Columbus Metropolitan Club’s Post

In its latest severe maladministration report, the Housing Ombudsman has challenged the approach of eight landlords to moving residents temporarily. Jenny Messenger reports, with comment from Richard Blakeway https://lnkd.in/g7ucUcq9 #ukhousing #temporaryhousing #careandsupport #tenants #residents #housingassociations #councils #localauthorities #governance

Has the moment not arrived for a sterner approach towards parents shirking their financial duties to their offspring? Today, the UK government laid down the gauntlet, revealing extensive plans to toughen the Child Maintenance Service (CMS). These revisions aim to rectify a pressing issue: ensuring that all children receive the financial support they are entitled to by law. #childmaintenanceserviceshakeup #childsupportenforcement #childsupportpaymentsystem #CMSpaymentreforms #enforcechildmaintenancepayments #financialsupportforchildren #governmentclampdownonnonpayers #nonpayingparentpenalties #UKchildmaintenanceservice #UKfinancialresponsibilitylaw

Eviction takes its toll on more than finances - it can disrupt a child's education, separate families from their community of support, and interrupt needed public benefits & healthcare. Legal aid helps keep families housed and stable. https://lnkd.in/eBd8MXPa #LegalAidMatters

Early insights on this morning's Renters' Rights Bill evidence session. This morning’s session brought forward crucial discussions on the Bill, highlighting key challenges and considerations for the sector. 🗣️ Matthew Pennycook MP underscored the shared understanding between the government and the property sector: ensuring that the courts and tribunals service is prepared to effectively handle tenancy reform is essential to avoid delays and inefficiencies. 💡 A noteworthy point was raised about potential tenant disputes over rent increases—without disincentives, there’s concern that tenants may challenge every rise, potentially overwhelming the system. 🏢 The Housing Ombudsman emphasised the importance of clearly defining the roles of various bodies—including the new ombudsman, local authorities, courts, and tribunals—to prevent duplication and make the system easier for tenants to navigate. 🔑 Clarity was also called for around ownership of the database, ensuring responsibility is clearly assigned. ⚖️ Concerns around court reform were highlighted, pointing out that the current rent arrears grounds are not robust enough, with a high risk of reducing the size of the Private Rented Sector before social housing stock increases, which could lead to higher homelessness rates. Stay tuned to hear from Timothy Douglas as he gives evidence on members' behalf at 2:00 ⬇️ https://ow.ly/zSHh50TQIA9 – Renters’ Rights Bill

We know that poor housing affects health and welcome the focus on housing conditions in today’s #KingsSpeech with the introduction of the Renters Rights Bill and the abolition of section 21 no fault evictions. We also welcome the intention to apply the Decent Homes Standards to the private rented sector. The commitment to strengthening the enforcement powers for local councils is a critical step towards ensuring people’s health is not affected by where they live. The government must also ensure that local authorities have a fair funding settlement, so that they can adequately enforce existing and new standards and ensure landlords make necessary repairs. Without the proper resourcing, millions of private and social renters will continue living in homes that do not meet basic levels of decency.

The Government is reforming the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) to crackdown on parents who fail to pay child maintenance. Find out more about the proposed changes in our latest article. https://lnkd.in/etZsz_4U

Special needs trusts are one component of an estate plan and allow money to be set aside for a person with a disability. Learn about the estate planning process and the benefits of special needs trusts from Eileen Y. Lee Breger at The Carroll Center for the Blind’s October 9 webinar https://lnkd.in/e4UecQvs #EstatePlanning #SpecialNeeds #Trusts

We need to defend Kāinga Ora against the views of our new government that it has taken on too much debt and has been too soft on its tenants. It needs the debt to build more houses - and we need far more state houses because most Kiwis can’t afford either private rentals or buying a home. We also need Kāinga Ora to be a last-resort landlord for people with addictions, mental health problems or criminal records who will always be at the end of the queue for private landlords and even for non-government community housing agencies.

The core problem in the sector is that the fees most parents can afford to pay do not cover the cost of doing business for providers, with money left over for profit. And one reason tuition at American child-care centers is so burdensome is that unlike most other developed nations, the U.S. government generally does not subsidize the cost. That has put care providers among the lowest-paid workers in the American economy. On Child Care, Vance Tests a Talking Point Democrats Also Embrace https://lnkd.in/e-hkBPsS

Recently, Atul Subhash, earning ₹84,000 monthly, was ordered by the court to pay ₹40,000 as maintenance for his minor son, despite his wife also being a well-earning professional. This judgment has sparked debates on financial responsibility vs. fairness: ▶️ Is it fair for one parent to bear such a large share, even if both are capable earners? ▶️ Should child support consider the proportional income of both parents to ensure balanced responsibility? 💡 Key takeaways: 1️⃣ Children come first: The welfare of the child should always be the priority. A fair maintenance amount ensures they have a stable and secure upbringing. 2️⃣ Financial equity: Courts must also assess shared parental responsibility, balancing the financial burden in dual-income households. 📢 For the community: Parents: Your role goes beyond financials—it's also about time, care, and emotional support. Professionals: Let’s ensure debates around such cases remain constructive, focusing on fairness and the child’s well-being. ▶️ What’s your take on this? Should financial maintenance be shared proportionally in dual-income households? ➡️ Share your thoughts below! 👇