Following the Labour Party’s landslide victory in the recent General Election, the new leadership for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has been announced.
New Secretary of State for Housing
Angela Rayner has been appointed as the new Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, in addition to her role as Deputy Prime Minister. Rayner, who previously served as the shadow Housing Secretary, is set to focus on several key housing issues:
- Social and Council Housing: Rayner emphasizes the importance of social and council housing, reflecting on her personal experience and pledging significant investments in affordable housing.
- Section 21 Evictions: She plans to ban Section 21 no-fault evictions for private landlords, although specific implementation details are yet to be clarified.
New Housing Minister
Matthew Pennycook will serve as the Housing Minister, assisting Rayner. As the MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, Pennycook has a background in housing policy:
- Renters (Reform) Bill: Pennycook has worked extensively on this bill, including proposing amendments to restrict landlords from selling properties for two years after a tenancy.
- Regulation of Property Agents (RoPA): He advocates for the implementation of RoPA.
- Section 21 Evictions: Pennycook has stressed the need for quicker court processes before abolishing no-fault evictions.
Jim McMahon has also been appointed as a minister within the department, focusing on homelessness.
Initial Housing Actions
- Building New Homes: The new government, led by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, has committed to building 14,000 new homes across England.
- Planning Reforms: Immediate measures will be taken to unlock private sector investments in housing, including prioritizing brownfield and greybelt land for development.
- Review of Greenbelt Boundaries: To meet housing targets, the Labour Party plans to review greenbelt boundaries and prioritize the development of brownfield and greybelt land.
Further details about the new government’s priorities will be revealed during the King’s Speech on 17 July.
Original article provided by Goodlord.
Website address: https://blog.goodlord.co/
