Asked by: Baroness Grender (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have blocked planning permission for new oil drilling extraction sites in the UK over the past five years; and if so, (1) how many permissions they have refused, (2) when these were refused, and (3) where the application sites were located.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
All questions of planning permission for oil drilling extraction sites in the last 5 years have been local planning matters. Therefore central government has not made decisions on this. As planning is a devolved matter, this answer relates to England only.
Asked by: Baroness Grender (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of some mortgage providers requiring an External Wall Survey 1 certificate before lending to homeowners wishing to re-mortgage or sell their properties; and what steps they are taking to support those homeowners.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The EWS1 form was introduced by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to assist in valuation of high-rise residential buildings for mortgage purposes. Each lender has their own policies regarding valuation requirements. Some do not require an EWS1 form, and others seek them for a greater range of buildings than the process was designed for. Where requested the EWS1 assessments are commissioned by individual building owners and so the department does not hold data on their use. The Department is working to estimate the potential impact of these requests on leaseholders and sales, and is urging a pragmatic approach by lenders and valuers, especially for lower rise blocks where the Department does not support the blanket use of EWS1.
Asked by: Baroness Grender (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how long they estimate it will take to carry out External Wall Surveys (EWS) on all buildings that are currently required by mortgage providers to have an EWS1 certificate before owners can re-mortgage or sell their properties.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The External Wall System form (EWS1) and process is designed and implemented by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in conjunction with mortgage lenders to assist with valuation of high-rise residential buildings. Some lenders do not require an EWS1 form, and others seek them for a greater range of buildings than the process was designed for. It is not a Government policy or regulatory requirement and the department does not hold data on its use.
Asked by: Baroness Grender (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many buildings, including those (1) with shared ownership properties, and (2) over 18 metres tall, are currently required by mortgage providers to have an External Wall Survey 1 form before an owner can re-mortgage or sell properties within that building.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The External Wall System form (EWS1) and process is designed and implemented by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in conjunction with mortgage lenders to assist with valuation of high-rise residential buildings. Some lenders do not require an EWS1 form, and others seek them for a greater range of buildings than the process was designed for. It is not a Government policy or regulatory requirement and the department does not hold data on its use.
Asked by: Baroness Grender (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of private rented sector tenants who are in arrears due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will be subject to a section 21 or a section 8 notice eviction under the Housing Act 1988 issued after 26 March and before the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Residential Tenancies: Protection from Eviction) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020 (SI2020/914) came into effect on 28 August.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Government has established an unprecedented package of support to protect renters throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
When courts resume possession hearings they will prioritise the most egregious cases, ensuring landlords are able to progress cases such as those involving anti-social behaviour and other?serious issues.
The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Residential Tenancies: Protection from Eviction) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on 29 August 2020. They extended emergency measures in the Coronavirus Act 2020, meaning that from 29 August landlords are required to provide longer notice periods of six months when seeking possession of residential property, in all but the most egregious cases. These new requirements only apply to notices served after the 29 August.
Asked by: Baroness Grender (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the numbers of tenants served notice between 26 March and 28 August whose evictions will proceed after 20 September, following the commencement of the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Residential Tenancies: Protection from Eviction) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020 (2020/914).
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Government has established an unprecedented package of support to protect renters throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
When courts resume possession hearings they will prioritise the most egregious cases, ensuring landlords are able to progress cases such as those involving anti-social behaviour and other?serious issues.
The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Residential Tenancies: Protection from Eviction) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on 29 August 2020. They extended emergency measures in the Coronavirus Act 2020, meaning that from 29 August landlords are required to provide longer notice periods of six months when seeking possession of residential property, in all but the most egregious cases. These new requirements only apply to notices served after the 29 August.
Asked by: Baroness Grender (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment has been made, if any, of the possible impacts of the Civil Procedure (Amendment No.4) (Coronavirus) Rules 2020 (SI 2020/751) on the duties of local authorities under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 is the most ambitious reform to homelessness legislation in decades. It placed new duties on local housing authorities to take reasonable steps to try to prevent and relieve a person’s homelessness. These duties have not been amended by the Civil Procedure Rules.
Local authorities must work with people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness within 56 days to develop personalised housing plans, tailored to focus on the needs and circumstances of the household. They must do so irrespective of whether they are a family or single person or the reason they are at risk.
Local authorities also have a duty to provide or secure the provision of advice and information about homelessness and the prevention of homelessness, free of charge to any person in their district.
Asked by: Baroness Grender (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of private rented sector tenants in arrears as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Government has established an unprecedented package of support to protect renters throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
Asked by: Baroness Grender (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the relevance of the Housing Act 2004 and its application to premises occupied by a property guardian.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Housing Act 2004 is applicable to premises occupied as a dwelling by property guardians. Under the Housing Act 2004, local authorities have a legal duty to keep the housing conditions in their area under review and identify any action that may need to be taken. If local authorities are aware of properties in their area occupied by property guardians, they should consider inspecting these properties proactively to identify potential health and safety hazards. The Housing Health & Safety Rating System (HHSRS) applies across all premises occupied as a dwelling, including guardian properties. If hazards are present, local authorities have tough enforcement powers.
Electrical safety, gas safety and fire safety requirements apply to all private rented sector properties including guardian properties when they are residential or used as a dwelling. Fire safety in all non-domestic premises, including the common parts of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), is covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
The Government has not carried out a specific assessment of the risks to property guardians in buildings under different ownership. It is the role of local authorities to inspect and take action as required. The Government is reviewing information available to guardians and local authorities about their enforcement powers to make sure this happens.
Asked by: Baroness Grender (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what risk assessment has been conducted on the dangers of breaches of (1) electrical safety, (2) gas safety, and (3) fire safety regulations for people living as property guardians.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Housing Act 2004 is applicable to premises occupied as a dwelling by property guardians. Under the Housing Act 2004, local authorities have a legal duty to keep the housing conditions in their area under review and identify any action that may need to be taken. If local authorities are aware of properties in their area occupied by property guardians, they should consider inspecting these properties proactively to identify potential health and safety hazards. The Housing Health & Safety Rating System (HHSRS) applies across all premises occupied as a dwelling, including guardian properties. If hazards are present, local authorities have tough enforcement powers.
Electrical safety, gas safety and fire safety requirements apply to all private rented sector properties including guardian properties when they are residential or used as a dwelling. Fire safety in all non-domestic premises, including the common parts of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), is covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
The Government has not carried out a specific assessment of the risks to property guardians in buildings under different ownership. It is the role of local authorities to inspect and take action as required. The Government is reviewing information available to guardians and local authorities about their enforcement powers to make sure this happens.