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Housing Act 2004
"Legislation will be introduced on housing that will help create a fairer housing market and protect the most vulnerable."
Following on from the draft Housing Bill published at the end of March 2003, the government is set to take forward measures to improve the housing sector with a Housing Bill.
This wide-ranging Bill will introduce major reforms to the house-buying process; changes to the social housing sector; measures to improve the condition of housing; the introduction of licensing to the private rented sector and the creation of a Social Housing Ombudsman for Wales.
Much of the media attention has focused on plans for mandatory Home Information Packs (HIPs), which have the same aim as the "sellers packs" contained in the failed Homes Bill of 2000.
However, misinformation provided in a HIP is to be a civil, rather than a criminal offence as proposed in the Homes Bill.
Proposals to set up a national rent deposit scheme were not included in the background notes to the Bill, however, it is highly likely that MPs and Peers will seek to add the measure to the Bill.
The Bill seeks to modernise the right to buy scheme by tackling profiteering and emphasising purchasers' responsibilities.
A statutory instrument was introduced in March 2003 setting the maximum discount of the right to buy scheme at £16,000 in "hotspot" areas in the southeast. The government has not ruled out similar reforms to the scheme across the UK.
A licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) will also be included in the Bill, which fulfils a Labour party election manifesto commitment dating back to 1997.
The definition of qualifying park homes will also be amended in the Bill so that gypsies and travellers, who are currently excluded, are eligible for disabled facilities grants.
In its response to an ODPM report on the draft Housing Bill published earlier this year, the government revealed it intends to push ahead with controversial plans to give public money to private house builders in a bid to speed up the delivery of the sustainable communities plan.
Indeed, the background notes to the Bill confirmed plans to: "allow the Housing Corporation to fund bodies other than registered social landlords, such as builders or developers."
The Bill will apply to both England and Wales, with the one exception of introducing the Social Housing Ombudsman for Wales.
As housing policy is a devolved issue, the government was quick to highlight that policy on these matters has been developed "in close consultation with the National Assembly for Wales".
Progress
House of Commons
First reading: December 8 2003 (HC Bill 11)
Second reading: January 12 2004
Standing Committee E
The Bill as amended in the committee (HC Bill 59)
Remaining stages: May 11 2004
House of Lords
First reading: May 13 2004 (HL Bill 71)
Second reading: June 7 2004
Committee stage:
Bill as amended in the committee (HL Bill 114)
Report stage: October 13 2004 (part 1)
October 13 2004 (part 2)
October 19 2004
October 20 2004 (part 1)
October 20 2004 (part 2)
Bill as amended in the report HL Bill 118
Third reading: November 3 2004
House of Commons
Consideration of Lords amendments: November 8 2004
House of Lords:
Consideration of Commons amendments: November 16 2004
House of Commons:
Consideration of Lords amendments: November 17 2004
Royal assent: November 18 2004
Housing Act 2004
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