Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

A description of the methodology for the revised estimate as of January 2025 can be found in the technical note that accompanies the monthly data release. It can be found here: Building Safety Technical Note June 2025

The revised estimates are based on the recently released Ordnance Survey National Geographic Database data which was not available when the original estimates were calculated. The key assumptions section of the Technical Note refers to the use of Ordnance Survey unique building identifiers in the higher building ranges and this was a key driver for the increase in the range of uncertainty.

I refer the noble Lord to the statement made by my hon Friend the Minister for Local Government and Homelessness on 20 November 2025 (attached) (HCWS1080), which sets out our plans for the 2026-27 to 2028-29 multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement, which includes allocating £3.4 billion of new grant funding over the multi-year period.

Local authorities are required to set a balanced budget. Any council that has concerns about its ability to set or maintain a balanced budget should approach the department in the first instance. The government does not collect data on overspends of budgets, but Revenue Account Budgets and Revenue Outturn are published as official national statistics.

The Government is committed to building 1.5 million homes over this Parliament and delivering our modern Industrial Strategy.

Reforming the planning system is key to delivering on both of these commitments. The revised National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that planning policies should set out a clear economic vision and strategy which positively and proactively encourages sustainable economic growth, having regard to the national Industrial Strategy and any relevant Local Industrial Strategies. We will ensure that the planning system supports growth in our eight priority sectors, as reflected in the revised Framework. This prioritisation will be further embedded when we consult on a set of national policies for decision-making before the end of the year.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure – including infrastructure relevant to delivering the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

The Government engages regularly with relevant stakeholders to understand and monitor the impacts of our proposed reforms.

The former Deputy Prime Minister is no longer in post. The questions raised in the hon. Member’s correspondence have already been addressed via parliamentary questions from the hon. Member and his colleagues. I specifically refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 52866 on 27 May 2025, 74185 on 2 September 2025, 84951 on 10 November 2025, 85494 on 5 November 2025, 85495 on 5 November 2025, 88674 on 17 November 2025, and HL10730 on 13 October 2025.

Following the introduction of the second homes premium on 1 April, this has been paid in full in a one-off full payment in July 2025. This payment was made on the date the invoice was received from Westminster City Council.

The government recognises how important home adaptations are in enabling disabled people to live as independently as possible in a safe and suitable environment. The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a capital grant administered by local authorities in England that can help meet the cost of adaptations for people of all ages and tenures to make their home safe and suitable for their needs. This government has boosted funding for the DFG to £711 million for both 2024-25 and 2025-26.

Accessibility standards for homes are governed by Part M of the Building Regulations 2010. The Building Regulations apply to new homes, or those undergoing a material change of use. There are three standards of accessibility prescribed in the Building Regulations: M4(1); M4(2) and M4(3).

The government recognises how important home adaptations are in enabling disabled people to live as independently as possible in a safe and suitable environment. The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a capital grant administered by local authorities in England that can help meet the cost of adaptations for people of all ages and tenures to make their home safe and suitable for their needs. This government has boosted funding for the DFG to £711 million for both 2024-25 and 2025-26.

Accessibility standards for homes are governed by Part M of the Building Regulations 2010. The Building Regulations apply to new homes, or those undergoing a material change of use. There are three standards of accessibility prescribed in the Building Regulations: M4(1); M4(2) and M4(3).

Regulation 25A of the Building Regulations 2010 concerns the use of high-efficiency alternative systems in new buildings and does not apply to extensions.

The energy efficiency standards that apply to extensions to existing dwellings are set out in Approved Document L: Conservation of fuel and power, Volume 1 (dwellings), Section 10.

Energy efficiency requirements for new dwellings and buildings are set through the Building Regulations, which specify overall performance standards rather than mandating particular materials. This allows designers and developers to select the most practical and cost-effective materials for each project, including the use of natural stone where appropriate.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 87630 on 11 November 2025.

The Government is committed to moving away from a system focussed on crisis response, taking a holistic approach to preventing homelessness in the first place. That's why we've invested a record amount in prevention services this year as part of our £1 billion funding for homelessness services.

The Household Support Fund enables local authorities in England to provide discretionary support to vulnerable households in the most need with the cost of essentials, such as energy, water and food.

Local authorities have the flexibility to design their scheme within the parameters set by Department for Work and Pensions, and this can include supporting vulnerable households with the cost of wider essentials, which could include furniture, furnishings and appliances.

