Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to (a) end Section 21 evictions and (b) support tenants facing eviction under a Section 21 notice before that time.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government introduced the Renters’ Rights Bill on Wednesday 11 September. It delivers on our manifesto commitment to overhaul the regulation of the private rented sector, including by abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions.
We want to see tenants benefit from these reforms as quickly as possible. We have therefore determined to introduce the new tenancy system for the private rented sector in one stage. Upon the commencement date, the new tenancy system will apply to all private tenancies – existing tenancies will become periodic, and any new tenancies will be governed by the new rules.
Tenants facing eviction and threatened with homelessness as a result of being served a Section 21 notice should contact their local council, who if satisfied the applicant is threatened with homelessness and eligible must take reasonable steps to help them secure appropriate accommodation.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 2991 on Devolution: East of England, whether (a) mayoral and (b) directly-elected leader elections will take place in (i) Suffolk and (ii) Norfolk in May 2025.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council respectively. Instead, Government will continue discussions with Norfolk and Suffolk to deliver a more ambitious agreement.
This Government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined institutions with a directly elected mayor. We want every part of England to take their place on the Council of Nations and Regions, with strong and effective partnerships in place with councils and other partners to deliver the missions we have set out to transform the country.
Mayors should have a unique role in an institution which allows them to focus fully on their devolved strategic responsibilities, working hand in glove with council leaders who will vitally also focus on the delivery of the essential services for which they are responsible. Conflating these two responsibilities into the same individual and institution, as is the case under the mayoral Single Local Authority model of devolution, would risk the optimal delivery of both and is not in line with the direction of travel we are setting out on ahead of the English Devolution Bill.
Regarding the decision taken by a council to change its’ governance arrangements for a directly elected local authority mayor, that is a decision which rests with the councils concerned.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 2991 on Devolution: East of England, whether mayoral or directly elected leader elections will take place in (a) Suffolk and (b) Norfolk in May 2025.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council respectively. Instead, Government will continue discussions with Norfolk and Suffolk to deliver a more ambitious agreement.
This Government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined institutions with a directly elected mayor. We want every part of England to take their place on the Council of Nations and Regions, with strong and effective partnerships in place with councils and other partners to deliver the missions we have set out to transform the country.
Mayors should have a unique role in an institution which allows them to focus fully on their devolved strategic responsibilities, working hand in glove with council leaders who will vitally also focus on the delivery of the essential services for which they are responsible. Conflating these two responsibilities into the same individual and institution, as is the case under the mayoral Single Local Authority model of devolution, would risk the optimal delivery of both and is not in line with the direction of travel we are setting out on ahead of the English Devolution Bill.
Regarding the decision taken by a council to change its’ governance arrangements for a directly elected local authority mayor, that is a decision which rests with the councils concerned.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will list the (a) local council and (b) council mayoral and (c) combined authority mayoral elections that will take place in May 2025.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council respectively. Instead, Government will continue discussions with Norfolk and Suffolk to deliver a more ambitious agreement.
This Government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined institutions with a directly elected mayor. We want every part of England to take their place on the Council of Nations and Regions, with strong and effective partnerships in place with councils and other partners to deliver the missions we have set out to transform the country.
Mayors should have a unique role in an institution which allows them to focus fully on their devolved strategic responsibilities, working hand in glove with council leaders who will vitally also focus on the delivery of the essential services for which they are responsible. Conflating these two responsibilities into the same individual and institution, as is the case under the mayoral Single Local Authority model of devolution, would risk the optimal delivery of both and is not in line with the direction of travel we are setting out on ahead of the English Devolution Bill.
Regarding the decision taken by a council to change its’ governance arrangements for a directly elected local authority mayor, that is a decision which rests with the councils concerned.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of enabling alms houses to access section 106 funding and Community Infrastructure Levy in the same way as housing associations.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
It is up to local planning authorities to determine what contributions should be sought through Section 106 agreements, in line with statutory tests on their use set out in regulation 122 of the Community Infrastructure Regulations 2010.
