Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to standardise Energy Performance Certificate assessments.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are intended to provide prospective buyers and tenants with a guide to the energy costs of different properties, which is simple to understand and allows comparison between properties.
A standardised methodology is used in the assessments of EPCs. The current methodology can be found here. The software used to calculate EPC ratings in existing properties is the Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure (RdSAP).
Not all buildings are used in the same way, so the energy rating uses ‘standard occupancy’ assumptions which may be different from the way the building is used. We acknowledge that occupant behaviour is an important factor in determining the energy use of buildings. Encouraging occupants to use buildings more efficiently will be important in achieving the net zero target.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the passage of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, when they plan to deliver online calculators for lease extensions.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government will provide homeowners with greater rights, powers and protections over their homes. We are committed to implementing the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. The Government is also committed to further reform the leasehold system, enacting the remaining Law Commission recommendations relating to leasehold enfranchisement and the Right to Manage.
We will enforce measures to prescribe the rates to be used in enfranchisement valuation calculations, which determine the cost leaseholders must pay to extend a lease or acquire a freehold. This will allow leaseholders to understand how much it will cost to extend their lease or purchase their freehold upfront.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to regulate the ultra-short letting platform market.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Short-term lets are an important part of what the UK offers visitors in terms of accommodation and the government recognises that they bring a range of benefits to the visitor economy.
The government wants people living in our major tourism destinations, especially in coastal and rural villages and towns, to benefit from a thriving tourism industry without losing the spirit of their community when the holiday season ends.
Parliament legislated for a registration scheme for short-term lets in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. This government is exploring the introduction of such a scheme.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - 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 ultra-short lets on the availability of long-term rentals and homes.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We recognise that whilst short-term lets and second homes can benefit the tourist economy, we need to protect local communities, including ensuring the availability of housing to rent or buy. We are currently considering how best to achieve these aims.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications for TV licence fee payers as consumers who pay monthly instalments being required to pay more in the first 12 months, for both the current and subsequent annual period, than they would if purchasing a TV licence fee in a one-off annual payment; and what consideration they have given to introducing the option not to pay for the next licence in advance.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any information on the number of leases that have been forfeited in the past year under section 146 of the Law of Property Act 1925.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Opposition Whip (Lords)
The Ministry of Justice publishes broader statistics on the numbers of mortgage lender and landlord possession actions in the county courts of England and Wales.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the trend of a decline in the number of broadcast television viewers, what assessment they have made of the future of the licence fee.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
His Majesty’s Government believes that there are challenges regarding the sustainability of the current licence fee funding model, and is therefore conducting a review of it.
As the terms of reference for that review note, the broadcasting sector is evolving rapidly, and members of the public have much more choice about how, when, and where they access content. The review will look at the sustainability of the BBC’s current funding model, and assess how alternative models could help secure the corporation’s long-term sustainability amid an evolving media landscape, increased competition, and changing audience behaviour, while reducing the burden on licence fee-payers.