We consulted earlier this year on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for the social and private rented sectors. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here. It proposed that the Government develop best practice guidance for all landlords including providing information about where tenants in need can access help on furniture provision. The consultation has now closed, and responses are being analysed. More information about future guidance will be released as part of the Government response.

The Government is committed to moving away from a system focussed on crisis response, taking a holistic approach to preventing homelessness in the first place. That's why we've invested a record amount in prevention services this year as part of our £1 billion funding for homelessness services.

The Household Support Fund enables local authorities in England to provide discretionary support to vulnerable households in the most need with the cost of essentials, such as energy, water and food.

Local authorities have the flexibility to design their scheme within the parameters set by Department for Work and Pensions, and this can include supporting vulnerable households with the cost of wider essentials, which could include furniture, furnishings and appliances.

We consulted earlier this year on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for the social and private rented sectors. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here. It proposed that the Government develop best practice guidance for all landlords including providing information about where tenants in need can access help on furniture provision. The consultation has now closed, and responses are being analysed. More information about future guidance will be released as part of the Government response.

The number of new social homes delivered, split by provider, geography and whether they are new build or acquisitions, can be found in the affordable housing supply statistics on gov.uk here.

On 2 July, the government set out its five-point plan for kickstarting a decade of social and affordable housing renewal. Taken together, the grant funding support and regulatory certainty and stability that this government is providing will enable Registered Providers to quickly ramp up investment in existing and new stock. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on that day (HCWS771).

National design guidance, which supports the National Planning Policy Framework, states that well-designed places should be responsive to local history, culture and heritage. The guidance highlights the role of resources, including the careful selection of materials and construction techniques, to minimise any environmental impacts.

A local design code can introduce requirements on the use of materials for new development, if appropriate.

National design guidance, which supports the National Planning Policy Framework, states that well-designed places should be responsive to local history, culture and heritage. The guidance highlights the role of resources, including the careful selection of materials and construction techniques, to minimise any environmental impacts.

A local design code can introduce requirements on the use of materials for new development, if appropriate.

When it comes to development, London faces challenges that are common to all parts of England over recent years. These include a significant increase in building material prices; a rise in financing costs; and planning capacity and capability pressures.

In addition, the capital faces a number of challenges unique to its housing market which differs in important ways from the rest of the country. These include the fact that London is overwhelmingly reliant on flatted developments; has depended over recent decades on demand from international buyers and investors; and has a higher proportion of landowners (and traders acting on their behalf) who are global investors allocating development funding based on competing returns globally and across asset classes.

The combination of these and other factors has resulted in a perfect storm for housebuilding in our capital. Overall home starts in London in 2024-25 totalled just 3,990. Affordable housing starts in 2024/25 were less than 20% of their 2022/23 level. In the first quarter of this year, more than a third of London Boroughs recorded zero housing starts.

My Department has engaged extensively with housebuilders, registered providers of social housing, and London Boroughs to understand fully the housing delivery challenge in London and to develop measures to address it.

While viability pressures are impacting residential development in many parts of the country, we know they are particularly acute in London. Those pressures were already resulting in proportions of affordable housing being reduced on schemes following viability assessment. According to Greater London Authority (GLA) monitoring data, the average affordable housing level of referable applications that have been approved through their viability tested route was 20 per cent between 2022-2024.

To address this, the Secretary of State and the Mayor of London announced a new package of support for housebuilding in London that included developers to access a new, time-limited planning route to incentivise build out. This will sit alongside the existing Fast Track and Viability Tested routes and will enable developers to secure planning permission without a viability assessment on private land where they commit to 20 per cent affordable housing (60% of which must be Social Rent), of which half will be eligible to receive grant funding, with a gain-share mechanism to increase affordable delivery on sites that continue into the next decade where market conditions improve.

Our engagement with the sector indicates that these measures will encourage schemes to come forward, and existing schemes to progress, in the near-term, and will thereby support a rapid recovery in housing delivery.

The GLA opened a consultation for this time-limited measure on Thursday 27 November, and published a background information document with supporting evidence for decision making which can be found here.

Estate management companies managing freehold estates do not have a dedicated role in dealing with anti-social behaviour and harassment. However, they may wish to engage with local authorities and the police to help prevent or deal with such behaviour.

