Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

On 17 November 2025, my Department published a consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system. That consultation closed on 13 January 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

No decision will be made on the Garden Trust’s role until responses to the consultation have been fully analysed and considered.

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making.

The consultation includes policies that will support the development and operation of energy and water infrastructure that meets the needs of existing and future development.

The policies in question emphasise the need for early engagement between relevant plan-making authorities, utility providers, regulators, and network operators. This will ensure that development plans align with the capacity and future requirements of water infrastructure, and support the delivery of water supply, drainage, and wastewater infrastructure.

The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

In addition, the Department for Environment, Food and Agriculture has established a Water Delivery Taskforce to hold water companies to account on the deliveryof their Price Review (PR24) plans, including in relation to their planned investments to provide water and wastewater capacity.

The government has already made significant progress when it comes to commencing provisions in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024:

• On 24 July 2024, we brought into force provisions relating to rentcharge arrears, building safety legal costs and the work of professional insolvency practitioners.
• On 31 October 2024, we brought into force further building safety measures.
• On 31 January 2025, we commenced provisions to remove the two-year qualifying rule in relation to enfranchisement and lease extensions.
• On 3 March 2025, the right to manage provisions (expanding access, reforming its costs, and voting rights) came into force.

The government recognises the considerable financial strain that rising service charges place on leaseholders and tenants. The level of service charge that leaseholders pay depends on many factors, including the terms of a lease and the age and condition of a building. By law, variable service charges must be reasonable. Overcharging through service charges is completely unacceptable. Should leaseholders wish to contest the reasonableness of their service charges they may make an application to the appropriate tribunal.

On 4 July 2025, the government published a consultation, jointly with the Welsh Government, on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services. The consultation included proposals to increase transparency over service charges and enhance access to redress through the relevant provisions in the Act. It also proposed new reforms the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here. It closed on 26 September 2025, and we are analysing responses with a view to bringing the relevant measures into force as quickly as possible.

On 18 December 2025, the government launched a consultation on proposals to implement the Act’s new consumer protections for homeowners living on freehold estates. These include ensuring that homeowners who pay an estate management charge have better access to information they need to understand what they are paying for, the right to challenge the reasonableness at the First-tier Tribunal (in England), and to go to the tribunal to appoint a substitute manager. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 12 March 2026. We will look to bring these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.

The Act also sets the method for calculating the price of a statutory lease extension or freehold acquisition, known as the valuation process. It removes the requirement for marriage value to be paid, caps the treatment of ground rents in the valuation calculation at 0.1% of the freehold value, and allows government to prescribe the rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium. Valuation rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium will be set by the Secretary of State in secondary legislation. We will consult on valuation rates and commence the relevant provisions as soon as possible. As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), primary legislation will be required to rectify a small number of specific flaws in the 2024 Act before the Act’s enfranchisement provisions are commenced.

The government has already made significant progress when it comes to commencing provisions in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024:

• On 24 July 2024, we brought into force provisions relating to rentcharge arrears, building safety legal costs and the work of professional insolvency practitioners.
• On 31 October 2024, we brought into force further building safety measures.
• On 31 January 2025, we commenced provisions to remove the two-year qualifying rule in relation to enfranchisement and lease extensions.
• On 3 March 2025, the right to manage provisions (expanding access, reforming its costs, and voting rights) came into force.

The government recognises the considerable financial strain that rising service charges place on leaseholders and tenants. The level of service charge that leaseholders pay depends on many factors, including the terms of a lease and the age and condition of a building. By law, variable service charges must be reasonable. Overcharging through service charges is completely unacceptable. Should leaseholders wish to contest the reasonableness of their service charges they may make an application to the appropriate tribunal.

On 4 July 2025, the government published a consultation, jointly with the Welsh Government, on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services. The consultation included proposals to increase transparency over service charges and enhance access to redress through the relevant provisions in the Act. It also proposed new reforms the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here. It closed on 26 September 2025, and we are analysing responses with a view to bringing the relevant measures into force as quickly as possible.

