Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

On 2 July, the government opened a consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard (DHS) for the social and private rented sectors. It seeks views on a range of issues including whether landlords should provide suitable floor coverings in all rooms at the start of every tenancy. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here.

On 2 July, the government opened a consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard (DHS) for the social and private rented sectors. It seeks views on a range of issues including whether landlords should provide suitable floor coverings in all rooms at the start of every tenancy. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here.

The government took swift action in the early months of the Parliament to implement provisions in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 relating to rent charge arrears, building safety legal costs and the work of professional insolvency practitioners.

On 31 October 2024, the government commenced further building safety measures.

On 31 January 2025, provisions to remove the two-year qualifying rule in relation to enfranchisement and lease extensions came into force.

On 3 March 2025, the right to manage provisions (expanding access, reforming its costs, and voting rights) came into force and we published the Commonhold White Paper, which is a crucial first step in ensuring commonhold becomes the default tenure for flats.

On 4 July 2025, we published a consultation on Strengthening Leaseholder Protections for charges and services. It can be found on gov.uk here. It can be found on gov.uk here. The consultation seeks views on how to implement the relevant measures in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, and includes proposals to extend aspects of it to social housing tenants.

We will publish an ambitious draft Leasehold and Commonhold reform Bill later this year.

For an overview of the government’s approach to leasehold and commonhold reform, I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).

On 2 July, the government published a plan setting out the foundations for a decade of renewal in social and affordable housing. This is focused on delivering the biggest increase in supply in a generation, alongside a transformational and lasting change in the safety and quality of homes. The plan includes a “call to arms” to everyone with a role in social and affordable housing – including local authorities – to step up and prove they can deliver at scale and at pace.

We have asked all Council Leaders to examine what role they can play in reinvigorating council housebuilding. Councils will be able to bid for the new 10-year £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme, which is the biggest long-term investment in social and affordable housing in recent memory – with a target to deliver at least 60% of the homes as Social Rent. We also want to make it easier for councils to use their own resources and land to build more homes. For those without a Housing Revenue Account, we are reviewing the threshold of homes they hold at which they need to open one. We will exempt newly built social homes from Right to Buy for 35 years, ensuring councils are not losing homes before they have recovered the costs of building them. We are also allowing councils to retain 100% of the receipts generated by Right to Buy sales with greater flexibility on how to spend them to accelerate and increase delivery of replacement homes.

We are helping councils borrow more cheaply from the Public Works Loan Board until the end of 2025-26 and with the LGA, the government has established a new Association of Directors of Housing to help councils collaborate and share best practice. We have also launched the Council Housing Skills and Capacity Programme, backed by £12 million of funding in 2025-26. This programme will be delivered in partnership with Homes England and the Local Government Association, to support councils to upskill their existing workforces, recruit and retain graduates to specialist housebuilding positions, and enhance their engagement with the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

The government’s revised National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that, in their role as local planning authorities, councils are responsible for establishing the need for affordable housing in their area – including for Social Rent homes in particular.

Local authorities who own social housing are required to meet regulatory standards set by the Regulator of Social Housing – including for the quality of accommodation they provide. As part of our commitment to ensuring that all social and affordable housing tenants can live in a warm and decent home, on 2 July we launched consultations on an updated and modernised Decent Homes Standard and on a new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard. These new standards would be binding on local authorities and other registered providers of social housing.

On 3 July the government launched the new Local Government Outcomes Framework, which represents a new approach to outcome-based accountability for councils in England. The Framework includes draft metrics on the year-on-year change in social rented dwellings held in local authorities’ Housing Revenue Account and the proportion of council-owned social housing deemed decent.

Following the Spending Review, my Department has announced that it is unable to commission new neighbourhood planning support services for 2025 onwards.

Technical support which has already been awarded will continue to be provided but must be completed before the end of March 2026.

The government remains of the view that neighbourhood plans can play an important role in the planning system. Communities can continue to prepare neighbourhood plans where they consider that doing so is in their best interests.

All details of ministerial meetings with external bodies are published on gov.uk.

The Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government, a 6.8% cash terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25.

The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced, recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.

DCMS and its ALB provide direct funding to sports facilities. The government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. The government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Additional funding for grassroots sport facilities is also delivered through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme, which is providing £98 million across the UK in 2025/26 to support new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities.