Leaseholders experiencing anti-social behaviour and harassment may contact the government-funded Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE), which provides free initial legal advice and information.

Social landlords already have a range of powers and enforcement tools to tackle anti-social behaviour including powers to evict perpetrators. We expect landlords to use those powers promptly and proportionately, putting the needs of victims at the heart of their response.

Following implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, private landlords will be able to take action to evict anti-social tenants quicker, with landlords being able to make a claim to the court immediately in all anti-social behaviour cases.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. We will crack down on those making neighbourhoods feel unsafe and unwelcoming by introducing the new Respect Order, which local authorities will be able to apply for and which will carry tough sanctions and penalties for persistent adult offenders. The police, local authorities and social landlords may already apply for a Civil Injunction under Section 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to prevent behaviour that is causing housing-related nuisance and annoyance.

General guidance on the use of domestic CCTV systems is published by the Information Commissioner here.

Estate management companies managing freehold estates do not have a dedicated role in dealing with anti-social behaviour and harassment. However, they may wish to engage with local authorities and the police to help prevent or deal with such behaviour.

Leaseholders experiencing anti-social behaviour and harassment may contact the government-funded Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE), which provides free initial legal advice and information.

Social landlords already have a range of powers and enforcement tools to tackle anti-social behaviour including powers to evict perpetrators. We expect landlords to use those powers promptly and proportionately, putting the needs of victims at the heart of their response.

Following implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, private landlords will be able to take action to evict anti-social tenants quicker, with landlords being able to make a claim to the court immediately in all anti-social behaviour cases.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. We will crack down on those making neighbourhoods feel unsafe and unwelcoming by introducing the new Respect Order, which local authorities will be able to apply for and which will carry tough sanctions and penalties for persistent adult offenders. The police, local authorities and social landlords may already apply for a Civil Injunction under Section 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to prevent behaviour that is causing housing-related nuisance and annoyance.

General guidance on the use of domestic CCTV systems is published by the Information Commissioner here.

Estate management companies managing freehold estates do not have a dedicated role in dealing with anti-social behaviour and harassment. However, they may wish to engage with local authorities and the police to help prevent or deal with such behaviour.

Leaseholders experiencing anti-social behaviour and harassment may contact the government-funded Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE), which provides free initial legal advice and information.

Social landlords already have a range of powers and enforcement tools to tackle anti-social behaviour including powers to evict perpetrators. We expect landlords to use those powers promptly and proportionately, putting the needs of victims at the heart of their response.

Following implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, private landlords will be able to take action to evict anti-social tenants quicker, with landlords being able to make a claim to the court immediately in all anti-social behaviour cases.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. We will crack down on those making neighbourhoods feel unsafe and unwelcoming by introducing the new Respect Order, which local authorities will be able to apply for and which will carry tough sanctions and penalties for persistent adult offenders. The police, local authorities and social landlords may already apply for a Civil Injunction under Section 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to prevent behaviour that is causing housing-related nuisance and annoyance.

General guidance on the use of domestic CCTV systems is published by the Information Commissioner here.

Estate management companies managing freehold estates do not have a dedicated role in dealing with anti-social behaviour and harassment. However, they may wish to engage with local authorities and the police to help prevent or deal with such behaviour.

Leaseholders experiencing anti-social behaviour and harassment may contact the government-funded Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE), which provides free initial legal advice and information.

Social landlords already have a range of powers and enforcement tools to tackle anti-social behaviour including powers to evict perpetrators. We expect landlords to use those powers promptly and proportionately, putting the needs of victims at the heart of their response.

Following implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, private landlords will be able to take action to evict anti-social tenants quicker, with landlords being able to make a claim to the court immediately in all anti-social behaviour cases.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. We will crack down on those making neighbourhoods feel unsafe and unwelcoming by introducing the new Respect Order, which local authorities will be able to apply for and which will carry tough sanctions and penalties for persistent adult offenders. The police, local authorities and social landlords may already apply for a Civil Injunction under Section 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to prevent behaviour that is causing housing-related nuisance and annoyance.

General guidance on the use of domestic CCTV systems is published by the Information Commissioner here.

Estate management companies managing freehold estates do not have a dedicated role in dealing with anti-social behaviour and harassment. However, they may wish to engage with local authorities and the police to help prevent or deal with such behaviour.

