Industry News


Rough sleeping falls again to an eight year low


T


he latest set of rough sleeping statistics shows that rates have fallen for a fourth year in a row with a nine per cent reduction in


rough sleeping compared to last year. Numbers have fallen in every region of England,


taking levels to an 8-year low overall. Te number of people in emergency accommodation has also nearly halved (down 49 per cent), with more people securing long-term homes. Researchers at housing charity Shelter pointed


out that the number of people sleeping rough is still 38 per cent higher than in 2010 when the data started being collected. Te local council areas in England with the highest numbers of people


sleeping rough were Westminster (187), Camden (97), and Bristol (68). Rough Sleeping and Housing Minister Eddie


Hughes MP said: “Te Government remains focused on ending rough sleeping by the end of this parliament (in 2024) and we’re making excellent progress towards this. “Te latest figures are testament to that, showing


our investment is helping more people have a roof over their heads and the best possible chance of turning their lives around.” £800 million has been invested in the past year


to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, with £2 billion committed over the next three years. Tis


includes providing 6,000 long-term homes through the £433 million Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme and up to £52 million for rehab and detox services for people with drug or alcohol issues. Te Government has committed to publishing


its Rough Sleeping strategy, to set out a plan for how it will continue its work to end rough sleeping by ensuring rough sleeping is prevented in the first instance, and responded to effectively in the rare cases where it occurs. Te actions include a promise to replace the


Vagrancy Act, which Ministers admit is antiquated and no longer fit for purpose.


Another council refers itself to regulator over missing safety data


An east London council referred itself to the regulator aſter discovering that thousands of essential health and safety records for tenants’ homes were either missing or unreliable. Te missing safety records at Barking and


Dagenham Council related to fire risk assessments,


gas servicing, electrical installations, asbestos and water safety. Te problems came to light during an


internal audit, which found that while most of the required safety checks were being completed, the council lacked the paperwork to verify this. Te Regulator of Social Housing was called in


and concluded that the council had breached the Home Standard and there was the potential for serious detriment to tenants. Work to correct all of the gaps is expected to have been completed by the Summer. Te biggest gap in the council’s safety records


related to electrical installation condition reports where the council found it either did not have a clear record of whether a report was required or could not evidence that such a check had previously been completed for more than 16,000


of its domestic properties and more than 2,000 communal areas. It was also found that the council did not have


fire risk assessments in place for more than 100 properties, and did not have a clear record of whether an FRA was required for more than 1,000. Almost 3,000 properties and 2,000 communal


areas also required data validation to establish whether they should be included on the gas safety programme. Dominic Twomey, deputy leader and cabinet


member for finance, performance and core services at Barking and Dagenham Council, said the council required frequent checks on the health and safety of its homes and it voluntarily referred itself to the regulator aſter discovering the data gaps. He reiterated that the council was committed to


providing the safest council-owned properties in the capital.


Lettings company and its director fined for gas safety failings


A private lettings agency and its director have been fined thousands of pounds for failing to carry out essential safety checks on gas appliances in a rental property. Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court heard how the


landlord, Belleview Property Limited (Belleview), failed to carry out the annual gas safety check at their rental property in Colchester, Essex. Belleview


was served with an Improvement Notice requiring the checks to be carried out, but failed to do so within the specified timeframe. Tey also failed to provide details of the tenancy


agreement when requested to do so by a Health and Safety (HSE) inspector using her powers under Section 20 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Te investigation found that Belleview’s failures were committed with the consent of, or were attributable to neglect on the part of, Adrian Ellis, as the sole director of Belleview. Te Court heard that Ellis had previously been


prosecuted by the HSE for failing to undertake gas safety checks at properties owned and rented out by him as an individual. Belleview had also been subject to HSE enforcement twice in the last five years relating to its failure to arrange gas safety checks at properties rented out by it, including the property subject to the current case. Belleview Property Limited of St Ives,


20 | HMMApril/May 2022 | www.housingmmonline.co.uk


Cambridgeshire pleaded guilty to breaching the Gas Safety Installation and Use Regulations 1998, Regulation 36(3) and failing to comply with the requirement to provide information under Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £12,000 with £2,245.28 costs. Director Adrian Ellis of Leech’s Lane, Colchester,


Essex CO4 5EP pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £3,000 with £2,245.28 costs. Each defendant was ordered to pay a further £170 as a government surcharge. Aſter the hearing HSE inspector Jessica


Churchyard said: “Landlords must ensure gas appliances at their tenanted properties are maintained in a safe condition and are checked by a Gas Safe Register engineer at least every 12 months. HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”


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