Perhaps in response to the open letter sent by charities to the Sec' of State for Work and Pensions calling for more safeguarding and support for vulnerable people being migrated onto universal credit, the Govt has published guidance for those who are helping/supporting people who need help with their benefits claim.

Research from price comparison website comparethemarket reportedly shows that many renters have stopped their home contents insurance as part of their money saving strategy for dealing with the current cost of living crisis.

Though not directly referred to in the Queen's speech, the binning of s.21 eviction notices is, effectively, the headline act in the briefly mentioned rental reform part of yesterday's speech where the Govt outlined its legislative menu for this parliament.

The DWP has officially announced details of its migration of people in receipt of legacy benefits onto universal credit (UC). Private sector landlords will need to be aware of this process as it will affect any whose tenants are (or were) still receiving the old style benefits such as income support and housing benefit.

After halting (in March) its public consultation on a new and expanded selective licensing scheme, West Lindsey council's prosperous communities committee has set up a working group of councillors and council officers to look into the concerns that caused the consultation to be halted. The working group has been tasked with providing a progress report to the committee at its meeting set for 19th July.

In an open letter to work and pensions secretary, Therese Coffey, a group of charities has requested that DWP pause migrating vulnerable people from old style benefits (such as housing benefit) onto universal credit (UC). The group, which includes charities MIND, the Trussell Trust, Shelter and Disability Rights UK, says that vulnerable people who are less well able to deal with DWP may be left destitute without the right support and safeguarding in place before they are migrated off the old style benefits system.

The landlord of a warehouse on an industrial estate in Haringey, north London has been ordered by the First Tier Tribunal to pay £31,000 in rent repayment to a number of tenants who lived in the warehouse. The landlord stated in evidence that she had bought the warehouse in 2009 for £650K but the land registry record showed that she had bought the property in 2011 for £360K - the landlord "could not explain this discrepancy.".

Burnley council has announced that, after an 11 week public consultation, it has received approval from DLUHC to renew/extend its selective licensing scheme covering around 2000 homes in the borough.

In a case dealing with the question of whether rent repayment orders can be made against a superior landlord rather than the immediate direct landlord, the question will now be decided by the Supreme Court in late 2022 or early 2023 and will be of great importance to private sector landlords who let their properties with a clause allowing the tenant to sublet.

Concentrating on accessibility, safety and standards the NRLA's In Focus quarterly PRS report claims that landlord business confidence has risen across England and Wales (overall, for the 5th consecutive quarter) and in a higher number of regions than previously.