Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to increase access to shared ownership properties for potential buyers who have inherited a property or part of a property that they cannot or are unable to sell, but which is not suitable for them to live in.
Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The provision of affordable housing is part of the Government’s plan to build more homes and provide aspiring homeowners with a step onto the property ladder. Our £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme will deliver thousands of affordable homes for both rent and to buy right across the country, including new shared ownership homes.
If a beneficiary inherits a shared ownership home that it is not suitable for them to live in, we advise that they discuss their sale options with the home’s landlord, including how best to market the home and if the landlord can help to identify eligible buyers.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to support high street businesses in Ashford constituency.
Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The Government is fully committed to supporting our high-street businesses and communities. The department has announced over £15 million in targeted funding in Ashford constituency since 2021, including:
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how much funding Angus constituency has received from (a) all funding schemes put in place to replace EU structural funding, (b) the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, (c) the Levelling-Up Fund and (d) the Long-Term Plan for Towns in each year since 2016.
Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
There is no single fund that directly replaces EU structural funding. Levelling up funding comprises various measures that include, for example, the Levelling Up Fund, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the Long Term Plan for Towns, the Community Renewal Fund, the Community Ownership Fund, and pre-existing programmes such as the City Region and Growth Deals. These come alongside the largest block grant ever for the devolved administration in Scotland which the Chancellor recently confirmed, and other measures such as the Green Freeports and Investment Zones Programme which cover four areas across Scotland.
In general, details of funding support are held at local authority rather than constituency level. The UK remained a member of the European Union until January 2020.
Since then, Angus Council has been awarded nearly £5 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, as well as £26.5 million from the Tay Cities Deal. It has also received nearly £300k from the Community Ownership Fund awarded to a project in Brechin for Davidson Legacy Cottage SCIO, and over £230k awarded via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme including to replace the 3G pitch at Forfar Community Football Trust, for floodlights at Station Park and Market Muir, and for solar panels at Arbroath Football Club. At Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced that Arbroath in Angus will be a Long-Term Plan for Towns location and will receive £20 million of funding.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to amend the shared ownership scheme to prevent residents paying fees to (a) extend their lease and (b) sell their part of the property.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 13515 on 22 February 2024.
Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many electric vehicle charge-points have been installed as part of the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant as of 5 February 2024.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant (EVCG) scheme provides support for those who own and live in a flat or rent any residential property (including shared ownership). Grants of up to £350 per chargepoint are available for eligible applicants to help with the costs of purchase and installation.
As of 1st July 2023, the EVCG has funded the installation of 3,433 domestic sockets since the scheme was launched in April 2022.
Previous domestic grant schemes funded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme and Domestic Recharging Scheme) have delivered 380,555 domestic charging devices since 2013.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of increased interest rates in the property market on (1) homeowners, (2) prospective buyers, and (3) the wider economy.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The path to lower interest rates is through low inflation, and the government is fully committed to supporting the Bank of England to get inflation back down to the 2% target, including by keeping borrowing under control.
While the pricing and availability of mortgages is ultimately a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene, our plan is working, and the average offered mortgage rates on 2-year and 5-year fixed rates have now fallen from their peak in Summer 2023.
Importantly, the Government remains committed to making the aspiration of homeownership a reality for as many households as possible.
We operate a range of schemes that aim to increase the supply of low-deposit mortgages for credit-worthy households, including first-time buyers, increase the availability of new housing, and stimulate economic growth. These include the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, which is open until the end of June 2025, as well as First Homes and Shared Ownership through the Affordable Homes Programme. The Government also helps first-time buyers to save for a deposit through the Lifetime ISA and Help to Buy: ISA.
Over 873,000 households have been helped to purchase a home since spring 2010 through government-backed schemes.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department plans to review the (a) incentives available to and (b) constraints on the affordability of homes for first-time buyers.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
We have introduced a number of interventions that aim to increase the opportunities available to those wishing and able to get on the property ladder for the first time. These include First Homes, the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, Shared Ownership and Right to Buy. We have also reduced stamp duty and raised the thresholds for First-Time Buyers’ Relief. We also run the Lifetime ISA scheme to help young first-time buyers save for their first home.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to encourage uptake of shared ownership properties.
Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Demand for shared ownership remains high and our 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme will deliver thousands of new shared ownership homes right across the country.
Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has plans to increase access to shared ownership properties in the South East.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The Government’s 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme seeks to deliver thousands of new affordable homes for rent and to buy right across the country. This includes the delivery of new shared ownership homes in the South East. Since 2014-15, over 27,200 new shared ownership homes have been delivered in the South East.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve the (a) affordability and (b) availability of housing for first-time buyers.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
We have introduced a number of interventions that aim to increase the supply of low-deposit mortgages for credit-worthy households, increase the availability of new housing, and stimulate economic growth. These include First Homes, the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, Shared Ownership and Right to Buy. We have also reduced stamp duty and raised the thresholds for First-Time Buyers’ Relief. We also run the Lifetime ISA scheme to help young first time buyers save for their first home.
We have helped over 873,000 households to purchase a home through home ownership schemes including Help to Buy, Right to Buy and Shared Ownership since 2010, and first-time buyer numbers have been steadily improving over the last decade, with 2021 seeing the highest number for 20 years. Nonetheless, we recognise that the current economic climate remains challenging for first-time buyers. I and my Cabinet colleagues have ongoing discussions on these issues, and we keep all options under consideration.