Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

HM Land Registry does not compile data on the prices of second homes.

My Department has not assessed the effectiveness of trade associations in the retirement housing sector or the merits of evaluating codes of practices in the management of retirement housing.

There are two government approved codes of practice which outline best practice for managing agents, landlords or other relevant parties for the residential leasehold sector and private retirement housing.

Where residents in leasehold properties, including retirement housing, are concerned about the management of their homes they may make a complaint against their landlord or managing agent, or seek a determination at the relevant court or tribunal. The enforcement of standards set out in these codes can be taken into account as evidence, at court or tribunal hearings. We continue to work with industry on improving best practice including on any new codes proposed by the sector.

As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 November 2024 (HCWS249), the government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report including developing an overarching regulatory approach to the sector to safeguard consumers and give certainty to investors: reviewing and assessing existing codes, their applicability to different sub-sectors and how large-scale monitoring programmes could be delivered to increase compliance with these codes.

My Department has not assessed the effectiveness of trade associations in the retirement housing sector or the merits of evaluating codes of practices in the management of retirement housing.

There are two government approved codes of practice which outline best practice for managing agents, landlords or other relevant parties for the residential leasehold sector and private retirement housing.

Where residents in leasehold properties, including retirement housing, are concerned about the management of their homes they may make a complaint against their landlord or managing agent, or seek a determination at the relevant court or tribunal. The enforcement of standards set out in these codes can be taken into account as evidence, at court or tribunal hearings. We continue to work with industry on improving best practice including on any new codes proposed by the sector.

As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 November 2024 (HCWS249), the government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report including developing an overarching regulatory approach to the sector to safeguard consumers and give certainty to investors: reviewing and assessing existing codes, their applicability to different sub-sectors and how large-scale monitoring programmes could be delivered to increase compliance with these codes.

The government has not set an affordable housing target to date, but we are committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

Affordable housing is defined in the National Planning Policy Framework.

The government is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market.

The updated National Planning Policy Framework asks local planning authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in their areas, and reflect this in their Local Plan policies. This includes planning for a range of options to meet the differing needs of older people, including bungalows.

As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 November 2024 (HCWS249), the government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report

We will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy.

The government is committed to working with social housing providers to ensure that homes are safe, decent, warm, and free from damp and mould.

The Deputy Prime Minister made a Written Ministerial Statement on 6 February 2025 (HCWS423) confirming that the government will be bringing Awaab's Law into force for damp and mould in October 2025.

The government is also committed to consulting on a new Decent Homes Standard and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards this year.

We will set out plans at the next fiscal event to give councils and housing associations the rent stability they need to be able to borrow and invest in both new and existing homes, while also ensuring that there are appropriate protections for both existing and future social housing tenants.

The Renters’ Rights Bill will introduce new protections for tenants and landlords when rent is not paid. When tenants temporarily fall into rent arrears, we will support both parties by preventing tenancies which are otherwise viable from ending. We will increase the notice period for an arrears eviction to four weeks and increase the threshold for mandatory eviction to three months’ rent arrears.

Landlords will still have access to robust grounds for possession for rent arrears, including the mandatory ground for three months arrears, and discretionary grounds which could be used for cases involving repeat non or late payment of rent that does not meet the mandatory threshold.

My Department does not hold data on the number of applicants for social housing by first language.

The Department and the Building Safety Regulator recognise the value to the sector in providing performance data. From this quarter, BSR will be publishing quarterly data demonstrating the volumes of applications received, recorded outcomes and decision times for determination.

The table below shows:

• Number of building control approval applications rejected by the Building Safety Regulator between October 2023 and April 2025
• Number of building control approval applications received by the Building Safety Regulator between October 2023 and April 2025
• Number of building control approval applications withdrawn at the applicants request between October 2024 and April 2025

The Department and the Building Safety Regulator recognise the value to the sector in providing performance data. From this quarter, BSR will be publishing quarterly data demonstrating the volumes of applications received, recorded outcomes and decision times for determination.

The table below shows:

• Number of building control approval applications rejected by the Building Safety Regulator between October 2023 and April 2025
• Number of building control approval applications received by the Building Safety Regulator between October 2023 and April 2025
• Number of building control approval applications withdrawn at the applicants request between October 2024 and April 2025

The Department and the Building Safety Regulator recognise the value to the sector in providing performance data. From this quarter, BSR will be publishing quarterly data demonstrating the volumes of applications received, recorded outcomes and decision times for determination.

