Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of rent increases at Burlington House on (a) scientific research and (b) culture and heritage.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Five Learned Societies are tenants of New Burlington House, owned by the Department. Following a High Court settlement, all parties agreed in 2005 that rent would increase to market levels over a period of 80 years. The rent is at a limited rate to reflect the fact that the land is being used for cultural and educational purposes. The Department and the Learned Societies agreed in 2019 that the market rental value of the land was £50 per square foot but the Learned Societies are currently paying only £15.35 per square foot.
The rents charged are in accordance with the Learned Societies’ leases. The rents are calculated annually by way of a valuation that is based on evidenced market transactions and have followed growth of market rent since 2005. Rents can therefore rise and fall. The Department does not currently hold a forecast of rental projections from 2005. Rents based on the current lease are updated each year following valuation.
The Department is sympathetic to the Societies’ position and is exploring whether there is a solution that can deliver value for taxpayers and help the Learned Societies to remain at New Burlington House and an assessment of value will be made as part of an agreement. The Department has been discussing options with the Learned Societies and DCMS given their responsibility for policy in regards to culture, museums and heritage.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Guide for the Disposal of Surplus Land, published by the Cabinet Office in 2017, whether the principle of (a) best value or (b) best consideration has been applied to the management of New Burlington House.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
MHCLG holds the freehold for New Burlington House (NBH) in Piccadilly. We have 5 Learned Societies who occupy NBH and have been our tenants for over 100 years. The current lease which was agreed with the Learned Societies was put in place in 2005 and grants the Learned Societies an 80 year term lease. The Guide for the Disposal of Surplus Land has therefore not been applied in the management of NBH as the government has no plans to dispose of NBH.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has plans to reassess the deadline of 1 April 2021 for obtaining an electrical installation condition report in light of the January 2021 covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
Many landlords and agents take their responsibility seriously and already make sure electrical installations are safe. Even before these regulations came into force, landlords were legally required to make sure that their properties are free of serious electrical hazards. These regulations therefore require all landlords to do what good landlords already do — make sure the electrical installations in their rented properties are safe. However, landlord and agent groups have reported to us that there are still large numbers of rented properties with potentially dangerous electrical installations. This highlights just how important the regulations are, as poorly maintained electrical installations and electrical faults can cause deaths or injury and tenants are spending more, if not all, of their time in the home.
In order to allow landlords time to comply with the regulations they have been phased in. We have published guidance, for landlords, tenants and local authorities in the context of Covid-19 which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities.
The regulations are clear on the issue of compliance. A landlord will not be in breach of the duty to comply with a remedial notice if the landlord can show they have taken all reasonable steps to comply. We have also advised local authorities that we expect them to take a pragmatic and common-sense approach to enforcement of these regulations, and other standards in the private rented sector, and that the level of any penalty should be set taking into account likely harm and culpability.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that local authorities are able to fund and deliver short respite breaks for disabled children and their families.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
We recognise the pressures that the pandemic has placed on local authority finances, and are monitoring this closely through monthly financial returns. We are providing local authorities with an unprecedented package of support, including £4.6 billion of unringfenced grants. Local councils can use this funding to respond to pressures in their local area, including for respite services for disabled children and their families.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the level of importance of archaeological surveys ahead of developments in his proposals to streamline the planning system.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government is committed to the protection of the historic environment. Heritage considerations, including the need for archaeological surveys, will continue to be taken into account in bringing forward any planning reforms.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a £200 fee cap for landlords producing leasehold packs.
Answered by Luke Hall
The Government is clear that allowing freeholders and managing agents to continue to charge sellers what they like, and take as long as they like, to provide essential leasehold information is not acceptable. Setting a £200+VAT maximum charge and a 15 working day turn around time will speed up transactions.