Housing and Planning Act 2016
The Housing and Planning Act 2016 (c. 22) is Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that makes widespread changes to housing policy and the planning system. It introduces legislation to allow the sale of higher value local authority homes, introduce starter homes and "Pay to Stay" and other measures intended to promote home ownership and boost levels of housebuilding. The Act has been subject to a number of criticisms by those opposed to the loss of social housing promoted, the extension of right-to-buy to housing associations and possible work disincentives under "Pay  to Stay". Background. When the Bill was announced the Government stated that it would kick-start a "national crusade to get 1 million homes built by 2020" and transform "generation rent into generation buy". The Housing and Planning Bill was introduced on 13 October 2015 by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the Rt Hon Greg Clark MP. Changes. The Act introduces numerous changes to housing law and planning law: Criticism. The Housing and Planning Act was subject to a number of criticisms during its passage. Loss of social housing. The housing charity Shelter have criticised the proposal  to sell off higher value social housing. John Bibby argues that to raise £4.5b "they [the Government] have to sell off homes in some areas that are relatively cheap – homes that are 'higher value' in name only". Right to buy. The Public Accounts Committee have criticised the lack of detail on the policy of extending right-to-buy to housing association tenants. Abandonment law. The Act introduces a law of abandonment allowing a landlord to take possession of property where a tenant has abandoned possession. Usually a section 21 notice would need to be served on a tenant in  order to take control of a property. Giles Peaker, a partner at Anthony Gold solicitors has argued that the "proposed clauses on tenure and on abandonment are badly drafted and in legal terms, a mess". Work disincentives. The "Pay to stay" policy has been criticised as potentially discouraging work if it means that council tenants will pay higher rents by increasing their earnings.