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Consultations in England

Consultations in England

Consultations in England

Find out more about the ongoing consultations taking place in England, and how to amplify your voice as a frontline worker.

Ongoing consultations in England

There are presently no ongoing Government-led consultations in England.

Please find below a list of recently 'closed consultations' in England. You can read the latest developments, the consultations key findings, and the impact of your voice as frontline worker.

Do you have any questionnaires or open consultations which you would like us to promote on the Frontline Network? Please feel free to contact us with details at: frontline@stmartinscharity.org.uk

Closed consultations in England

Views on Homelessness Reduction Act 2017

Consultation Description

The Government recently sought the views of frontline workers on the implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

The introduction of the HRA (Homelessness Reduction Act 2017) marks a renewed focus on preventative work and introduces new methods to achieve this. There are two new duties: to prevent and relieve homelessness, which requires local authorities to provide advice and a personal housing plan to individuals experiencing or threatened with homelessness within 56 days.  

The Government's call for evidence sought to gather evidence on:

  • The impact the Act has had and the outcomes that are being achieved.
  • How has the Act changed the approach of local housing authorities and their partners to tackling homelessness and supporting those in need.
  • The experience of people approaching their local housing authority for help.
  • How the implementation of the Act has been resourced, including the level of new burdens funding to assist this.
  • What elements of the Act and processes are working well, and which might need adjustment.

This consultation ran from 9:30am on 23 July 2019 to 11:45pm on 15 October 2019. 

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government are currently analysing the feedback received.

Visit this page to download the outcome to this public feedback.

Rogue Landlord Database Reform Consultation

Consultation description

The Government recently sought the views of frontline workers on the database of rogue landlords and property agents.

This database was introduced in April 2018. The database is targeted at only the most serious and prolific criminals, who are convicted of the limited range of banning order offences. The database is currently an enforcement tool available to local authorities, except in certain circumstances where anonymised, aggregated data can be requested by the public.

The Government recently sought the views of frontline workers on widening access and considering the scope of the database of rogue landlords and property agents.

This consultation ran from 12:15am on 21 July 2019 to 11:45pm on 12 October 2019

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government are currently analysing the feedback received.

Visit this page to download the outcome to this public feedback.

Policy Context - England

Policy Context

  • The introduction of the HRA (Homeless Reduction Act 2017) marks a renewed focus on preventative work and introduces new methods to achieve this. There are two key statutory duties implemented under this act, both of which support the original statutory rehousing duty – a duty to prevent homelessness and a duty to relieve homelessness. 

  • These duties require local authorities to provide individuals experiencing or threatened with homelessness within 56 days with advice and a personal housing plan.  

  • A new Rough Sleeping Strategy, RSS, (August 2018) was introduced – attempting a multi-disciplinary assistance approach to tackling homelessness. The strategy also maintains that early prevention is a key focus, and £17 million has been made available for “Somewhere Safe to Stay”. This initiative aims to quickly assess the needs of people who are sleeping rough or at risk of rough sleeping.  

  • The Government have also invested up to £28 million in three major ‘Housing First’ pilots in England. 'Housing First' is a recovery-oriented approach which aims to provide independent and permanent housing first, with a view to providing wrap-around support as needed after accommodation has been secured.  
  • The RSS (2018) also acknowledged the need for additional training and support for frontline workers who are supporting non-UK nationals who are sleeping rough and have complex immigration cases or restricted eligibility for welfare and services.