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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/jun/06/mps-urge-home-secretary-to-review-right-to-rent-policy
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| MPs urge home secretary to review 'right to rent' policy | MPs urge home secretary to review 'right to rent' policy |
| (6 months later) | |
| A cross-party group of MPs has written to the home secretary urging a review of a controversial immigration policy forcing landlords to check whether tenants are legally allowed to rent, saying there has been no proper assessment of its impact. | A cross-party group of MPs has written to the home secretary urging a review of a controversial immigration policy forcing landlords to check whether tenants are legally allowed to rent, saying there has been no proper assessment of its impact. |
| The group, comprising MPs from Labour, the Lib Dems, SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Greens, told Sajid Javid that the “right to rent” scheme, part of the wider hostile environment approach, needed reassessment following the Windrush scandal. | The group, comprising MPs from Labour, the Lib Dems, SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Greens, told Sajid Javid that the “right to rent” scheme, part of the wider hostile environment approach, needed reassessment following the Windrush scandal. |
| Since 2014 landlords have been required to carry out “reasonable enquiries” as to whether would-be tenants are in the UK legitimately. A subsequent law created an offence of knowingly leasing a property to a disqualified person, with a maximum jail term of five years. | Since 2014 landlords have been required to carry out “reasonable enquiries” as to whether would-be tenants are in the UK legitimately. A subsequent law created an offence of knowingly leasing a property to a disqualified person, with a maximum jail term of five years. |
| One of the many problems faced by people caught up in the Windrush scandal has been the inability to find anywhere to live when they cannot prove their immigration status. | One of the many problems faced by people caught up in the Windrush scandal has been the inability to find anywhere to live when they cannot prove their immigration status. |
| The letter, whose signatories include Diane Abbott, Harriet Harman, Joanna Cherry, Ben Lake, Caroline Lucas and Tom Brake, cited a report from March on the right to rent scheme by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI), David Bolt. | The letter, whose signatories include Diane Abbott, Harriet Harman, Joanna Cherry, Ben Lake, Caroline Lucas and Tom Brake, cited a report from March on the right to rent scheme by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI), David Bolt. |
| ‘Right to rent’: share your experiences of England’s immigration checks on tenants | |
| The report found right to rent “had yet to demonstrate its worth as a tool to encourage immigration compliance”, Bolt said, making a series of recommendations for change. | The report found right to rent “had yet to demonstrate its worth as a tool to encourage immigration compliance”, Bolt said, making a series of recommendations for change. |
| The letter noted that the ICIBI “was particularly concerned with the lack of any monitoring or evaluation mechanisms that would allow the government to ascertain whether the scheme was having its intended effect, or whether it is creating unintended consequences”. | The letter noted that the ICIBI “was particularly concerned with the lack of any monitoring or evaluation mechanisms that would allow the government to ascertain whether the scheme was having its intended effect, or whether it is creating unintended consequences”. |
| It said the government had refused to implement one of his recommendations – an improved landlords’ consultative panel – and had seemed unwilling to properly monitor the effect of the scheme. | It said the government had refused to implement one of his recommendations – an improved landlords’ consultative panel – and had seemed unwilling to properly monitor the effect of the scheme. |
| “The Windrush scandal has drawn attention to the effects of the so-called hostile environment,” the letter said. “It also provides a stark warning of the consequences that can be expected when ministers and officials fail to respond to the repeated warnings of experts about the impact of their policies.” | “The Windrush scandal has drawn attention to the effects of the so-called hostile environment,” the letter said. “It also provides a stark warning of the consequences that can be expected when ministers and officials fail to respond to the repeated warnings of experts about the impact of their policies.” |
| While the best option would be to immediately end the scheme, the letter said, at the very least ministers should commit to evaluating it properly, particularly how it might make people homeless, or at risk of modern slavery and trafficking. | While the best option would be to immediately end the scheme, the letter said, at the very least ministers should commit to evaluating it properly, particularly how it might make people homeless, or at risk of modern slavery and trafficking. |
| It ended: “We therefore ask that you implement the recommendations set out by the ICIBI as a matter of urgency.” | It ended: “We therefore ask that you implement the recommendations set out by the ICIBI as a matter of urgency.” |
| A Home Office spokesman said: “The term ‘hostile environment’ as a description of Home Office immigration policy is incorrect, unhelpful and does not represent our values as a country. | A Home Office spokesman said: “The term ‘hostile environment’ as a description of Home Office immigration policy is incorrect, unhelpful and does not represent our values as a country. |
| “We noted the Independent Chief Inspectors’ recommendations on the right to rent scheme and we continue to take steps to ensure it is implemented and communicated as effectively as possible. | “We noted the Independent Chief Inspectors’ recommendations on the right to rent scheme and we continue to take steps to ensure it is implemented and communicated as effectively as possible. |
| “The Home Office engaged extensively with a variety of groups prior to the roll out of the right to rent scheme and it has been subject to evaluation, which found no evidence that the scheme was causing unlawful discrimination, homelessness or additional burdens on local authorities.” | “The Home Office engaged extensively with a variety of groups prior to the roll out of the right to rent scheme and it has been subject to evaluation, which found no evidence that the scheme was causing unlawful discrimination, homelessness or additional burdens on local authorities.” |
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