Summary
3.This Act replaces the existing housing fitness standard with the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. It introduces two new licensing regimes for private rented properties. There is a new requirement for sellers or estate agents to produce a home information pack before marketing any residential property for sale along with provision for an ombudsman scheme for estate agents. The Act makes other provision about housing, including changing the right to buy scheme, strengthening the rights of park home owners, extending the power of the Housing Corporation to give social housing grant to non-registered social landlords and enabling local authorities to secure occupation of long-term empty private sector homes. It also establishes tenancy deposit schemes to safeguard deposits paid in connection with assured shorthold tenancies. Finally, it requires local housing authorities to assess the accommodation needs of Gypsies and travellers in their area, and produce a strategy on how these needs can be met.