Our consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework seeks views on whether changes are needed to the definition of ‘affordable housing for rent’ to make it easier for organisations that are not Registered Providers, including almshouses, to develop new affordable homes. This is intended to inform our approach to National Development Management Policies. The consultation, which closes on 24 September, is published at the following link.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with representatives of the London Borough of Havering on the adequacy of levels of development of new build homes in that borough.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
While the standard method is the basis for establishing total housing need in London, responsibility for its overall distribution lies with the Mayor rather than individual London boroughs.
The London Borough of Havering’s local development plan must be in general conformity with the London Plan. Havering adopted its Local Plan in 2021 with a housing target of 1,262 homes per year.
Average annual net additions in Havering were 830 between 2020/21 and 2022/23. The Housing Delivery Test 2022 shows that Havering scored 55%, meaning the borough is subject to the presumption in favour of sustainable development.
The Government is committed to working in partnership with the Mayor of London and all London boroughs to significantly increase housing delivery across the capital.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether land allocated to (a) National Landscapes and (b) National Parks will be taken into consideration for housing requirements (i) generally and (ii) in Chichester District.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
National planning policy makes clear that land designated as National Landscapes and National Parks should be taken into account by local authorities when establishing a housing requirement for their area. Local authorities are expected to evidence and justify their approach through local plan consultation and examination.
In our consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, we made clear that land safeguarded by existing environmental designations, including National Parks and National Landscapes, will maintain its current protections.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which religious leaders she has met as Secretary of State.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Deputy Prime Minister has held introductory meetings with the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev and Rt Hon Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, and the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Sir Ephraim Mirvis KBE.
The Faith Minister, Lord Khan, chaired a roundtable with Muslim leaders on 8 August, and held a roundtable with interfaith practitioners on 9 August. He has met faith and community leaders following his visit to Southport and the North East on 21 August. Lord Khan has also met Pope Francis as part of an official visit to the Holy See. Visits to places of worship to meet the country’s faith communities will be carried out over the coming months.
On 10 September, Lord Khan chaired an introductory roundtable event with key faith and belief stakeholders to mark his appointment as Minister for Faith. The meeting was opened by the Deputy Prime Minister. The roundtable was attended by representatives from the following faiths and beliefs; Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, the Baháʼí Faith and Humanism. The Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Faith, Communities and Resettlement are committed to continuing to engage with Faith and Belief groups and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to make it a statutory responsibility of (a) owners of and (b) responsible persons for residential buildings taller than 11 metres to carry out (i) an EWS1 survey and (ii) a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls to ensure the mortgageability of any leasehold flat in the block.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
An EWS1, which is not a government process or statutory requirement, should not be required for leaseholders in buildings 11 metres and above to re-mortgage or sell their property. As of 18 March 2024, 10 mortgage lenders have signed a joint statement on cladding, confirming they will consider lending on properties in buildings 11 metres and above, regardless of whether works have started.
A Responsible Person is required to ensure that their building has a Fire Risk Assessment, and the Fire Safety Act 2021 clarified that this should include the external walls. In many cases, it will be obvious through inspection that the risk to life from external fire spread is not such to warrant a more detailed Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls. Where a more detailed fire risk appraisal is required, this should follow the British Standards Institution PAS 9980 methodology.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help increase access to home ownership for (a) homeless and (b) displaced people.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Homelessness and rough sleeping levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected.
We are taking action by setting up a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, which the Deputy Prime Minister will chair, to develop a long-term strategy to put us back on track to ending homelessness.
We are also taking action to address homelessness by delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and building 1.5 million new homes, as well as abolishing Section 21 'no fault' evictions for renters, and empowering people to challenge unreasonable rent increases.
In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, we are committed to helping more people into home ownership by introducing a permanent, comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme and to giving first-time buyers the first chance to buy homes.