Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for (a) restructuring HM Land Registry fees, (b) tabling secondary legislation to restructure fees, prioritising free access to data and (c) ensuring HM Land Registry makes rapid progress towards enabling others to map land ownership data by linking title numbers with INSPIRE IDs.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
HM Land Registry (HMLR) is reviewing how fees can be made simpler, fairer and enable better access to data.
HMLR intends to launch a public consultation on the design of a new fees and charging structure and to bring forward the necessary secondary legislation to effect changes with the aim of implementing the new structure in 2026.
HMLR is currently exploring how best to make the data it holds more accessible, interoperable and geospatially enabled, in line with the priorities set out in my recent letter to the HMLR Board Chair as well as the government’s blueprint for a modern digital government. This includes reviewing and improving the interoperability of published datasets, for example, adding INSPIRE IDs where appropriate.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her Department's timetable is for the implementation of changes to permitted development rights for air source heat pumps.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Further announcements on permitted development rights for air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points will be made in the coming months.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what safeguards her Department has put in place to help protect unaccompanied children from Ukraine through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Homes for Ukraine scheme supports eligible unaccompanied minors to safely arrive, and to live and thrive in the UK without their parent or legal guardian, supported by a sponsor that they know and trust.
Eligible Minors are protected by robust safeguarding measures. Parental or legal guardian consent is required before a sponsorship arrangement is agreed, and sponsors must pass safeguarding checks before a visa is issued. Councils must comply with safeguarding responsibilities and statutory duties. Local authorities receive an enhanced tariff for each eligible minor arrival, recognising the increased safeguarding support needed.
Detailed guidance for councils, sponsors, and parents/legal guardians must be adhered to, is available at:
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to use modular housing to increase the amount of available housing stock.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can quickly deliver high-quality, energy efficient homes and they provide an important opportunity to improve productivity in the construction sector. MHCLG supports the use of all types of MMC, and we will share our approach to increase its use in housebuilding as part of the Government’s wider housing strategy.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he is taking steps to encourage property developers to incorporate net zero measures in planning applications.
Answered by Lee Rowley
I refer the Honourable Member to paragraph 157 of the National Planning Policy Framework.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many families are housed through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Answered by Felicity Buchan
The most up to date data on arrivals through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme can be accessed here.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether the rent review tribunals proposed in the Renters Reform Bill will use sector specific data for deciding the level of market rent for specialist housing for older people.
Answered by Jacob Young
In order to determine the market rate, the First-tier Tribunal considers a wide range of evidence, such as the price of similar properties being advertised online and evidence submitted from both parties justifying or arguing against the rent increase.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many staff work on the Help to Buy Customer Service team.
Answered by Lee Rowley
In October, an average of 102 customer service advisers dealt with Help to Buy customer queries. This number will fluctuate dependent on demand.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to page 46 of the Background notes to the King's Speech 2023, what his Department's planned timetable is for the consultation on capping existing ground rents.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The consultation launched on 9 November and will run for 6 weeks until 21 December.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to introduce legislation to cap the ground rent at £250 per annum for properties with existing leases.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
Announcements will be made in the usual way.