This House of Lords Library briefing contains background information on homelessness, including causes, statistics and government and local authority policies in preparation for the forthcoming question for short debate on how Her Majesty’s Government plans to deal with homelessness on 7 September 2016.
Homelessness (160 KB , PDF)
Homelessness is defined more widely than sleeping rough on the streets and includes those living in shelters, temporary accommodation, ‘sofa surfing’ with friends or relatives or living in squats. Individuals may also be statutorily homeless if they meet specific legislative criteria. Individual, interpersonal and structural factors play a role in the cause of homelessness.
This House of Lords Library briefing provides information about homelessness under a wide definition ranging from statutory homelessness, rough sleeping and ‘hidden homelessness’. Referring to recent research, it also summarises information about youth homelessness, including causes and statistics, and considers some of the general causes of homelessness with reference to individual, interpersonal and structural factors. Finally, with the Government stating on 17 December 2015 that they were considering their options, including legislation, in relation to homelessness, the briefing highlights an independent review of homelessness legislation in England that proposes amendments to current legislation in light of changes brought in in Scotland and Wales.
Homelessness (160 KB , PDF)
The Permitted Development Rights (Extension) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Lucas (Conservative). The bill would establish new permitted development rights to make additions and alterations to domestic properties. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the bill at second reading on 7 February 2025.
![Permitted Development Rights (Extension) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 28 of 2024–25](https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Housing-568x426.png)
This proposed law would require the government to hold a public inquiry as soon as reasonably practicable into the circumstances surrounding mortgage prisoners.
The Renters' Rights Bill would enact significant reform of the private rental sector (PRS). The bill’s provisions are centred on the PRS in England, though some measures would apply to Scotland and Wales. Many of the provisions in the bill are similar to the Renters (Reform) Bill 2023–24 introduced by the then Conservative government, but with several key differences including ending rental bidding and curtailing rent payments in advance of a tenancy.