Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of allowing properties bought with a Help to Buy loan and affected by unsafe cladding to be let out.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Government has provided £5.1 billion to remediate residential buildings over 18 metres, and recently announced contributions from developers estimated at £5 billion to help to fix the building safety crisis.
We have extended the exceptional criteria for subletting through the Help to Buy scheme to include homes affected by unsafe cladding. Guidance can be found in the following link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-sublet-your-help-to-buy-home#when-you-may-be-allowed-to-sublet-your-entire-home.
There are no existing plans to change other aspects of the Help to Buy loan rules. However, we will keep these policies under review and recognise the unique circumstances of people affected by the cladding crisis.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has considered waiving Help to Buy loan interests for those affected by unsafe cladding.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Government has provided £5.1 billion to remediate residential buildings over 18 metres, and recently announced contributions from developers estimated at £5 billion to help to fix the building safety crisis.
We have extended the exceptional criteria for subletting through the Help to Buy scheme to include homes affected by unsafe cladding. Guidance can be found in the following link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-sublet-your-help-to-buy-home#when-you-may-be-allowed-to-sublet-your-entire-home.
There are no existing plans to change other aspects of the Help to Buy loan rules. However, we will keep these policies under review and recognise the unique circumstances of people affected by the cladding crisis.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what the service standard timeframe is for the Building Safety Fund application review process in order to reach a final decision.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
I refer my Hon Friend to my answer to Question UIN 78447 on 29 November 2021.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many (a) administrative officers and administrative assistants (AO and AA), (b) executive officers (EO), (c) senior executive officers and higher executive officers (SEO and HEO), (d) grades six and seven and (e) senior civil service (SCS) officials are responsible for processing applications to the Waking Watch Relief Fund.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
I refer my Hon Friend to my answer to Question UIN 78443 on 29 November 2021.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many FTE officials in his Department are responsible for processing applications to the Waking Watch Relief Fund.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
I refer my Hon Friend to my answer to Question UIN 78443 on 29 November 2021.