Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that those permanently living in alternative housing (such as caravans, houseboats, tiny homes, and other non-traditional housing) are as safe from electricity in their homes as people living in traditional properties.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure in their homes, regardless of tenure or agreement type.
Non-permanent structures separate from the land, such as mobile homes and houseboats, are legally defined as chattels rather than buildings. They are not subject to the legal framework in the Building Regulations which covers electrical installation work. They are, however, subject to consumer protection legislation in the same way as any other consumer goods. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA), goods should be as described, of a satisfactory quality, and fit for a particular purpose when they are purchased. The CRA 2015 applies to contracts entered into after the 1st October 2015 when the Act came into force.
As most non-traditional homes are owner-occupied there is no legal requirement for the owner to have the electrics checked in their property on a regular basis, though we would recommend they do so.
On mobile home sites, the owner must ensure they comply with the conditions of their licence provided by the local authority, to ensure that proper health, safety and amenity standards are maintained.
The Government has no plans to introduce any specific schemes relating to electrical safety in non-traditional homes at this time.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide consumer information to improve the electrical safety of those living in alternative housing such as caravans, houseboats, tiny homes, and other non-traditional housing.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure in their homes, regardless of tenure or agreement type.
Non-permanent structures separate from the land, such as mobile homes and houseboats, are legally defined as chattels rather than buildings. They are not subject to the legal framework in the Building Regulations which covers electrical installation work. They are, however, subject to consumer protection legislation in the same way as any other consumer goods. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA), goods should be as described, of a satisfactory quality, and fit for a particular purpose when they are purchased. The CRA 2015 applies to contracts entered into after the 1st October 2015 when the Act came into force.
As most non-traditional homes are owner-occupied there is no legal requirement for the owner to have the electrics checked in their property on a regular basis, though we would recommend they do so.
On mobile home sites, the owner must ensure they comply with the conditions of their licence provided by the local authority, to ensure that proper health, safety and amenity standards are maintained.
The Government has no plans to introduce any specific schemes relating to electrical safety in non-traditional homes at this time.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to regulate installers of electrical systems working in non-traditional housing, to ensure quality and parity with approved installer registration schemes.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure in their homes, regardless of tenure or agreement type.
Non-permanent structures separate from the land, such as mobile homes and houseboats, are legally defined as chattels rather than buildings. They are not subject to the legal framework in the Building Regulations which covers electrical installation work. They are, however, subject to consumer protection legislation in the same way as any other consumer goods. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA), goods should be as described, of a satisfactory quality, and fit for a particular purpose when they are purchased. The CRA 2015 applies to contracts entered into after the 1st October 2015 when the Act came into force.
As most non-traditional homes are owner-occupied there is no legal requirement for the owner to have the electrics checked in their property on a regular basis, though we would recommend they do so.
On mobile home sites, the owner must ensure they comply with the conditions of their licence provided by the local authority, to ensure that proper health, safety and amenity standards are maintained.
The Government has no plans to introduce any specific schemes relating to electrical safety in non-traditional homes at this time.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the electrical safety checks requirement relating to England's social rented sector specified in the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 has been implemented; and if not, when it will be issued.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This government is committed to raising standards so that social housing tenants live in decent homes, are treated with fairness and respect and have issues resolved quickly.
A consultation on electrical safety in the social rented sector was carried out between June 2022 and August 2022 by the previous government. This government is considering the responses to the consultation and will set out next steps shortly.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - 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 amount of development on grassland habitats that could be considered irreplaceable habitats under the National Planning Policy Framework that took place each year from 2015 to 2022.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Government does not record planning decisions nationally, this is recorded locally by local planning authorities. However, the National Planning Policy Framework affords strong protection to important habitats, and is explicit that development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats (such as ancient woodland and ancient or veteran trees) should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists. Local planning authorities will need to take this into account when making their local plans and in decision making.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - 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 amount of development on semi-natural grassland that took place each year from 2015 to 2022.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Government does not record planning decisions nationally, this is recorded locally by local planning authorities. However, the National Planning Policy Framework affords strong protection to important habitats, and is explicit that development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats (such as ancient woodland and ancient or veteran trees) should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists. Local planning authorities will need to take this into account when making their local plans and in decision making.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage innovation in building safety technologies.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Government’s priority is to ensure that all higher-risk buildings are safe. It is important that industry takes advantage of innovative technologies that can support better building safety. The Construction Playbook sets out the Government’s support for innovation including digital technologies and modern methods of construction. New technology and innovation have improved productivity, quality and choice across a range of sectors and the Government wants to see the same happen in housing. We are committed to creating a dynamic market for innovative technologies in the UK to enable the development and use of effective new technologies.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they took, if any, to ensure that guidance for rural proofing as set out in the Annual Rural Proofing Report 2020, published on 26 March 2021, was followed in the preparation and publication of the Levelling Up White Paper.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
Chapter One of the Levelling Up White Paper sets out UK-wide analysis of a range of economic measures. This includes recognising the particular challenges and strengths of rural communities, such as high local belonging and connectedness, but lower connectivity, skills and productive capital. The Government is committed to ensuring that places across the UK, including rural communities, benefit from increased opportunity and investment as set out in the Levelling Up White Paper. The forthcoming Annual Report on Rural Proofing will focus more specifically on levelling up in rural areas.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to prevent new homes from being built with a lower standard than Energy Performance Certificate band B.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
Improving the energy efficiency of all our buildings to reduce carbon emissions is a key part of reaching our net zero target and new build is an area where we can and must maintain momentum.
From 2025, the Future Homes Standard will ensure that new homes are future-proofed with low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency to produce at least 75 per cent lower CO2 emissions compared to those built to current standards, which represents a considerable improvement in energy efficiency standards of new homes.
This year we will introduce an interim uplift to the energy efficiency standards that delivers a meaningful reduction in carbon emissions and provides a stepping-stone to the Future Homes Standard in 2025. This uplift will be expected to produce 31 per cent less CO2 emissions compared to current standards. This will deliver high-quality homes that are in line with our broader housing commitments and encourage homes that are future-proofed for the longer-term.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many new homes that have an energy efficiency rating below EPC band C were built in each of the last three years; and what steps they are taking, or intend to take, to ensure that in all new homes are built with at least an EPC band C rating.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The number of new homes, including change of use or the conversion of existing properties, that have an energy efficiency rating below EPC band C built, in each of the last three calendar years for which published figures are available, are; 14,772 in 2019, 15,264 in 2018 and 11,168 in 2017.
From 2025, the Future Homes Standard will ensure that new homes are future-proofed with low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency to produce at least 75 per cent lower CO2 emissions compared to those built to current standards, which represents a considerable improvement in energy efficiency standards of new homes.
This year we will introduce an interim uplift to the energy efficiency standards that delivers a meaningful reduction in carbon emissions and provides a stepping-stone to the Future Homes Standard in 2025. This uplift will be expected to produce 31 per cent less CO2 emissions compared to current standards. This will deliver high-quality homes that are in line with our broader housing commitments and encourage homes that are future-proofed for the longer-term.