DCLG officials have told ARCH that Regulations and Guidance on
the introduction of Fixed Term tenancies is expected in the Spring
but no more news as yet on introduction of the High Value Asset
Levy from April 2018.
Following the Government's decision to abandon plans for introduction of a
mandatory Pay to Stay Scheme and the decision to delay
introduction of a High Value Asset (HVA) Levy until after
April 2018 ARCH has been pressing DCLG for more information on the
timetable for introduction of Fixed Term Tenancies under Part 4 of
the Housing & Planning Act 2016.
The very latest information we have from DCLG officials is that
although DCLG can't give a very firm indication they are hoping
that they will be able to consult on the Regulations and Guidance
on Fixed Term Tenancies and Spring seems likely. DCLG have
promised to inform ARCH when there's anything more definite to
say.
On the introduction of the HVA Levy and sale of higher value
council housing DCLG officials have informed ARCH that there is
nothing more to report at this stage following Minister's decision
not to press ahead with the introduction of the HVA Levy in
2017/18. ARCH CEO John Bibby will be meeting NHF Chief
Executive David Orr next month and it is hoped to have some clarity
on the plans to extend the housing association Right to Buy Pilot
announced by the Housing Minister alongside the decision to suspend
the introduction of the HVA Levy.
Following the Government's decision not to press ahead with
introduction of a mandatory Pay to Stay Scheme, any council
considering introduction of a discretionary Pay to Stay Scheme may
be interested to learn that the Government have no plans to revise
the current guidance on the introduction of such discretionary
schemes as set out in Chapter 4 of the Government's Guidance on Rents for Social Housing
published in May 2014.
In response to a query from ARCH, DCLG officials confirmed that
the policy as set out in the 2014 Guidance will continue to apply -
despite plans to introduce a mandatory Pay to Stay Scheme based on
lower income thresholds of £31,000 (£40,000 in London), the
threshold for any discretionary scheme will be the £60,000 as
detailed in the original policy for both local authorities and
housing associations.
ARCH has been advised that DCLG is not intending to develop any
further guidance on the introduction or operation of a
discretionary Pay to Stay Scheme and it will be down to the
discretion of any local authority intending to introduce such a
scheme to put in place a framework to implement the policy in line
with the Guidance on Social Rents. Local authorities will need to
enter into a contractual arrangements to enforce the policy.
ARCH would be interested to know if any Council is currently
operating a discretionary Pay to Stay policy or is considering
doing so.