In June the Culture Secretary announced another £400 million to transform community sport facilities across the whole of the nation following the Spending Review. We will now work closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what each community needs and then set out further plans.

The Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government, a 6.8% cash terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25.

The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced, recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.

DCMS and its ALB provide direct funding to sports facilities. The government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. The government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Additional funding for grassroots sport facilities is also delivered through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme, which is providing £98 million across the UK in 2025/26 to support new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities.

In June the Culture Secretary announced another £400 million to transform community sport facilities across the whole of the nation following the Spending Review. We will now work closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what each community needs and then set out further plans.

Before a short-term let can be assessed as a self-catering accommodation (short-term let) for business rates purposes it must have been available to let for at least 140 days in the past year and demonstrate at least 70 days of actual letting activity in the last year.

It is for local authorities to bill and collect business rates. The government does not make an estimate of the number of short-term lets who choose not to be assessed for business rates or do not meet these criteria. However, the government does collect data on the number of short-term lets assessed for business rates. The latest available data from March 2025 shows that there are 65,380 short-term lets assessed for business rates in England.

Where a property does not meet these criteria, it will usually be considered domestic, and liable for council tax in the same way as any other domestic property.

The terms of a lease will set out whether individual leaseholders are able to start a childminding business in their home, and leaseholders should refer to their lease to determine whether any relevant restrictions apply.

Restrictive terms under the lease may be in place for a number of reasons in residential buildings, including to protect other residents’ rights. Landlords and residents may also be restricted from running businesses from their homes under insurance and mortgage conditions.

Leaseholders may be able to negotiate certain changes to the lease, by varying the lease agreement and they should speak with their landlord in the first instance. Leaseholders can also get free information and initial advice from the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE).

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).

In awarding contracts under the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme, Homes England and the GLA will assess the need for grant on the basis of bids from social housing providers, including local authorities, considering what is needed to make projects viable, and the overall value for money for the programme.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).

In awarding contracts under the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme, Homes England and the GLA will assess the need for grant on the basis of bids from social housing providers, including local authorities, considering what is needed to make projects viable, and the overall value for money for the programme.

The government does not recognise the analysis presented in the Savills’ research in question. The housing completions forecast it contains does not take into account the supply impacts of the measures announced at Spending Review 2025 or the further reforms to the planning system that we are committed to enacting, including the measures contained in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the forthcoming set of national policies for decision making.

I have received representations on this issue from the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority and discuss funding matters with Mayors in the course of my work as the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution.

The government has no plans to introduce a tourist tax, but keeps all taxes under review.

I have received representations on this issue from the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority and discuss funding matters with Mayors in the course of my work as the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution.

The government has no plans to introduce a tourist tax, but keeps all taxes under review.

This government is taking several steps to reduce empty retail units and regenerate high streets in Eastbourne and other towns across the country. Eastbourne will benefit from up to £20 million over 10 years through the £1.5 billion Plan for Neighbourhoods programme announced in March, which aims to regenerate local areas, including high streets in deprived areas.

Additionally, the government is tackling vacancy with High Street Rental Auctions, giving local authorities the power to auction rental rights of persistently vacant commercial properties. We are also legislating through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill for a new Community Right to Buy, enabling communities to acquire valued assets. These measures will help revive footfall, boost local economies, and empower communities.

An independent Inspector held a public inquiry between 11 and 28 February which heard a range of evidence for and against the proposals in question. The Inspector’s Report is now before the Department for consideration.

Ministers are able to issue a direction under section 321 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 on an application where required. There is no section 321 direction in force and no requests have been received in respect of this case.

The government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million new homes in England in this Parliament.

We have already taken decisive action to increase housing supply, including overhauling the planning system and kickstarting a decade of social and affordable housing renewal.

In July 2024, the Home Builders Federation and supporting members issued a joint statement making clear that the housebuilding industry was committed to increase delivery of new homes year on year in this parliament. The statement can be found on the Home Builders Federation website here.

The New Towns Taskforce will submit its final report this summer.

The New Towns Taskforce will submit its final report this summer.

Local authority capital expenditure and financing estimates for the current financial year can be found on gov.uk here.

At the Spending Review, we announced £39 billion for a successor to the Affordable Homes Programme over 10 years from 2026-27 to 2035-36. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).

