Today, the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee questioned Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner on on the Government’s housing and planning policy ambitions.
The evidence session was the first HCLG Committee session with the Secretary of State in this Parliament.
The Deputy Prime Minister promised forward movement with leasehold reform after concerns last year the new policies wouldn’t be prioritised. Commonholding is said to be among the government’s plans as a default position and Rayner has promised to introduce a bill for Planning and Infrastructure this Spring.
The pledges have been welcomed by Propertymark, with their Head of Policy speaking on the session today.
Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, comments:
“It is encouraging to hear that the UK Government intends to progress with leasehold reform and that they are committed to making commonholding a default position for many. Propertymark welcomes Ms Rayner’s pledge to introduce the Planning and Infrastructure Bill in March and we look forward to working with them on meeting their ambitious target of constructing 1.5 million new homes.
“However, while the Housing Secretary is intent on scrapping Section 21, which she believes is the answer to ending homelessness, it is essential there is full clarity from the UK Government on how it intends to address issues which Propertymark has highlighted, such as the anticipated backlog it will cause within the courts system.”
Speaking ahead of the session, Florence Eshalomi, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, said: “The Secretary of State has a big policy agenda, not least with the commitment to deliver 1.5m new homes by the end of this Parliament and the Government’s devolution agenda.
“We look forward to questioning the Secretary of State on the Government’s housing and planning policy ambitions and on issues including local council finances and devolution.”
One Response
Once again the government engages in property reform fantasies.
Sadly if the Building Safety Act 2022 is anything to go by I fear that unless there is proper consultation with property lawyers there will be legislative debacles on several fronts.
The government must learn from past mistakes. The Property Lawyers Alliance has already discussed with the government issues of workability concerning leasehold reform and over reliance on digitisation.