On 18 December 2025, the government launched a consultation on proposals to implement the Act’s new consumer protections for homeowners living on freehold estates. These include ensuring that homeowners who pay an estate management charge have better access to information they need to understand what they are paying for, the right to challenge the reasonableness at the First-tier Tribunal (in England), and to go to the tribunal to appoint a substitute manager. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 12 March 2026. We will look to bring these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.

The Act also sets the method for calculating the price of a statutory lease extension or freehold acquisition, known as the valuation process. It removes the requirement for marriage value to be paid, caps the treatment of ground rents in the valuation calculation at 0.1% of the freehold value, and allows government to prescribe the rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium. Valuation rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium will be set by the Secretary of State in secondary legislation. We will consult on valuation rates and commence the relevant provisions as soon as possible. As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), primary legislation will be required to rectify a small number of specific flaws in the 2024 Act before the Act’s enfranchisement provisions are commenced.

The government has already made significant progress when it comes to commencing provisions in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024:

• On 24 July 2024, we brought into force provisions relating to rentcharge arrears, building safety legal costs and the work of professional insolvency practitioners.
• On 31 October 2024, we brought into force further building safety measures.
• On 31 January 2025, we commenced provisions to remove the two-year qualifying rule in relation to enfranchisement and lease extensions.
• On 3 March 2025, the right to manage provisions (expanding access, reforming its costs, and voting rights) came into force.

The government recognises the considerable financial strain that rising service charges place on leaseholders and tenants. The level of service charge that leaseholders pay depends on many factors, including the terms of a lease and the age and condition of a building. By law, variable service charges must be reasonable. Overcharging through service charges is completely unacceptable. Should leaseholders wish to contest the reasonableness of their service charges they may make an application to the appropriate tribunal.

On 4 July 2025, the government published a consultation, jointly with the Welsh Government, on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services. The consultation included proposals to increase transparency over service charges and enhance access to redress through the relevant provisions in the Act. It also proposed new reforms the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here. It closed on 26 September 2025, and we are analysing responses with a view to bringing the relevant measures into force as quickly as possible.

On 18 December 2025, the government launched a consultation on proposals to implement the Act’s new consumer protections for homeowners living on freehold estates. These include ensuring that homeowners who pay an estate management charge have better access to information they need to understand what they are paying for, the right to challenge the reasonableness at the First-tier Tribunal (in England), and to go to the tribunal to appoint a substitute manager. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 12 March 2026. We will look to bring these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.

The Act also sets the method for calculating the price of a statutory lease extension or freehold acquisition, known as the valuation process. It removes the requirement for marriage value to be paid, caps the treatment of ground rents in the valuation calculation at 0.1% of the freehold value, and allows government to prescribe the rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium. Valuation rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium will be set by the Secretary of State in secondary legislation. We will consult on valuation rates and commence the relevant provisions as soon as possible. As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), primary legislation will be required to rectify a small number of specific flaws in the 2024 Act before the Act’s enfranchisement provisions are commenced.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 95245 on 8 December 2025 and UIN 68820 on 2 September 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 95245 on 8 December 2025 and UIN 68820 on 2 September 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 95245 on 8 December 2025 and UIN 68820 on 2 September 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 95245 on 8 December 2025 and UIN 68820 on 2 September 2025.

The six Mayoral Strategic Authorities on the Devolution Priority Programme will receive close to £200 million collectively per year for 30 years through their Investment Funds. Before Mayors are elected, and with the consent of the constituent councils the institutions are established, government will provide each area with a proportion of their investment funds to ensure they can start delivering on key local priorities and deliver the benefits of devolution on the ground.

The government recognises motorists concerns about the private parking industry and the existing appeals process. Under the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, a new Code of Practice will be introduced to raise standards across the sector.

On 11^th July 2025, the government published a consultation, setting out its proposals for the Code and specifically sought views on the perceived shortcomings of the current appeals process.

Responses are now being analysed, and the government will publish its final proposals in due course.

Many parking operators do provide an online appeals platform for motorists to use.

The government is committed to taking further action against illicit activity on high streets. There has already been a significant crackdown on illegal working, raising enforcement activity to the highest levels in recorded history. The 2025 Budget provided £15 million per year for a range of additional interventions, including an uplift in funding for Trading Standards and a cross-government taskforce to better understand and disrupt criminality on our high streets.