The government is also providing £950 million capital for the fourth round of the Local Authority Housing Fund - the largest round of the fund to date – to deliver up to 5,000 homes.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes a regulation-making power to issue statutory guidance on a national scheme of delegation.

On 28 May 2025, my Department published a technical consultation on proposals for reform of planning committees. It can be found on gov.uk here.

It is the responsibility of local authorities (LPAs) to assess the need for Gypsy and Traveller sites in their area and then plan to meet that need, in the same way that they plan for all forms of housing.

In doing so, LPAs should promote peaceful and integrated co-existence between the site and the local community, and aim to reduce the number of unauthorised developments and encampments.

In relation to local planning authority enforcement powers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 46336 on 30 April 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 63881 on 7 July 2025.

I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).

We are giving further consideration to how policy can better promote rural affordable housing as part of our work to produce a set of national policies for decision making this year.

I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).

We are giving further consideration to how policy can better promote rural affordable housing as part of our work to produce a set of national policies for decision making this year.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).

MHCLG has not published guidance of this nature. Local authorities must comply with the FOI Act in relation to access to information held by public bodies, with GDPR guidelines in relation to personal data, and with Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) statutory codes and guidance.

The Department does not hold official data on the total number of first-time buyers over the past five years and is therefore unable to provide an official estimate.

However, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes data on the number of first-time buyer mortgage sales by Local Authority across the UK, which can be found on gov.uk here. This data set does not include cash sales.

In addition, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) provides UK-wide totals for the same data, available here.

Currently, there are no plans to conduct such assessment. However, the figures for both private and Local Authority second stage appeals services are published on the websites of the Independent Appeals Service (IAS), Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA) and the Traffic Penalty Tribunal:

• https://theias.org/ias-annual-report

• https://www.popla.co.uk/reports

• https://www.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk/publications-library/

The Chief Executive Officer of the Night Time Industries Association wrote to the Department on 29 October 2024. Their letter was passed to the Department for Business and Trade for a response.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July 2025 (HCWS771).

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July 2025 (HCWS771).

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July 2025 (HCWS771).

Playgrounds are a vital part of our social infrastructure. They contribute to the health and development of children and young people across the nation and build on the government’s mission of opportunities for all by ensuring everyone has the best start in life.

Local authorities work locally to support adults and children to lead more active lives through access to public leisure services, green space, parks and playground spaces. Their public health budgets are used to deliver local physical activity interventions such as the purchasing of playground equipment. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced, recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities and that procurement is up to the discretion of Local authorities rather than the Government.

The Environment Act 2021 requires Ministers to have ‘due regard’ to the policy statement on environmental principles when making policy. This is to ensure that environmental considerations are at the heart of policymaking across government.

Environmental considerations in respect of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill were given due regard in line with the requirements of the Environment Act 2021.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out that planning policies and decisions should plan positively for the provision and use of shared spaces, community facilities (such as local shops, meeting places, sports venues, open space, cultural buildings, public houses and places of worship) and other local services to enhance the sustainability of communities and residential environments.

Additionally, planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by minimising impacts on and providing net gains for biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures and incorporating features which support priority or threatened species such as swifts, bats and hedgehogs.

Moreover, under the new statutory framework for Biodiversity Net Gain, every grant of planning permission (subject to some exemptions) is subject to the condition that the development must deliver at least a 10% increase in biodiversity value relative to the pre-development biodiversity value of the onsite habitat.

When it comes to development and the environment, we know we can do better than the status quo, which too often sees both sustainable housebuilding and nature recovery stall. Instead of environmental protections being seen as barriers to growth, we want to unlock a win-win for the economy and for nature. Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces a new Nature Restoration Fund that will unlock and accelerate development while going beyond neutrality to unlock the positive impact development can have in driving nature recovery.

Natural England will be responsible for producing Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) and for delivering the conservation measures set out in them.

While Natural England will generally be the delivery body for EDPs, the Bill contains provision to allow for another body to be designated to exercise functions in relation to the Nature Restoration Fund, should this be necessary.

Natural England will have compulsory purchase powers to enable them to secure and implement the conservation measures needed to protect the environment. The use of Natural England’s compulsory purchase power will be subject to appropriate scrutiny and oversight and must be authorised by the Secretary of State.

In order to fund the conservation measures set out in any given EDP, Natural England will apply a levy to developers whose developments are covered it, as set out in the EDP’s charging schedule.

