Meetings

NDM8091 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that rising rents are adding to pressures on households across Wales as the cost-of-living crisis escalates further.

2. Notes that Wales’s average rental values have increased to £926 per month in June 2022, up by 15.1 per cent compared to June 2021.

3. Notes the increased numbers on social housing waiting lists, and the lack of social housing stock.

4. Notes that in the event of an eviction there is a lack of appropriate housing provision and people face homelessness.

5. Believes that tenants must be protected as a matter of urgency this winter.

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to implement emergency measures to:

a) freeze rents in the private rental sector;

b) place a moratorium on evictions.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Believes that the UK Government is failing to grasp their responsibilities to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and calls for the UK Government to honour its commitment to uplift benefits in line with inflation, including an immediate unfreezing and increase to local housing allowance rates in Wales.

Recognises that:

a)  social tenants in Wales are protected from rent rises this winter;

b)  from 1 December the Renting Homes Act will offer tenants greater protection from eviction;

c) more than 25,200 people, presenting as homeless, have been supported into temporary accommodation since the start of the pandemic.

Welcomes:

a) the additional £6m to local authorities that can be used to support payment of rent arrears or providing a rent guarantee;

b) the £65m investment in transitional accommodation capital programme to increase the amount of social housing, ensuring more people have a place to call home.

If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected.

Amendment 2 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 6 and replace with:

Notes the spiralling cost of temporary accommodation spend for local authorities.

Amendment 3 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add new points at end of motion:

Notes the increasing number of section 21 eviction notices being issued by private landlords.

Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) work with local authorities to better promote the empty home loan scheme returning more empty houses into homes;

b) review and speed up the planning application process to enable developers to meet house-building targets;

c) review what steps can be taken to convert empty space above retail units into affordable, centrally located housing.

The item started at 17.00

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8091 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that rising rents are adding to pressures on households across Wales as the cost-of-living crisis escalates further.

2. Notes that Wales’s average rental values have increased to £926 per month in June 2022, up by 15.1 per cent compared to June 2021.

3. Notes the increased numbers on social housing waiting lists, and the lack of social housing stock.

4. Notes that in the event of an eviction there is a lack of appropriate housing provision and people face homelessness.

5. Believes that tenants must be protected as a matter of urgency this winter.

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to implement emergency measures to:

a) freeze rents in the private rental sector;

b) place a moratorium on evictions.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
11	0	38	49

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Believes that the UK Government is failing to grasp their responsibilities to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and calls for the UK Government to honour its commitment to uplift benefits in line with inflation, including an immediate unfreezing and increase to local housing allowance rates in Wales.

Recognises that:

a)  social tenants in Wales are protected from rent rises this winter;

b)  from 1 December the Renting Homes Act will offer tenants greater protection from eviction;

c) more than 25,200 people, presenting as homeless, have been supported into temporary accommodation since the start of the pandemic.

Welcomes:

a) the additional £6m to local authorities that can be used to support payment of rent arrears or providing a rent guarantee;

b) the £65m investment in transitional accommodation capital programme to increase the amount of social housing, ensuring more people have a place to call home.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	26	51

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

Amendment 2 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 6 and replace with:

Notes the spiralling cost of temporary accommodation spend for local authorities.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
39	0	11	50

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add new points at end of motion:

Notes the increasing number of section 21 eviction notices being issued by private landlords.

Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) work with local authorities to better promote the empty home loan scheme returning more empty houses into homes;

b) review and speed up the planning application process to enable developers to meet house-building targets;

c) review what steps can be taken to convert empty space above retail units into affordable, centrally located housing.

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	26	51

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM8091 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that rising rents are adding to pressures on households across Wales as the cost-of-living crisis escalates further.

2. Notes that Wales’s average rental values have increased to £926 per month in June 2022, up by 15.1 per cent compared to June 2021.

3. Notes the increased numbers on social housing waiting lists, and the lack of social housing stock.

4. Notes that in the event of an eviction there is a lack of appropriate housing provision and people face homelessness.

5. Believes that tenants must be protected as a matter of urgency this winter.

6. Notes the spiralling cost of temporary accommodation spend for local authorities.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
39	0	11	50

The motion as amended was agreed.