36.The Act gives LHAs further tools to tackle anti-social behaviour in social housing. These measures complement those introduced by the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003.
37.Part 6 introduces changes to the Right to Buy (RTB) scheme. This is a statutory scheme enabling secure tenants to buy the homes that they live in, at a discount, from their landlord. Landlords are most often LHAs, but registered social landlords (and certain other social landlords) may also have tenants who have the RTB, or preserved RTB, both for historical reasons and as a result of large-scale voluntary transfers of properties from LHA ownership. Provisions in the Act will amend the RTB scheme with a view to tackling exploitation of the rules by property developers and tenants.
38.Part 6 also contains provisions to better protect park home owners. These changes will help deter unscrupulous site owners from exploiting and harassing occupiers, and give a power to the Secretary of State to make further changes to the implied terms of occupation agreements.
39.Changes have been made to bring the treatment of local authority owned gypsy and traveller sites into line with that for privately owned caravan sites with regard to protection from unlawful eviction and harassment.
40.The powers of the Housing Corporation and the National Assembly for Wales under the Housing Act 1996 are extended to allow them to give grants to persons other than registered social landlords for specified purposes.
41.Part 6 extends eligibility for disabled facilities grant to include all those occupying caravans as their only or main residence.
42.A duty has been introduced upon LHAs to carry out assessments of the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers residing in or resorting to their district, when they undertake a review of housing needs in the district.
43.Part 6 sets up the office of Social Housing Ombudsman for Wales to investigate complaints against social landlords in Wales.
44.Part 6 also establishes tenancy deposit schemes. These will protect tenants’ deposits in the private rented sector and help to ensure that such deposits are not misappropriated by landlords or their agents.
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