Alongside this, our Pride in Place Programme will give local communities greater control to influence the make-up of their high streets, and support communities to take ownership of shops and key assets. These measures build on existing powers to ensure that high streets remain safe, vibrant, and welcoming for consumers and legitimate businesses.

We continue to closely follow the work of the Commission which continues to make a strong case for investment in our most deprived neighbourhoods.

The Pride in Place Programme, announced in September, demonstrates this Government’s firm commitment to backing neighbourhoods that have for too long been left behind and overlooked. This flagship programme will deliver up to £5bn funding and support to 244 of the most deprived places across Britain over the next decade, and our accompanying Pride in Place Strategy set out a broader plan for giving communities across the country the tools and powers they need to drive change in their neighbourhood.

We will carefully consider the Commission’s findings once the final report is published which will inform our response on how we can build on this agenda to support the most in need neighbourhoods.

The planning system entitles anyone to apply for planning permission on any land, irrespective of ownership, but applicants are legally required to notify the owners of a site before they submit their planning application. This facilitates delivery of developments where land is in multiple ownership.

The grant of planning permission has no effect on the ownership of the land and development cannot proceed without the agreement of the relevant landowner.

The Building Safety Act 2022 created duties to keep the safety and standards of buildings under review and also to establish and maintain the Building Advisory Committee, which advises on matters connected with building safety, except those relating to the competence of persons in the built environment industry, and registered building inspectors. The Act also requires the Regulator to prepare a report on certain safety-related matters by October 2026 and consider further provision, or guidance, about stairs and ramps, emergency egress of disabled persons, and automatic water fire suppression systems in relevant buildings, with a view to improving the safety of persons in or about the built environment. Functions are ongoing and no review or assessment of these parts of the Act have been carried out to date.

In response to the Grenfell Inquiry’s recommendation 19, both the regulator, the Architects Registration Board (ARB), and the professional body, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), have taken steps to improve the education and training of architects. On 17 December 2025, the government published the Single Construction Regulator prospectus. The prospectus sets out how government will develop a strategy to reform regulation of built environment professionals, including with a view to better support the competency of professionals.

This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector.

In accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the government is preparing a Code of Practice that will provide guidance on the operation and management of private parking facilities.

In preparation for the new Code, the government published a consultation document in 2025 outlining its proposals to raise standards across the private parking industry.

This consultation specifically sought views on the current 40% discount rate for early payment of parking charges and the concerns motorists have regarding its application. All responses are now being analysed, and the government will publish a formal response and set out its final plans in due course.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 99005 on 5 January 2026.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 99005 on 5 January 2026.

The government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector.

Private parking operators are required to consider The Equality Act 2010, including arrangements for drivers with disabilities, and follow the single industry code launched by the main trade associations.

Operators risk being banned from issuing charges if they do not reasonably comply with the code of practice.

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the Government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.

A consultation document outlining proposals to raise standard across the private parking industry was published on 11 July 2025.

As part of this consultation, views and comments on implications that proposals may have on groups defined by reference to protected characteristics was requested (Question 35a).

All responses are now being analysed and the government will publish a response in due course.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 95573 on 5 January 2026.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 95573 on 5 January 2026.

On 17 November 2025, my Department published a consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system. That consultation closed on 13 January 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

No decision will be made on the Garden Trust’s role until responses to the consultation have been fully analysed and considered.

On 17 November 2025, my Department published a consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system. That consultation closed on 13 January 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

No decision will be made on the Garden Trust’s role until responses to the consultation have been fully analysed and considered.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 102833 on 12 January 2026.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 102833 on 12 January 2026.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 102833 on 12 January 2026.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 102833 on 12 January 2026.

In developing its recommendations, the New Towns Taskforce engaged with local leaders from across the country and delivered a series of targeted engagement events.

As set out in the government’s initial response to the New Towns Taskforce final report, which can be found on gov.uk here, we will publish the draft proposals and final SEA for consultation in the coming months.