The government will ensure that appropriate resources are in place to administer the Nature Restoration Fund which will run on a cost recovery basis when fully operational. The Budget allocated £14 million to support initial deployment of the Fund.

Joint periodic tenancies can be ended unilaterally by one of the joint tenants.

Once one of the joint tenants terminates a joint tenancy, then as a matter of law it ceases to exist and the landlord has a right of possession, though that may be challenged in the Courts.

Social landlords, subject to complying with their own allocations policies, have the flexibility to provide a new tenancy to a current resident where a notice to quit is served, either for the same property or for a different property.

Making sure that Jews in Britain are not only safe, but also feel safe, is one of our top priorities. We are particularly concerned about the steep increase in antisemitism we have seen since the abhorrent 7 October attacks. There is no excuse for violence or abuse driven by antisemitic hatred and discrimination, and we support the police in taking the strongest possible action against those crimes.

The Government is committed to protecting the safety of the Jews in the UK and making our streets and communities safer. That is why funding of £72 million has been allocated for the Community Security Trust to continue their vital work from 2024/25 until 2027/28, providing security to schools, synagogues and other Jewish community buildings.

From 2024/25 to 2027/28, the Community Security Trust has been allocated £18 million annually through the JCPS Grant to continue this important work. We continue to work closely with the CST to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities across the UK.

The Government recently established an Antisemitism Working Group to provide advice to it on antisemitism, the domestic effect for antisemitism of international, national and local events, and on the most effective methods to tackle it.

The Government also works closely with the Independent Adviser on Antisemitism to provide independent advice to the Secretary of State on the most effective methods to tackle antisemitism and to ensure that the Jewish community’s concerns about antisemitism are heard and acted upon. We also work with the police to regularly review potential threats and ensure that everything is done to protect communities from hate crime.

At the Spending Review, the Chancellor confirmed £39 billion for a successor to the Affordable Homes Programme over 10 years from 2026-27 to 2035-36. The Spending Review document sets out that spend on the AHP will reach £4 billion per year in 2029-30 and rise in line with inflation subsequently.

Up to 30% of the funding over the programme will be delivered by the Greater London Authority (GLA) in London, with at least 70% available for the rest of England via Homes England, depending on the level of future bids.

Government does not usually publish year-by-year spend on specific programmes in advance.

We have announced the overall funding commitment for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme and will continue to publish departmental capital spend figures on an annual basis.

Electoral registers are held locally in each local authority and not centrally. No demographic data is collected when people register or vote, so we are not able to provide statistics. The Electoral Commission provides some data on voter registration: Explore the data: Who is and isn't registered to vote? | Electoral Commission.

To vote in the United Kingdom, individuals must be registered and meet eligibility criteria based on age, nationality, and residence. Demographic and religious data are not part of the registration process. The Government is clear that everyone has a fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression. We do not make assessments on the impact on freedom of religion or speech using electoral registrations or predicted population figures.

I refer the noble Lady to the Written Statement UIN HCWS712 which sets out that the National Housing Bank will be established as a new subsidiary under Homes England because we believe this is a good first step to ensure strategic coherence in our housing investment activities to deliver our ambitions, and build on its impressive track record.

The investment criteria and detailed investment strategy for the Bank – which will form a key part of Homes England’s overall strategy – will be jointly agreed by my Department, Homes England and HM Treasury and will be published in due course. Furthermore, we have already committed to providing the National Housing Bank with £2.5 billion to issue low interest loans to housing associations to deliver social housing, which means the homes built through this intervention will be genuinely affordable. We will share further details on operational costs and investment profile of the National Housing Bank and the number of additional homes it is estimated to deliver in due course.

I refer the noble Lady to the Written Statement UIN HCWS712 which sets out that the National Housing Bank will be established as a new subsidiary under Homes England because we believe this is a good first step to ensure strategic coherence in our housing investment activities to deliver our ambitions, and build on its impressive track record.

The investment criteria and detailed investment strategy for the Bank – which will form a key part of Homes England’s overall strategy – will be jointly agreed by my Department, Homes England and HM Treasury and will be published in due course. Furthermore, we have already committed to providing the National Housing Bank with £2.5 billion to issue low interest loans to housing associations to deliver social housing, which means the homes built through this intervention will be genuinely affordable. We will share further details on operational costs and investment profile of the National Housing Bank and the number of additional homes it is estimated to deliver in due course.