Leaseholders experiencing anti-social behaviour and harassment may contact the government-funded Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE), which provides free initial legal advice and information.

Social landlords already have a range of powers and enforcement tools to tackle anti-social behaviour including powers to evict perpetrators. We expect landlords to use those powers promptly and proportionately, putting the needs of victims at the heart of their response.

Following implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, private landlords will be able to take action to evict anti-social tenants quicker, with landlords being able to make a claim to the court immediately in all anti-social behaviour cases.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. We will crack down on those making neighbourhoods feel unsafe and unwelcoming by introducing the new Respect Order, which local authorities will be able to apply for and which will carry tough sanctions and penalties for persistent adult offenders. The police, local authorities and social landlords may already apply for a Civil Injunction under Section 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to prevent behaviour that is causing housing-related nuisance and annoyance.

General guidance on the use of domestic CCTV systems is published by the Information Commissioner here.

Registered Providers of social housing are expected to set reasonable and transparent service charges for tenants that reflect the service being provided. Tenants should be supplied with clear information about how service charges are set.

The government’s policy statement on rents for social housing makes clear out that Registered Providers should endeavour to keep increases for service charges within the limit on rent increases, which is CPI (as at September in the previous year) +1 percentage point, to help keep charges affordable.

On 4 July, the government published a consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services. The proposals will apply to tenants of local authorities and private registered providers who pay both fixed and variable service charges.It can be found on gov.uk here.

For an overview of the proposals set out in the consultation, I refer the hon. Member to the associated Written Ministerial Statement made on 4 July 2025 (HCWS780). This consultation closed on 26 September and we are analysing responses.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 62367 on 2 July 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 84054 on 3 November 2025.

Information on the EPC ratings of social housing let by local authorities and housing associations, as well as other tenures, can be found in the latest English Housing Survey on gov.uk here. In the 2023-24 survey, 0.3% of homes let by local authorities and 0.4% of homes let by housing associations have an EPC rating of band F or G.

The Local Government Outcomes Framework will be published alongside the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement. The data will be displayed in a digital tool from Spring 2026.

Schedule 25 of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill makes provision to amend statutory notice requirements under the Local Government Act 2000, concerning changes to local authority governance arrangements.

In practice, this change will affect only a very small number of councils. Over 80% of councils already operate the leader and cabinet model of governance and provisions in the Bill will limit future changes to local authority governance.

The provision does not prevent local authorities from publishing notices in printed newspapers where this is considered the most appropriate way to inform residents. Instead, local authorities will be able to choose the most suitable communication channels for their area, including local newspapers.

My government already intends to record unique property reference numbers on the Private Rented Sector Database in all instances where they are available.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 62778 on 4 July 2025.

The assets of community scheme is administered by local authorities for their areas. Local authorities are responsible for maintaining and publishing their local list of assets of community value and the Government does not hold a central list of this information. You can find out information about your local scheme by contacting your local authority.

Government does not propose to introduce a statutory duty at this time.

We recognise the importance of toilet provision and have taken steps to support local leaders. At the 2025 Spending Review, we committed over £5 billion in new grant funding over the next three years for essential local services such as toilets. In addition, we continue to provide 100% mandatory business rates relief for separately assessed public toilets.

As part of the Government’s careful consideration of the Working Group’s advice, officials have undertaken some limited and focused informal engagement with stakeholders. It is standard practice for Government to engage stakeholders on policy development.

Following consideration of the above, we will make any relevant announcements in due course.

As part of the Government’s careful consideration of the Working Group’s advice, officials have undertaken some limited and focused informal engagement with stakeholders. It is standard practice for Government to engage stakeholders on policy development.

Following consideration of the above, we will make any relevant announcements in due course.

As part of the Government’s careful consideration of the Working Group’s advice, officials have undertaken some limited and focused informal engagement with stakeholders. It is standard practice for Government to engage stakeholders on policy development.

Following consideration of the above, we will make any relevant announcements in due course.

As part of the Government’s careful consideration of the Working Group’s advice, officials have undertaken some limited and focused informal engagement with stakeholders. It is standard practice for Government to engage stakeholders on policy development.

Following consideration of the above, we will make any relevant announcements in due course.

The Government has increased funding for homelessness services by £316 million to a total of more than £1 billion in 2025/26. This includes £255.5 million through the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant for local authorities to tackle rough sleeping. We announced £69.9 million top-up funding for the grant in October 2025.

