERTAKEN

Summary of the Committee's visit to Regent's Park and North Kensington, London, 6 March 2007

Summary of the Committee's visit to Manchester, 12 and 13 March 2007

Summary of the Committee's visit to the Netherlands, 27-28 March 2007

FORMAL MINUTES

WITNESSES

LIST OF WRITTEN EVIDENCE

REPORTS FROM THE COMMITTEE DURING THE CURRENT AND PREVIOUS SESSIONS




MINUTES OF EVIDENCE - VOLUME II (HC 457-II)

Tuesday 12 December 2006
Monday 15 January 2007
Monday 22 January 2007
Monday 5 February 2007
Monday 19 March 2007
Monday 16 April 2007
Thursday 19 April 2007

WRITTEN EVIDENCE - VOLUME II (HC 457-II)

---

---

Prepared 21 May 2008