MHCLG Ministers and officials engage regularly with a range of stakeholders in respect of leasehold and commonhold reform, including the National Leasehold Campaign.

This government takes democracy very seriously. In the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders we have listened to councils telling us about the capacity constraints they are operating within and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges.

On 18 December I invited councils undergoing local government reorganisation with local elections in May 2026 to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

We have been transparent about this process and will consider all the representations we receive. The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received.

Supporting Small Business Relief (SSBR) limits the increase in the bills of those ratepayers whose business rates liability will increase as a result of the 2026 revaluation. SSBR ensures that any increase is limited to £800 per year, or the relevant caps within Transitional Relief, whichever is higher. This is the case for all years between 2026 and the next revaluation.

In assessing whether Green Belt land is grey belt, local planning authorities should consider the contribution the land in question makes to the Green Belt purposes of restricting the sprawl of large built up areas, preventing the merging of neighbouring towns, and safeguarding the setting and special character of historic towns.

Relevant Green Belt guidance makes clear that when assessing contribution to these purposes, “large built-up areas” and “towns” do not include villages.

Considering whether any particular settlement constitutes a village is a matter for the given local planning authority to judge, which may be informed by the adopted local settlement hierarchy.

On 6 October 2025, the government published two consultations outlining reform proposals to transform home buying and selling. They can be found on gov.uk here and here. We are now analysing the responses to both consultations.

All registered providers of social housing, including local housing authorities, are eligible to apply for funding from the Social and Affordable Homes Programme, from Homes England outside London, or the GLA within London. This is true both in areas with an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority and those without.

The government sets standards for indoor air quality mainly through Parts F (Ventilation) and L (Conservation of fuel and power) of the Building Regulations which apply primarily to new buildings with detailed guidance provided in Approved Documents. Approved Document F sets minimum ventilation requirements to provide fresh air and reduce risks from pollutants, moisture, condensation and mould. These standards were strengthened in 2021 and took effect in June 2022.

Indoor air quality in existing properties is addressed separately, including through Awaab’s Law which requires social landlords to investigate and remedy damp and mould hazards within set timescales. Government policy is also informed by the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution (COMEAP) which provides independent advice on air quality and health.

The government will consider whether any new guidance is required following consideration of responses received to the consultation process. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

As is standard practice in government policy making, officials have undertaken some limited and focused informal engagement with relevant stakeholders as we consider the advice presented to government by the working group.

As would be expected, topics relating to local government reorganisation were raised with the Minister, including 2026 elections.

We have invited Basildon Borough Council and other councils undergoing local government reorganisation to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation. This is a locally led approach. Councils are best placed to judge their local capacity and we will consider representations carefully.

My Department does not collect information on which Town or Parish Councils in England do not currently have a neighbourhood plan.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 59114 on 19 June 2025.

My Department does not collect information on which Town or Parish Councils in England do not currently have a neighbourhood plan.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 59114 on 19 June 2025.

For the year ending 31 March 2025, HM Land Registry (HMLR) estimated it had nearly 450,000 avoidable requisitions costing the conveyancing industry and HMLR up to £19m annually.

HMLR is supporting the conveyancing industry to improve the quality of its applications through a number of measures:

1. Using technology to validate data supplied in applications pre-submission;
2. Providing avoidable requisition data to conveyancers to understand the error and correct these errors prior to submission to HMLR; and
3. Extensive training and engagement activities with the property sector.

HMLR has been sharing avoidable requisition data with conveyancers for the last six months and since December 2025 HM Land Registry has published avoidable requisition data on gov.uk here. This has resulted in over 29% of law firms reducing their avoidable requisition rate and 20% now have an avoidable requisition rate under 1%.

The requested information is not held by my Department.

Housebuilding data is collected on current local authority district boundaries only, in accordance with the single data list which can be found on gov.uk here.

My Department publishes an annual release entitled ‘Housing supply: net additional dwellings, England’, which is the primary and most comprehensive measure of housing supply. This includes estimates of net additional homes in each local authority, in each financial year, from 2012-13 to 2024-25. This data can be found in Live Table 123 on gov.uk here.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 103087 on 13 January 2026.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 103087 on 13 January 2026.