My officials have held discussions with all the councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, including Peterborough City Council, as they have developed proposals in response to their invitation. Those proposals are due to be submitted on 28 November.

The government published the local government finance policy statement Local government finance policy statement 2026-27 to 2028-29 - GOV.UK and government response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0 on Thursday 20 November which set out the government’s plans to introduce a fairer and evidence-led system, that will realign funding with need and deprivation.

The government has used the most robust and up to date evidence available. On this basis, we are now using data from the recently published 2025 Indices of Multiple Deprivation in our assessment of need.

We expect that by 2028-29, the top 10% most deprived authorities will see a significant increase in their Core Spending Power per head, compared to the least deprived.

We will publish provisional local authority allocations at the upcoming provisional multi-year Settlement in December. Proposals and allocations will be subject to consultation and the usual Parliamentary process.

The government published the local government finance policy statement Local government finance policy statement 2026-27 to 2028-29 - GOV.UK and government response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0 on Thursday 20 November which set out the government’s plans to introduce a fairer and evidence-led system, that will realign funding with need and deprivation.

The government has used the most robust and up to date evidence available. On this basis, we are now using data from the recently published 2025 Indices of Multiple Deprivation in our assessment of need.

We expect that by 2028-29, the top 10% most deprived authorities will see a significant increase in their Core Spending Power per head, compared to the least deprived.

We will publish provisional local authority allocations at the upcoming provisional multi-year Settlement in December. Proposals and allocations will be subject to consultation and the usual Parliamentary process.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to determining whether any given tenancy will be sustainable and good landlords already assess tenant suitability on the basis of individual’s circumstances.

Landlords and agents remain free to undertake referencing and affordability checks with a view to ascertaining whether a tenancy is sustainable. This may include a history of rental payments, but other available referencing criteria can also be taken into account.

Where a private landlord or agent is not satisfied by the outcome of pre-tenancy checks, there remain options available to provide further reassurance such as requiring a tenant to provide a guarantor. Professional guarantor services are also available and can help prospective tenants acquire a guarantor in circumstances where they otherwise would not have been able to do so. Local authorities may also offer guarantee schemes or assistance with rent payments to help people on low incomes or at risk of homelessness to secure a property.

The government has no current plans to legislate to require social or private landlords and agents to accept rental payment history as proof of affordability.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to determining whether any given tenancy will be sustainable and good landlords already assess tenant suitability on the basis of individual’s circumstances.

Landlords and agents remain free to undertake referencing and affordability checks with a view to ascertaining whether a tenancy is sustainable. This may include a history of rental payments, but other available referencing criteria can also be taken into account.

Where a private landlord or agent is not satisfied by the outcome of pre-tenancy checks, there remain options available to provide further reassurance such as requiring a tenant to provide a guarantor. Professional guarantor services are also available and can help prospective tenants acquire a guarantor in circumstances where they otherwise would not have been able to do so. Local authorities may also offer guarantee schemes or assistance with rent payments to help people on low incomes or at risk of homelessness to secure a property.

The government has no current plans to legislate to require social or private landlords and agents to accept rental payment history as proof of affordability.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to determining whether any given tenancy will be sustainable and good landlords already assess tenant suitability on the basis of individual’s circumstances.

Landlords and agents remain free to undertake referencing and affordability checks with a view to ascertaining whether a tenancy is sustainable. This may include a history of rental payments, but other available referencing criteria can also be taken into account.

Where a private landlord or agent is not satisfied by the outcome of pre-tenancy checks, there remain options available to provide further reassurance such as requiring a tenant to provide a guarantor. Professional guarantor services are also available and can help prospective tenants acquire a guarantor in circumstances where they otherwise would not have been able to do so. Local authorities may also offer guarantee schemes or assistance with rent payments to help people on low incomes or at risk of homelessness to secure a property.

The government has no current plans to legislate to require social or private landlords and agents to accept rental payment history as proof of affordability.

The government acknowledges that a significant time has passed since the coalition government consulted on proposals to modernise the parish polls.

The government has no immediate plans to amend the parish poll regulations.

The government acknowledges that a significant time has passed since the coalition government consulted on proposals to modernise the parish polls.

The government has no immediate plans to amend the parish poll regulations.