The table below shows:

• Number of building control approval applications rejected by the Building Safety Regulator between October 2023 and April 2025
• Number of building control approval applications received by the Building Safety Regulator between October 2023 and April 2025
• Number of building control approval applications withdrawn at the applicants request between October 2024 and April 2025

The Department and the Building Safety Regulator recognise the value to the sector in providing performance data. From this quarter, BSR will be publishing quarterly data demonstrating the volumes of applications received, recorded outcomes and decision times for determination.

The table below shows:

• Number of building control approval applications rejected by the Building Safety Regulator between October 2023 and April 2025
• Number of building control approval applications received by the Building Safety Regulator between October 2023 and April 2025
• Number of building control approval applications withdrawn at the applicants request between October 2024 and April 2025

The Department and the Building Safety Regulator recognise the value to the sector in providing performance data. From this quarter, BSR will be publishing quarterly data demonstrating the volumes of applications received, recorded outcomes and decision times for determination.

The table below shows:

• Number of building control approval applications rejected by the Building Safety Regulator between October 2023 and April 2025
• Number of building control approval applications received by the Building Safety Regulator between October 2023 and April 2025
• Number of building control approval applications withdrawn at the applicants request between October 2024 and April 2025

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 new homes built in each local authority, in each financial year, and can be found in Live Table 123 on gov.uk here. This is then used to inform the Housing Delivery Test, which measures this delivery against the number of homes required.

The Department also publishes a quarterly release entitled ‘Housing supply: Indicators of New Supply, England’, which includes more timely estimates of new build starts and completions in England, and in each local authority and can be found in Table 253a on gov.uk here. This dataset covers new build dwellings only and should be regarded as a leading indicator of overall housing supply.

Through the revised National Planning Policy Framework, published in December 2024, we implemented a new standard method for assessing housing needs which aligns with the governments ambition for 1.5 million new homes over this parliament, and better directs new homes to where they are most needed and least affordable.

The standard method provides a starting point for local councils to inform the preparation of their local plans. The indicative annual housing need figures for all local authorities under the new standard method can be found on gov.uk here.

Whilst the standard method is used to identify the total number of homes needed in an area, the National Planning Policy Framework is clear that it is for local authorities to identify the size, type and tenure of homes needed for different groups in the community and reflect this in planning policies.

My Department engages actively with registered providers of social housing on all issues facing social housing tenants.

We will be consulting this year on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for the social and private rented sectors.

People in need may be able to get help for essential furniture from their local council through the ‘Household Support Fund’ and other services available locally.

Whilst the department did not actively consult the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), the government welcomes that the OEP share our view that the Nature Restoration Fund has the potential to secure better outcomes for nature whilst also unlocking and accelerating necessary development.

We are giving careful consideration to the advice the OEP have provided on proposed changes to environmental law contained in Part 3 of the Bill.

The following topics of planning practice guidance have been updated or introduced since 4 July 2024:

• Enforcement and post-permission matters
• Natural environment
• Housing supply and delivery
• Viability
• Plan-making
• Housing and economic needs assessment
• Effective use of land
• Green Belt
• Crown Development and Urgent Crown Development
• Fees for planning applications

The Secretary of State considered the Public Sector Equality Duty in issuing these updates.

Each Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP) will address one or more specified environmental features, which will be either a protected species, or a protected aspect of a protected site.

Under an EDP, Natural England will be required to deliver conservation measures that contribute to an overall improvement to the environmental feature(s) specified.

When delivering conservation measures through an EDP, Natural England will look to deliver these in the area where development is taking place.

The Bill allows for those circumstances where it may be appropriate to deliver conservation measures aimed at the same environmental feature but at another site outside of where the development is taking place. For example, if Natural England deem that this may deliver a better outcome for a protected species to create new habitats or enhance existing habitats further afield.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by remediating and mitigating despoiled, degraded, derelict, contaminated and unstable land, where appropriate.

Planning policies and decisions should ensure that a site is suitable for its proposed use taking account of ground conditions and any risks arising from land instability and contamination. This includes risks arising from natural hazards or former activities such as mining, and any proposals for mitigation including land remediation (as well as potential impacts on the natural environment arising from that remediation.

After remediation, as a minimum, land should not be capable of being determined as contaminated land under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and adequate site investigation information, prepared by a competent person, is available to inform these assessments.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 44742 on 22 April 2025.

The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 groups together uses which have similar land use impacts into classes, allowing flexibility to change between uses within each class without the need for an application for planning permission.

