Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Community Ownership Fund; and whether they plan to renew it, when it is due to close in 2025.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We are currently working with an external evaluation partner on an evaluation of the Community Ownership Fund. We have published our evaluation methodology to assess the process and impacts of the programme, and a full feasibility study report will be published in due course.
We will confirm plans on the Community Ownership Fund in due course.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the Order determining the new parliamentary constituency boundaries will be laid.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government plans to submit to His Majesty an Order in Council giving effect to the recommendations in the final reports of the Boundary Commissions as soon as reasonably practicable within four months, as required. The Order is not required to be laid before Parliament. Once the Order is made by His Majesty, the new constituencies will take effect at the next UK Parliamentary general election.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to require the sales and promotional material for individual leasehold properties to include (1) copies of the legislation relating to leasehold properties, and (2) any legislative proposals Her Majesty’s Government have published on (a) lease extensions, and (b) freehold rights to buy.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Government is committed to promoting fairness and transparency for homeowners and ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service. We have already committed to setting a maximum fee and timescale for the provision of leasehold information when a home is being sold. This will require freeholders, or managing agents acting on their behalf, to provide relevant information including details of service charges. We will bring forward these proposals as soon as parliamentary time allows and will publicise changes widely so that leaseholders are aware of the maximum fee they should pay.
Furthermore, as set out in the Levelling Up White Paper, the UK Government and the industry will work together to ensure the critical material information buyers of leasehold and freehold properties need to know - like tenure type, lease length and any service charges - are available digitally wherever possible from trusted and authenticated sources, and provided only once.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the band for council tax payable for the apartments occupied by (1) the Prime Minister, and (2) the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in Downing Street; and what are the council tax charges payable for each apartment.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Valuation Office Agency's "Check your council tax band" online service shows that there are two properties liable for council tax on Downing Street. Both properties are in band H. Council tax decisions are taken by local authorities, but information published by Westminster City Council shows that the band H charge for 2021-22 is £1655.12, including the precept for the Greater London Authority.