The government has announced further amendments to the Social Housing Bill aimed at strengthening homelessness prevention and protecting social housing stock.

A new Duty to Collaborate will require public services to work more closely together to identify people at risk of homelessness and consider what action they can take within their existing responsibilities to help prevent homelessness.

Councils will also be given new powers to refer homeless households to private registered providers of social housing. The government says this will strengthen collaboration between councils and housing associations, reduce reliance on temporary accommodation and improve access to housing for those in greatest need.

The Bill will also introduce a new disposals notification requirement, giving councils and other social housing providers a better opportunity to purchase social homes before they are sold outside the sector. The government intends to extend the notification period to eight weeks.

The measures are intended to support councils in addressing homelessness pressures, strengthen partnership working across the housing sector and help maintain the long-term supply of social housing.