Since 2020, children’s nurseries are in the broad Class E ‘Commercial Business and Service’ class allowing a wide range of uses commonly found on high streets to move to use as a nursery without the need for a planning application, bringing new uses to the high street and providing additional nursery places including near to where people work.

The government remains firmly committed to its manifesto commitment to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents, and we will deliver this in legislation.

It is for local planning authorities to ensure they have appropriate systems in place to deal with investigating alleged breaches of planning control by other parts of their local authority.

Each local authority has their own code of conduct to ensure they act openly and impartially and in accordance with the rules and regulations at all times.

The government intend to amend building regulations later this year as part of the introduction of future standards that will set more ambitious energy efficiency and carbon emissions requirements for new homes.

We will also consult this year on a new Decent Homes Standard for social and private rented sectors and consult on a new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard for social housing.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 26106 on 5 February 2025.

The government continues to review its policy inheritance from the last government, including in relation to Housing and Planning.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill proposes targeted amendments to the Habitats Regulations, with Schedule 4 including changes necessary to enable the nature restoration fund to address environmental impacts from development in place of the Habitats Regulations.

The previous government secured powers to reform existing environmental assessment legislation, to create a new system of environmental outcomes reports in place of the Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations.

This government is considering how to utilise these powers as part of our wider efforts to deliver economic growth and secure better environmental outcomes.

This Department makes regular assessments of spending pressures; these take account of various factors including new policy.

The Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper is an open consultation led by the Department for Work and pensions which seeks views on the approaches government should consider around reform of the health and disability benefits system and employment support. The consultation closes on 30 June 2025.

As such, it is not current policy, and a full assessment will be made in the usual way at the appropriate time.

Portsmouth City Council joined the Devolution Priority Programme alongside Southampton Council, Hampshire County Council and the Isle of Wight Council earlier this year. I met with local leaders across the region, including Portsmouth City Council, on 4 February to discuss their application to the programme and on 1 April as part of a visit to the area. Baroness Taylor of Stevenage also met with local leaders on 17 December. Throughout these past months, I have also been in regular communication with local leaders through correspondence and my officials meet with officers across the region regularly to support them in delivering devolution to the most ambitious timeframe.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by remediating and mitigating despoiled, degraded, derelict, contaminated and unstable land, where appropriate.

Planning policies and decisions should ensure that a site is suitable for its proposed use taking account of ground conditions and any risks arising from land instability and contamination.

This includes risks arising from natural hazards or former activities such as mining, and any proposals for mitigation including land remediation (as well as potential impacts on the natural environment arising from that remediation).

After remediation, as a minimum, land should not be capable of being determined as contaminated land under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and adequate site investigation information, prepared by a competent person, is available to inform these assessments.

Planning law requires local planning authorities to undertake a statutory period of publicity of no less than 21 days prior to deciding a planning application. Local planning authorities are also required to keep a planning register of live and decided applications.

The ability to establish new parish, town and community councils is devolved to principal local authorities through the community governance review process. This remains the case. Areas considering new parish councils should think carefully about how they might be funded, to avoid putting further pressure on local authority finances and/or new burdens on the taxpayer

Decisions over whether to raise a precept, and over the level of this precept, are taken independently of central government by the parish council in question.

The government views the current process for undertaking community governance reviews as sufficient. We are in regular contact with the sector to understand what improvements would be helpful.

The government has published comprehensive guidance on the implementation of council tax premiums, including how empty homes are defined for council tax purposes. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 48979 on 7 May 2025.

The Valuation Tribunal Service has not published specific guidance on council tax premiums on empty homes but has issued a general council tax guidance manual for taxpayers.

We remain committed to supporting the use of apprenticeships across all government departments to break down barriers to opportunity. This includes supporting the Government's commitment to 2,000 digital apprenticeships through its TechTrack scheme by 2030 to improve digital skills and drive improvements and efficiency in public services.

Additionally, a new cross-Government Level 3 apprenticeship programme in Business Administration, The ‘Civil Service Career Launch Apprenticeship’ (CLA), will see new apprentices kickstart their careers, across various departments, starting from January 2026.”

Since 2023, the Ministry of Housing, Community, and Local Government has increased the proportion of its staff on apprenticeships from 2% to 5.1%. We are currently exploring how additional entry level programmes in digital, data and AI, including the TechTrack Level 4 Business Analyst apprenticeship, can be used to build the department’s capability in this vital area.

Flood recovery is a devolved responsibility. The Flood Recovery Framework provides swift, responsive financial support packages to communities, households and businesses suffering the impacts of severe flooding with schemes from MHCLG, DBT and Defra in England. A post activation review of the flood recovery framework following storm Babet Oct 2023 and Storm Henk January 2024 has taken place and is accessible here: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.

Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected, including young people.

We must address this and deliver long term solutions. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy.

We have also established an Expert Group to bring together representatives from across the homelessness and rough sleeping sector, local and combined authorities and wider experts. The role of this expert group is to provide knowledge, analysis and challenge to help Government understand what is working well nationally and locally and where improvements are needed. We will continue to meet with a range of stakeholders, including mayors and MPs, to make sure the strategy is informed by a range of expertise.

As well as work on the Inter-Ministerial Group and Expert Group we are also working closely with the sector to deliver a number of lived experience forums to ensure that the voices of those with lived experience are reflected in the homelessness strategy.

Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected, including young people.

We must address this and deliver long term solutions. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy.

We have also established an Expert Group to bring together representatives from across the homelessness and rough sleeping sector, local and combined authorities and wider experts. The role of this expert group is to provide knowledge, analysis and challenge to help Government understand what is working well nationally and locally and where improvements are needed. We will continue to meet with a range of stakeholders, including mayors and MPs, to make sure the strategy is informed by a range of expertise.

As well as work on the Inter-Ministerial Group and Expert Group we are also working closely with the sector to deliver a number of lived experience forums to ensure that the voices of those with lived experience are reflected in the homelessness strategy.

I refer the hon Member to my letter of 4 April 2025 to the Defence Committee on this subject. I will also share a copy of the letter with his office.

As lead department for the Covenant, the Ministry of Defence also engages regularly with local authorities on implementation and delivery of the Covenant.

The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy. As part of the current Spending Review, the government is reviewing all spending across government, including funding for tackling homelessness.

Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are responsible for maintaining accurate electoral registers. As part of the voter registration process, applicants must declare their nationality. EROs hold legal powers which allow them to request documentary evidence to confirm an applicant’s nationality if they are not satisfied as to any applicant's nationality. The application form to register to vote is clear about the possibility of applicants being required to provide additional evidence about their nationality, and that their nationality or immigration status may be checked against government records.

The Electoral Commission has also published guidance for EROs on the types of evidence they may request, and advice on how to check immigration records held by the Home Office.

The Government is committed to improving electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on this manifesto commitment, including making greater use of data and online Government services. Any changes will be based on robust evidence and user research.

Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are responsible for maintaining accurate electoral registers. As part of the voter registration process, applicants must declare their nationality. EROs hold legal powers which allow them to request documentary evidence to confirm an applicant’s nationality if they are not satisfied as to any applicant's nationality. The application form to register to vote is clear about the possibility of applicants being required to provide additional evidence about their nationality, and that their nationality or immigration status may be checked against government records.

The Electoral Commission has also published guidance for EROs on the types of evidence they may request, and advice on how to check immigration records held by the Home Office.

The Government is committed to improving electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on this manifesto commitment, including making greater use of data and online Government services. Any changes will be based on robust evidence and user research.

Fire and rescue services (FRSs) have a statutory duty to promote fire safety within their areas. Where they identify the use of open fires and barbecues as a fire risk, such as when a wildfire warning is in place, Government would expect FRSs to promote relevant fire safety messages within their communities.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Fire Kills campaign works closely with the National Fire Chiefs Council to support FRSs to promote such messaging. The Government encourages the public to follow this advice, in addition to that of their local authority and landowners.

The withdrawal of National Classes fire testing standards (BS 476) from Approved Document B in favour of the European Standard (BS EN 13501) aimed to enhance fire protection by simplifying compliance routes within the guidance. This change makes it easier and clearer to ensure products meet required standards and enabling simpler performance comparison.

The suitability of BS 476 and the transition to the EN standard was also scrutinised during the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The EN suite of standards is constantly reviewed, periodically updated, and does not rely on withdrawn standards and is therefore seen as more suitable in the long term. The consultation response published alongside the Written Statement on 2 September 2024 shows a majority of respondents were in support of moving to the European Standard.

The Building Safety Regulator will keep these standards under review as part of their continuous review of Approved Document B, in line with their duty under the Building Safety Act to keep the safety and standard of buildings under review in England.

All ministerial visits are assessed against the government’s domestic and international priorities in the normal way.

As set out on gov.uk, the Deputy Prime Minister’s role includes acting in support of the government’s international agenda, including through overseas travel.